ikeowoabiodun/food-price-analysis-nigeria

# Food Price Dynamics and Market Structure in Nigeria: An Empirical Analysis ## Problem Statement Food price volatility remains a critical challenge in Nigeria, with significant implications for food security, household welfare, and agribusiness performance. Despite increasing attention to food inflation, limited empirical analysis exists on how price dynamics vary across commodities, regions, and market structures. This project applies data-driven methods to analyze food price behavior in Nigeria, with the aim of uncovering patterns that explain disparities in food accessibility and market efficiency. ## Objectives ## Main Objective To analyze food price dynamics in Nigeria and identify structural factors influencing price variation and market outcomes. ## Specific Objectives - Examine price variation across major food commodities - Analyze regional disparities in food prices - Compare prices across market structures (urban vs rural; retail vs farmgate) - Identify temporal trends and price volatility ## Data Description - The dataset consists of food price observations across multiple Nigerian states, covering: Different food commodities (e.g.,rice, maize, sorghum, beans) - Geographic regions - Market outlet types (farmgate, open markets, supermarkets) - Time periods The data is sourced from established food price monitoring systems, including FAO and World Food Programme databases, ensuring reliability for economic analysis. ## Methodology This project integrates data engineering, statistical analysis, and economic interpretation. - Data Management (SQL) - Storage of dataset in a SQLite database - Aggregation of prices by commodity and region - Extraction of time-series data - Comparison across market segments ## Data Analysis (Python) - Data cleaning and preprocessing using pandas - Descriptive statistical analysis - Visualization of trends and disparities using matplotlib ## Key Findings ## Price Trends Over Time Food prices exhibit fluctuations cha …