More Food, More Hunger? Agricultural Production and Food Security in Four Developing Economies: A Comparative Descriptive Analysis

Agricultural production has increased across India, Bangladesh, Ethiopia, and Nigeria over the past two decades, yet food insecurity and malnutrition remain persistent challenges. This comparative study examines why higher agricultural output does not necessarily translate into better food security, analysing long-term production trends alongside key indicators of food access and nutrition. It explores how affordability, purchasing power, distribution systems, infrastructure, and resilience influence the relationship between food availability and household food security. By comparing these four developing economies, the research highlights the limitations of relying on production growth alone to address hunger. It offers a broader perspective on the policies and structural conditions needed to improve access to nutritious food, strengthen food-system resilience, and ensure that agricultural progress delivers more equitable outcomes.