An investigation into the relationship between population growth, technological development and food production in Nigeria

Abstract

The study explores the relationship between population growth, technological development, and food production. The annual secondary data was extracted from world development indicators between 1991 and 2021. The Philips Perron unit root test undertaken to understand the stationarity order of the variables. The study employed ARDL bound tests of cointegration, short-run and long-run tests. All the variables produced results in line with existing theories and empirical findings of other studies. Population growth negatively affects food production, technological development supports a positive relationship with food production. Furthermore, the study found that there short-run and long-run causality. The results of the study indicate that in order to feed the growing population, food production must rise. The results also showed that technology is used more effectively in agriculture sector, which recommends the government to greatly increase research grant or acquire more technology.