Examining the Effects of COVID-19 on Household Food Security Status and Coping Strategies Adopted during Lockdown Period in Kano, Nigeria

Abstract

Poverty and food security challenges go hand in hand; however, as the COVID-19 pandemic goes global, poverty and food security challenges deteriorated to a new level. Before the epidemic, an estimated 2 billion people were projected to be food insecure in the world. However, with COVID-19 pandemic, the figure is expected to be much more than the projection. The purpose of the study is to examine the effects of COVID-19 on household food security status and the coping strategies adopted during the lockdown period in one of the most populous location in Nigeria, which is Kano. Food Security Index (FSI) shows 54 per cent of the households in Kano, Nigeria, are food insecure with a food security index of 0.66 and per capita daily calorie intake of 1,789.51 kcal. Disaggregating the households according to regions, show that households from Kano south are more food insecure than in Kano north or Kano Metropolitan. Results from the coping strategy index also reveal that the average CSI in the study area is 61 indicating a severe food security challenge due to COVID-19 measures. Disaggregating the CSI further into regions shows that Kano south has the highest average CSI in Kano, Nigeria. Analysis reveals that government and indigenous private business individuals and organisations are not doing enough during the lockdown period, therefore the need for more effort especially among households in Kano south where the number of food-insecure households is the highest. The government also needs to take responsibility and accountability of the palliatives given to the households in Kano, Nigeria.