by Jedidah Kandagor and Dr. Kefa O. Nyandoro
Original Research
Diversifying livelihoods has over the last two decades been identified as an important theme particularly in poverty reduction agenda. Although statistics show that there is enough food for everyone, close to 795 million of the world’s population is still food insecure. Poverty level in Homa Bay county stands at 48% compared to the National poverty indicator at 45%.The purpose of this study was to assess livelihood diversification to food security among rural households in Ndhiwa Sub County, Homa Bay County, Kenya. The target population was 43,214 persons and sample size was 400 households. Data was collected using questionnaires and Focus Group Discussion Guide was also used to gather information to triangulate data from the target respondents. Four Focus Group discussions were conducted from two administrative wards and each FGD comprised of 10 members/respondents. The study further used Key Informant Interviews among six respondents who were well knowledgeable and experts in agricultural practices at the Sub County and County level. Forty two per cent of the respondent pointed out that diversification had increased food availability while 31.9% pointed out an increase in access to food. This indicates diversification contributed significantly on household food security. Secondly, 85.6% responded having not received required livelihood extension services. The study found out a significant difference (p<0.05), p=0.000 in the amount in stock by farmers before and after beginning diversification. Households deployed mixed farming, storing cereal in stores, timely planting, leasing of land, dietary change, proper farming practices, and carrying out irrigation as vulnerability measures. The study concluded that diversification contributed to food security of farmers by enhancing their access to staple food. It further concluded that most serious challenges faced by farmers in improving food security through diversification were small pieces of land and inadequate capital.
Journal of Food Security. 2018, 6(2), 90-98. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-6-2-6
Pub. Date: September 03, 2018
13150 Views3043 Downloads1 Likes
by Klemm RDW, Manohar S, Rajbhandary R, Shrestha K, Gauchan D, Adhikari R, Thorne-Lyman AL, KC A, Nonyane BAS, Ghosh S, Webb P and West KP Jr
Original Research
Pathways through which agricultural production may influence markets, household food security, dietary patterns and nutritional status remain incompletely understood. While cross-sectional surveys are common, national, population-based, standardized data collection systems that annually monitor markets, local services, food security, dietary intake and nutritional status may be needed to understand time trends and relationships. We describe the design and methods of an annual nationally representative series of surveys of households with preschool aged children in 7 Village Development Committees (VDCs) sampled across each agroecological zone (mountains, hills and plains) in Nepal. Our sampling methodology yielded 21 VDCs, 63 wards (3 per VDC) and 40 markets in 2013, 2014 and 2016. Each year between ~ 4286-5097 consenting households were assessed for agricultural practices, socioeconomic conditions and food security; diet by 7-day food frequency and nutritional status by anthropometry (weight, height and arm circumference) of women (n=4509-5458) and children (n=5401-5468) using standardized procedures. Due to a major earthquake in April 2015, a truncated sample (wards n=27) was reached in 2015. Three VDCs, each representing a centroid of surveyed VDCs in each zone, served as year-round sentinel sites in which we conducted six surveys of seasonal conditions from 2013-2015. Representative, same-season, same-site surveys offer a feasible national framework for assessing annual status and trends in agricultural, food security and nutritional conditions to identify opportunities for policy and program interventions and observe population responses along a continuum leading from agriculture to nutrition.
Journal of Food Security. 2018, 6(2), 79-89. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-6-2-5
Pub. Date: August 28, 2018
13321 Views2791 Downloads
by Faweya O., Adeniran A. T. and Balogun K. O.
Original Research
In this study, symptoms of food crisis, knowledge of nutritional constituents and values together with good health practices were investigated among child-bearing women attending Federal Teaching Hospital, Ido-Ekiti, Ekiti-state. A structured questionnaire was used as a measuring instrument which consists of four sections, namely, personal characteristics, nutritional knowledge, basic health and effects of food crisis on their health. The distribution of respondents based on their demographic characteristics and the proportion of women in different arbitrary categorized state of health (Excellent, Very Good, Good, Fair, Very poor) were determined. Test of association between some demographic variables (age, marital status, educational qualification and income level) and derived variable (Body Mass Index (BMI)) with health status were also explored.
Journal of Food Security. 2018, 6(2), 74-78. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-6-2-4
Pub. Date: July 27, 2018
8775 Views1796 Downloads
by Salimata Pousga, Olivier Bello, Judith Ann Francis and Hamidou Boly
Original Research
In Sub-Saharan Africa the food supply, determined by the performance of a largely subsistence and poorly structured agriculture, remains dependent on the climatic conditions. In such situation, the training on food and nutrition and the need of curricula review processes in agricultural higher education is an important issue. The present study aimed to assess the embodiment of the concept of food security in the agricultural department of the NAZI BONI University. The department was audited using the AIFSHE tool, and a total of fifty persons attended the audit. A survey was also carried out at university and research levels where three hundred and twenty eight persons responded, and a focus group discussion was done during a workshop where a total of one hundred and fifteen stakeholders participated. The results of the audit showed good results, about the network of the university and the educational methods and pedagogy. However, the vision and strategy for food security in the country are implicit and not well defined in the university documents. The surveys reported that the curricula and research topics contained very few aspects of food security. The workshop proposed that students should be allowed in the design of food security curricula and that the food security mission at university level should be clearly defined in an integrated coordinated manner by involving many ministries, to ensure a well-balanced approach to its dimensions. With respect to research, it was highlighted that the university could focus its research activities in the area of agricultural extension in order to contribute to improving food consumption at household level and the population welfare, with the best utilisation of national funding. The findings of the study imply that agricultural higher education has a key role to play to contribute to the achievement of food and nutrition security in the country, and therefore, policy makers should give opportunities and facilities to these institutions.
Journal of Food Security. 2018, 6(2), 67-73. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-6-2-3
Pub. Date: June 27, 2018
9458 Views2072 Downloads2 Likes
by Ayisaa Adams, Jacob K. Agbenorhevi, Francis Alemawor, Herman E. Lutterodt and Gilbert O. Sampson
Original Research
The consumers’ awareness and willingness to pay premium for organic fruits and vegetables as well as the marketing prospects of these organic foods in the Techiman Market of Ghana were assessed. A face-to-face interview technique was employed using a structured questionnaire for this cross-sectional study. Out of 330 questionnaires administered, 318 were valid and included in the data analysis accordingly. Results showed that most of the consumers (74.53%) were aware of organic foods and the majority willing to pay up to 50% premium for the organic fruits and vegetables. The study revealed that key factors such as age, marital status, income and knowledge of chemical residues and their associated health risks significantly influenced consumers’ choice and willingness to pay a premium for organic fruits and vegetables. The estimated market potential for the organic fruits and vegetables were GH¢3,514,383,194.70 (~926 million USD) and GH¢5,341,348,087.50 (~1407 million USD) per year, respectively. Most consumers are aware of organic foods in the Techiman market of Ghana and they became aware generally through the radio and school/books. Most of the consumers acknowledged that they had concerns about the environmental and health risks associated with chemically grown fruits and vegetables on their health and wellbeing. Almost all the consumers were willing to pay up to 50% premium for the organic fruits and vegetables purchased in the Techiman municipality.
Journal of Food Security. 2018, 6(2), 55-66. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-6-2-2
Pub. Date: June 26, 2018
16855 Views2671 Downloads1 Likes
by Arthur Ngandeu Kouekam, Ernest L. Molua, Ajapnwa Akamin and Cynthia J. Mkong
Original Research
This study evaluates the determinants and elasticity of the demand for rice in Buea municipality. Cross-sectional data was obtained from sixty rice consuming households in six localities of the Buea municipality. The data obtained was analyzed using multiple regression analysis. Product price, consumers¡¯ income, family size and substitute price were found to significantly influence the demand for rice at 5% level. The demand for rice is price inelastic and as such, consumers are reluctant to forego the consumption of rice due to the prestige attached to its consumption as a ¡°festive food¡±. The relatively high-income elasticity for rice suggests a potential for the emergence of a large market for rice in the future in Buea. Estimated cross elasticity coefficient between rice and spaghetti shows that consumers in Buea perceive rice to be complementary to spaghetti. Periodic wage reviews in the line of current economic indices will put more income in the hands of consumers coupled with the adoption of modern processing techniques in rice production which will go a long way to generate increased demand for rice in Buea.
Journal of Food Security. 2018, 6(2), 51-54. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-6-2-1
Pub. Date: May 26, 2018
8661 Views1836 Downloads1 Likes