ACHIEVING FOOD SECURITY THROUGH REGIONAL INTEGRATION: A CASE OF FOOD TRADE WITHIN ECOWAS REGION
OLALEKAN IBITOYE *
Centre for Continuing Education (CCE), Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
AYOOLA IBUKUN OGUNYEMI
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
SYLVESTER OLUWADARE OJO
Department of Agricultural and Resource Economics, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
ADEDOYIN LYDIA IBITOYE
Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication Technology, Federal University of Technology, P.M.B 704, Akure, Ondo State, Nigeria.
*Author to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Abstract
This study analysed the impact of food trade dynamics on regional integration and food security among ECOWAS Member States. The study used secondary data covering a period of 43 years (1970 – 2012). Data used was sourced from FAOSTAT database. Analytical techniques employed include: Overall Openness Index (OPI); Intensity of Trade Index and Herfindahl index. The study revealed that smaller countries are more open to trade than the larger economies. The study concluded that regional intensity of trade (RIT) rose after the region became a free trade area (FTA), food trade diversification increased, while food insecurity significantly reduced in the region after the regional trade treaty. The study recommended that the region should speed up actions to implement all necessary measures needed to make the custom union fully operational as envisaged by the ECOWAS commission, to further boost trade and reduce food insecurity in the region.
Keywords: Food security, regional integration, ECOWAS region.