Effect of Border Closure on Household Rice Consumption in Oyo State, Nigeria

Abstract

The study analyzed the effect of border closure on household rice consumption in Oyo state Nigeria. Specifically, the study determined the number of times rice is consumed weekly before and during border closure (local and foreign rice); ascertained the quantity of local and foreign rice consumed per kilogramme weekly before and during border closure; ascertained conditions that necessitated border closure and identified types of rice consumed. Data was collected from 246 respondents with the aid of a structured interview schedule using simple random sampling. Descriptive statistical tools such as frequencies, percentages and mean; and inferential tools (paired sample t-test analysis) were used to present the results. The finding of the study shows the conditions that necessitated border closure as claimed by the respondents were smuggling of hard drugs (80.5%), smuggling of arms and weapon (78.0%), illegal trade of goods (73.2%), proliferation of low-quality rice (57.3%), the influx of prohibited item (76.8%), stability of domestic economy (61.0%), prevention of illegal immigrants (63.4%), enhancement of the growth of local industries (73.2%), encouragement of the consumption of locally produced food (79.3%) and improvement of domestic and regional competitiveness (69.5%). Most of the respondents (64.6%) preferred to consume short-grain rice. There is a significant difference between the quantity of foreign rice consumed before and during border closure (t= 13.649, P= 0.000). Consequently, border closure has significant effect on the consumption of foreign rice by reducing the quantity consumed during the closure. However, local rice consumption is on the increase. The study, therefore, recommended that the production of quality short grain rice should be encouraged among farmers since it is in high demand by consumers.