Impacts of national agricultural trade policies on food self-sufficiency: Case of selected products in Niger

Abstract

Most of Sub-Saharan African agricultural studies are focused on rainfall variability, low use of technologies and inputs in agriculture to explain the recurrence of food insecurity and famine in these regions. However, agriculture sector relies on other sectors such as trade. So, an evaluation of the efficiency of trade tools on main foodstuffs could very helpful for policymaker in stabilizing their countries agricultural product prices. Additionally, the evaluation of self-sufficiency and import dependency is a significant step in estimating the country resources capacity in satisfying its domestic demand especially for main foodstuffs. Hence, this article aims at evaluating the impacts of National Agricultural Trade Policies on Food Self-Sufficiency of main agricultural foodstuffs (cowpea, maize, millet, and sorghum) in Niger during 1990-2015. The findings revealed that Niger national resources can satisfy the countrywide demand for the main foodstuffs except for maize. In conclusion Niger policy makers should review the country agricultural trade policy by applying efficient trade’s tools and measures to stabilize the inter-annual price volatility of main agricultural foodstuffs.

Keywords

• Agricultural trade,Food security,Niger,Self-sufficiency,Sub-Sharan countries

Ulusal tarım ticareti politikalarının gıda yeterliliğine etkileri: Nijer’de seçilmiş ürünler örneği

Abstract

Çoğu Sahraaltı Afrika tarımsal çalışmaları bu bölgelerde yinelenen gıda krizlerinin ve kıtlığın başlıca nedenleri olarak, yağış değişkenliği, düşük teknoloji kullanımı ve tarımsal girdilerin düşük kullanımı üzerine odaklanmıştır. Ancak, tarım sektörü ticaret gibi diğer sektörlere dayanmaktadır. Bu nedenle, ticaret araçlarının ana gıda maddeleri üzerindeki etkinliğinin değerlendirilmesi, politikacılar için ülkelerinin tarımsal ürün fiyatlarının dengelenmesinde çok kullanışlı olmaktadır. Ek olarak, kendi kendine yeterlilik ve ithalat bağımlılığının değerlendirilmesi, özellikle ana gıda maddeleri için iç talebin karşılanması konusunda ülke kaynakları kapasitesinin tahmin edilmesinde önemli bir adımdır. Bu nedenle, bu makale, ulusal tarım ticareti politikalarının, Nijer'deki 1990-2015 döneminde başlıca tarımsal gıda maddelerinin (börülce, mısır, darı ve sorgum) gıda öz yeterliliğine etkilerini değerlendirmeyi amaçlamaktadır. Bulgular, Nijer ulusal kaynaklarının, ülke genelinde ana gıda maddelerine yönelik talebi, mısır hariç karşılayabildiğini ortaya koymaktadır. Sonuç olarak, Nijer politika belirleyicileri, ana tarımsal gıda maddelerinin yıllar arası fiyat dalgalanmasını dengelemek için etkili ticaret araçlarını ve önlemlerini uygulayarak ülke tarımsal ticaret politikasını gözden geçirmelidir.

Keywords

• Tarımsal ticaret,Gıda Güveniği,Niger,Kendine yeterlilik,Sahra altı ülkeler

References

1. Anonymous, (2003). Niger trade policy review. https://www.wto.org/english/tratop_e/tpr_e/tp217_e.htm. Date accessed: May 11, 2018.
2. Anonymous, (2017). Enquête nationale sur la vulnérabilité a l’insécurité alimentaire des ménages en milieu rural au Niger. http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Vulnerabi lite/RESULTATS_PRELIMINAIRES_EVIAM_2017.pdf. Date accessed: October 29, 2018.
3. Asche, F., Bellemare, M., Roheim, C., Smith, M.D., & Tveteras, S. (2015). Fair enough? Food security and the international trade of seafood. World Development, 67:151-160.
4. Asfaw, S., & Lipper, L. (2015). Adaptation to climate change and its impacts on food security: Evidence from Niger. International Conference of Agricultural Economists 29th, Milan, Italy.
5. Byerlee, D., Jayne, T.S., & Myers, R.J. (2006). Managing food price risks and instability in a liberalizing market environment: Overview and policy options. Food Policy, 31(4):275-287.
6. Clapp, J. (1997). Adjustment and agriculture in Africa. pp: 12-35. New York: St. Martin’s Press.
7. Clapp, J. (2017). Food self-sufficiency: Making sense of it, and when it makes sense. Food Policy, 66(2017):88–96.
8. De La Renaudie, V., & Martin, O. (2008). Souveraineté alimentaire : un agenda pour agir, Bruxelles : CNCD, CSA, Oxfam-Sol, SOS Faim, pp: 42-27.

9. FAO (2012). FAO Statistical Pocketbook 2012. http:// www.fao.org/3/i2493e/i2493e00.htm.
10. FAOSTAT 2015. Food and Agriculture Data Network, "Commodity Balances and Crop for All Data", http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/#home and http://www.fao.org/faostat/en/?#data/QC.
11. Gilbert, C., & Morgan W. (2010). Food price volatility, Philosophical Transactions of the Royal Society B, 365:3023-3034.
12. IMF, O., & UNCTAD, W. (2011). Price volatility in food and agricultural markets: Policy responses. Food and Agricultural Organization, 1-10. https://www.alimenterre.org/system/files/re ssources/pdf/86_g20_foodpricevolatility_en.pdf Date accessed: August 09, 2018.
13. INS (2010). Annuaire statistique des cinquante ans d’indépendance du Niger. pp: 177-178, Edition Spéciale INS-Niger http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Vulnerabilite/Rapport_vulnerabilite_2010.pdf. Date accessed February 18, 2019.
14. INS (2016). Le Niger en chiffreshttp://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/Affiches_Depliants/NigerEnChiffres2016.pdf. Date accessed: May 26, 2018.
15. INS (2018). Comptes économiques de la nation, rapides 2017 provisoires 2016 définitifs 2013 – 2015. http://www.stat-niger.org/statistique/file/ compte/COMPTES_RAPIDES_2017.pdf. Date accessed: October 30, 2018.
16. Kandji, S.T., Verchot, L., & Meckensen, J. (2006). Climate change and variability in the Sahel Region: Impacts and adaptation strategies in the agricultural sector. http://www.worldagroforestry .org/downloads/Publications/PDFS/B14549.pdf
17. Lobell, D.B., Bänziger, M., Magorokosho, C., & Vivek, B. (2011). Nonlinear heat effects on African maize as evidenced by historical yield trials. Nature climate change, 1(1):42.
18. Matthews, A. (2010). Perspectives on addressing market instability and income risk for farmers. http://www.agripress.nl/_STUDIOEMMA_UPLOADS/downloads/201_paper.pdf.
19. Michiels, D., Egg, J., & Blein, R. (2012). La répétition des crises alimentaires et nutritionnelles au Niger: la rénovation urgente des politiques de sécurité alimentaire. Cahiers agricultures, 21(5):302-310. OCHA (2015). Bulletin humanitaire Niger. https://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/OCHA%20Niger%20Bulletin%20Humanitaire%20Janvier%202016.pdf. Date accessed February 18, 2019.
20. Rakotoarisoa, M., Lafrate, M., & Paschali, M. (2011). Why has Africa become a net food importer? Explaining Africa agricultural and food trade deficits. pp: 5-11, FAO. Rome.
21. Swinnen, J., & Squicciarini, P. (2012). Mixed messages on prices and food security. Science, 335 (6067):405-406.
22. Weiner, R.J. (2002). Sheep in wolves’ clothing? Speculatos and price volatility in petroleum futures. The Quarterly Review of Economics and Finance, 42(2):391–400.