THE SOCIOCULTURAL DYNAMICS of FOOD (IN)SECURITY AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS in OYO STATE, NIGERIA by Olamide O
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THE SOCIOCULTURAL DYNAMICS OF FOOD (IN)SECURITY AMONG FARMING HOUSEHOLDS IN OYO STATE, NIGERIA by Olamide O. Bisi-Amosun A Dissertation Submitted to the Faculty of Purdue University In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the degree of Doctor of Philosophy Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication West Lafayette, Indiana August 2019 2 THE PURDUE UNIVERSITY GRADUATE SCHOOL STATEMENT OF COMMITTEE APPROVAL Dr. Linda J. Pfeiffer, Chair Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Dr. Jennifer L. Johnson Department of Anthropology Dr. Mark A. Russell Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Dr. Mark A. Tucker Department of Agricultural Sciences Education and Communication Approved by: Dr. Mark A. Russell Head of the Graduate Program 3 To Afúnimásìrègún. The One who gives bountifully without gloating Thank you for doing superabundantly more than I could ever imagine, guess, or request in my wildest dreams… [Ephesians 3:20] 4 ACKNOWLEDGMENTS To Dr. Pfeiffer – I appreciate your patience and support over the years. Thank you for making my graduate school experience a great one, I cannot imagine doing this with anyone else. I am grateful for your empathetic yet firm guidance and your commitment to my success. To Dr. Russell – Thank you for this life-changing opportunity and your support throughout my doctoral program. I appreciate all your efforts in making sure I had the necessary tools to succeed as an international student at Purdue. I look forward to hosting you in Lagos, Nigeria soon. To Dr. Johnson – I am grateful for your intellectual simulations that led to critical reflections on my role as a researcher and exposed me to anthropological thoughts on food, development and gender. This dissertation would not be the same without your unique contributions. To Dr. Tucker – Thank you for your willingness to listen and help throughout the whole research process. Your constructive feedbacks sharpened my critical thinking skills and made me a better researcher. To the people of Ago-Amodu and Elepo – Thank you for your hospitality throughout the duration of my stay in your villages. I am grateful to all the participants who willingly shared their experiences and opened my eyes to world so close yet so far to me, this dissertation would have been impossible without you. To my host family in Ago-Amodu – Thank you for opening the doors of our home and hearts to a total stranger without expecting anything in return. I am forever indebted to you for treating me like family and placing my needs above your own countless times, even though I was 5 stranger. Words are not enough to express my gratitude to you so I pray that life becomes all that you want it to be and so much more. To everyone in ASEC – I am grateful to you for your smiling faces and helping hands. Thank you for creating an inclusive environment that makes coming to work a delight. To my Chi-Alpha family – Thank you for making Purdue a home away from home. I am grateful for the prayers and moral support as well as the opportunities to learn while serving others. Thank you for the teachings of truth that have shaped my stay at Purdue and will continue to guide me as I take my next steps. To my Purdue tribe – Temi, Nadia, Marquetta, Eboni, Horane, Jaron, Ibukun, and Tobi. You have all gladly carried my burdens throughout my graduate school journey, most times without me having to ask. Thank you for all you have been to me and know that words will never be enough to express my gratitude to you. You are rare gems! To my Nigerian tribe – Thank you for not letting distance stop you from loving and supporting me. I am grateful for your encouragement and prayers over the years. To my late dad – Thank you for teaching me that my voice matters and for instilling in me the confidence to unapologetically face life while disregarding societal gender standards. Your love for me gave me wings to fly, I have and will always carry you with me. To my siblings – You all make my world wonderful and you are the reason I can fearlessly pursue my dreams knowing that home is always a haven. Thank you for caring, fighting and praying for me. To my niece, Anioluwa – Thank you for being one of the key motivating factors for the completion of my doctoral degree. This degree is my first love letter to you, I hope it is a testament to the fact that you can become all you want to be. 6 To my mom – Thank you for loving me more than I love myself. You are the queen of my heart, an epitome of strength, beauty and grace. I am grateful that you birthed me because I could not have asked for a better mother. I love you. To Jesus Christ – I am grateful for this beautiful life you have orchestrated for me. Thank you for blessings not asked yet bestowed and for being so unbelievably faithful. I will forever pour my love on you, Lord. 7 TABLE OF CONTENTS LIST OF TABLES ........................................................................................................................ 11 LIST OF FIGURES ...................................................................................................................... 12 ABSTRACT .................................................................................................................................. 13 CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION ................................................................................................. 15 1.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 15 1.2 Factors Influencing Food Insecurity ................................................................................... 18 1.3 Culture and Food Security .................................................................................................. 21 1.4 Problem Statement .............................................................................................................. 23 1.5 Significance ........................................................................................................................ 25 1.6 Purpose ................................................................................................................................ 26 1.7 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 26 1.8 Assumptions ........................................................................................................................ 27 CHAPTER 2. REVIEW OF LITERATURE ................................................................................ 28 2.1 Introduction ......................................................................................................................... 28 2.2 Purpose of the Study ........................................................................................................... 28 2.3 Research Questions ............................................................................................................. 28 2.4 Food Security ...................................................................................................................... 29 2.4.1 The Relationship between Food Security and Malnutrition ........................................ 31 2.5 Factors Influencing Food Insecurity ................................................................................... 35 2.5.1 Environmental Factors ................................................................................................. 37 2.5.2 Economic Factors ......................................................................................................... 39 2.5.3 Cultural Factors ............................................................................................................ 45 2.6 The Relationship between Cultural Factors and the Four Dimensions of Food Security ... 47 2.6.1 Cultural Factors: Food Availability ............................................................................. 47 2.6.2 Cultural Factors: Access to Food ................................................................................. 49 2.6.3 Cultural Factors: Food Utilization ............................................................................... 52 2.6.4 Cultural Factors: Food Stability ................................................................................... 54 2.7 Conceptual Framework ....................................................................................................... 55 2.8 Theoretical Perspective ....................................................................................................... 56 8 2.8.1 Phenomenology ............................................................................................................ 57 2.8.1.1 Background of Phenomenology ............................................................................ 58 2.8.1.2 Central Tenets of Phenomenological Approach ................................................... 60 2.8.2 Phenomenological Studies on Food ............................................................................. 63 2.9 Need for Study .................................................................................................................... 65 2.10 Rationale for Selection of Study Population: Vulnerability ............................................. 67 2.10.1 Women ....................................................................................................................... 67 2.10.2 Smallholder