Research Article

REPOSITIONING NIGERIA ON THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INDEX (GFSI): ESSENCE OF FISHERY

Suleiman O Y1*
1 Department of Fisheries and Aquaculture, Faculty of Agriculture, Federal University Gashua, Gashua, Yobe State, Nigeria
* Corresponding author: ysuleiman08@yahoo.com
Published: Jul, 2015
DOI: 10.67390/gjids.2015.uagysc5r
Pages: 163-172

Abstract

This paper reviews the significant features of fishery as an invaluable entity with respect to food security in Nigeria. Considering the obvious potentials waiting to be exploited alongside the position of Nigeria as 87th out of 109 countries on the Global Food Security Index (GFSI), the need for a wakeup call becomes imminent. These potentials center on agriculture, yet streamlines to the fishery subsector in this paper. Nigeria whose annual fish demand is 2.66 million tonnes has an estimated inland water area of 12,500 Km2. Her exclusive economic zone of 200 nautical miles within which she has absolute jurisdiction over all living resources with coastline of 853Km, covers an area of about 192,000 km2. These natural water bodies are capable of producing about 512,000 tonnes of fish annually along with job opportunities. Aquaculture also offers promising opportunities for sustenance - nutritionally and economically with a potential for annual fish production estimated at 2.5 million tonnes, hence it is indispensable. However, the bottom line is that the country is yet to reach an average of 50% exploitation of these potentials towards bettering its situation. This paper aims at importance of fishery subsector in global food security index. The GFSI reveals the extent of progress in this respect.

Keywords

Fishery Food Security Global Food Security Index Nigeria Potentials

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How to Cite

Y, S. O. (2015). REPOSITIONING NIGERIA ON THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INDEX (GFSI): ESSENCE OF FISHERY. Gashua Journal of Irrigation and Desertification Studies, 1(1), 163-172. https://doi.org/10.67390/gjids.2015.uagysc5r

S. O. Y, "REPOSITIONING NIGERIA ON THE GLOBAL FOOD SECURITY INDEX (GFSI): ESSENCE OF FISHERY," Gashua Journal of Irrigation and Desertification Studies, vol. 1, no. 1, pp. 163-172, July 2015. doi: 10.67390/gjids.2015.uagysc5r

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