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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

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

Öz

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.

Anahtar Kelimeler

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

Kaynakça

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