Food Acquirability: An Unexplored Component of Food Security?

Abstract

The key elements, or pillars, of food security are stated as food availability, food access, food utilization, and stability. These food security pillars are often linked to food security interventions at the national, community or household level. However, if the urban ‘household’ is the unit of interest for any food security intervention, this research asks if a more holistic element, or pillar, is needed. The aim of this research has been to explore the socio-economic aspects of food security/insecurity that we have termed as a result of the research “food acquirability”. Through the use of structured questionnaires (n = 120), and analysis of the data derived from local market and supermarket settings in the city of Awka, Nigeria, the concept of food acquirability has emerged and been conceptualized and critiqued. The contribution of this paper is to frame the concept of acquirability with regard to food security in Nigeria in order to develop a better understanding of the factors that impact household urban food security/insecurity and how they can be effectively mitigated. Factors of acquirability that emerged were culture, time poverty, resource availability and cooking skills, and household food preference and meal choice.