Effects Posed by a Dramatic Increase in the Prices of Food Commodities
The impact of the ever rising food prices in Nigeria, an economy where majority of the population live below the poverty line, no doubt, leaves the people at the mercy of hunger and diseases. Food constitutes one of the basic essentials of life, along with shelter and clothing. Food is essential for our bodies to develop, replace and repair cells and tissues; to produce energy to keep warm, move and work; protect against diseases, resist and fight infection and recover from sickness. Food is made up of nutrients. Micronutrients such as vitamins and minerals are needed only in small amounts. Macronutrients such as carbohydrates, protein and fat are needed in larger amounts. The body cannot function properly if one or more nutrients are missing. This is why its availability and cost are considered paramount in ensuring the well-being and survival of the human society. Hence, the current situation where prices of food items have continued to rise on a daily basis has become...