Mitigating hunger and poverty to enhance food security through investment in cocoyam production

Abstract

Given the increasing inability of government to provide employment for its citizens, agriculture, especially cocoyam farming, has become a viable means of livelihood in Nigeria and other sub-Saharan African. The study examined “mitigating hunger and poverty to enhance food security through investment in cocoyam production”. The purpose was to investigate the extent to which cocoyam production can contribute to the reduction of hunger and poverty while enhancing food security through the creation of employment for the poor to empower them and make them self-sufficient in Nigeria. The study used quantitative methodology and survey research design. It drew Participants from twelve major locations in Edo State, Nigeria and used a semi-structured questionnaire to collect the research data. Markov modelling served to analyse the data. The results reveal that, cocoyam farming will be attractive owing to minimal investment costs and relatively high financial returns. Sustained cocoyam production can significantly reduce hunger, poverty, and food insecurity. The study makes theoretical and empirical contributions.