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Periodical article | Leiden University catalogue | WorldCat |
Title: | Household food consumption in a developing economy: evidence on rice from Nigeria |
Authors: | Njoku, Jude E. Nweke, Felix I. |
Year: | 1994 |
Periodical: | Journal of International Food & Agribusiness Marketing |
Volume: | 6 |
Issue: | 3 |
Pages: | 51-65 |
Language: | English |
Geographic term: | Nigeria |
Subjects: | household budget supply and demand rice food |
Abstract: | The gap between rice production and consumption in Nigeria has tended to widen in the last five years and prices have reached unprecedented levels. Part of the problem with the rice programmes so far initiated is that they have been excessively supply-oriented to the neglect of the demand (consumption) components. This paper reports on the results of a study of urban and rural household rice consumption in Imo State, Nigeria. It describes household rice consumption patterns, determines the nature, magnitude and direction of income (expenditure), price and cross price elasticities of demand, and examines factors influencing household rice consumption. A budget survey of 50 randomly selected rural and urban households in Imo State was undertaken between November 1984 and January 1986. Data were analysed using the Working-Leser model for food consumption analysis, a variant of the ordinary least squares regression model. The results show that there were significant differences between urban and rural household per capita daily rice consumption. Income (expenditure) elasticity of demand was greater than unity, and decreased from low to high income groups. Household income was the most important determinant of food consumption. Finally, the implications of these findings for food and international trade policy are discussed. Bibliogr., sum. |