Effect of Food Waste on Household Dietary Diversity in Nigeria

Abstract Food waste significantly undermines food security in Nigeria by reducing both the quantity and quality of available food, thereby threatening dietary diversity. This study investigates the magnitude and determinants of household food waste and its effect on dietary diversity among farming households in Nigeria. Using a cross-sectional comparative design, the study analyses secondary microdata from the Nigeria General Household Survey–Panel (Wave 5) with a sample of 1,953 households. Household food waste was estimated using a commodity flow balance approach, while dietary diversity was measured using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). Results reveal that spices and condiments, cereals, oils and fats, and vegetables are the primary contributors to household food waste. Significant spatial disparities were observed, with rural households reporting a substantially higher mean food waste than urban households. While urban households showed a fairly higher average HDDS than rural households, 52.43% of households maintain medium HDDS. Findings further indicate that food waste exerts a strong and statistically significant negative effect on dietary diversity. The study concludes that food waste is a major structural barrier to achieving nutritional adequacy in Nigeria. Thus, investments in rural post-harvest infrastructure and cold-chain logistics for highly perishable food are encouraged to mitigate high waste levels observed in farming.