by Sadika Sharmin, Noor Aman Bin A. Hamid and Wan Abdul Manan Bin Wan Muda
Original Research
A significant number of female workers (1.6 million) are employed in different types of garment factories. Garment factory workers in Bangladesh are the lowest paid workers in the world. Achieving food security and other basic needs are a challenge due to financial constraints. The purpose of this study was to examine the food insecurity of women garment factory workers in Bangladesh. The study was carried out using a cross-sectional survey. The validated Bengali version of the Cornell-Radimer questionnaire was used for the purpose of collecting data on food insecurity. Logistic regression was performed to assess the association of food insecurity with socio-demographic, socio-economic and working condition variables. The results found that 71.9 percent of the women garment factory workers’ households faced food insecurity and 28.1 percent were food secure. Household size (OR2.02, 95% CI, 1.52-2.69, P=<0.001), being the head of the household (OR 0.42, 95% CI, 0.21- 0.82, P=0.012), and job satisfaction felt by the respondents (OR 0.50, 95% CI, 0.32-0.79, P= 0.003) were associated factors linked to food insecurity of women garment factory workers. To maintain food security, the government should raise the workers’ salary in tandem with the food prices in the market. Overtime salary per hour should be increased and proper payment of extra working hours should be ensured.
Journal of Food Security. 2019, 7(1), 28-32. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-7-1-5
Pub. Date: February 17, 2019
8806 Views2374 Downloads
by Glen Gibson
Original Research
Land cover data derived from satellite remote sensing was used to determine if there was a significant change in cropland area in territory once controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) compared to periods before the rise of ISIS. Results revealed that mean cropland area was largest during the pre-drought period (2000-2005) at 21,707 km2, decreased during the drought period (2006-2010) to 17,119 km2, and remained at about drought levels during a period of instability in both Iraq and Syria (2011-2013) and the Islamic State period (2014-2017), 17,530 km2and 17,335 km2, respectively. Cropland area never returned to previous highs of the pre-drought period in ISIS territory but did return to previous highs in non-ISIS territory. Results of Analysis of Variance indicate that the effects of ISIS on cropland area were similar to devastating drought.
Journal of Food Security. 2019, 7(1), 20-27. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-7-1-4
Pub. Date: February 04, 2019
8477 Views1393 Downloads
by Ebere R. A, Thambura J. M and Mworia E. G
Original Research
Food security broadly encompasses availability, accessibility and utilization of food. Household dietary diversity that relies on the number of food groups consumed over a given period has previously been used to measure food security. This study was conducted on 60 households who were randomly selected and data obtained through face to face interviews, structured questionnaires and key informant interviews in Ruiri-Rwarera Ward of Meru County in Kenya. The area being semi-arid receives average annual rainfall of about 700 mm with an elevation of 1100 metres above the sea level. Residents from this area mainly depend on subsistence agriculture for income and livelihood. Data from structured interview questionnaires was analysed using Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS) software version 20.0 to establish the percentage frequencies, means and standard deviation. Chi-Square was used to test the significance of associations between variables. Household social demographic characteristics were investigated. The level of education, the size of household, time taken to the market, means of transport, land ownership, farm size, occupation, monthly income and their sources showed significant association with the number of food groups consumed by households (p<0.05). Location, marital status, household food expenditure, control of farming decisions, distance from the market, type of road network and nutritional status showed no relationship.
Journal of Food Security. 2019, 7(1), 13-19. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-7-1-3
Pub. Date: January 22, 2019
10411 Views2560 Downloads
by M. Mehedi Hasan, Mohammad R. Hasan and Mohammad Jakaria
Original Research
This study examines the past weather impacts on boro rice cultivation in Bangladesh including physical input variables to explore the impacts of weather. A cross-sectional time series dataset over 44 years consisting climate variables, non-climatic factors, and boro rice yield across seven climatic zones of the country is used for the present study. Employing a panel data regression model, findings reveal that average temperature reduces boro yield growth whereas seasonal rainfall improves it. All the physical input variables have positive and significant impacts on borocultivation. However, the contribution of non-climatic factors is much higher than that of climate variables. Finally, physical inputs should get emphasized to include crop-climate model to estimate the exact impact of climate change on boro yield growth.
Journal of Food Security. 2019, 7(1), 8-12. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-7-1-2
Pub. Date: January 11, 2019
9358 Views2132 Downloads2 Likes
by Opara Dominica C and Johnson Ofonime E
Original Research
Studies done in various states in Nigeria have shown alarming rates of food insecurity among the population. The aim of this study was to determine the prevalence of household food insecurity among different wealth groups in Uyo metropolis, in southern Nigeria and to determine compensatory feeding patterns engaged in by studied food insecure households. This was a cross sectional descriptive study carried out among 249 households of different wealth groups based on the occupational status and educational attainment of the household heads. Data was collected using interviewer administered semi-structured questionnaire and analyzed using SPSS version 20 with a 0.05 level of significance. The prevalence of food insecurity among surveyed households was 89.9% with food insecure 26.5% (without hunger), 30.5% (moderate hunger) and 32.9% (severe hunger). Marital status, socioeconomic class, household size and household income all had statistically significant relationships with food security status (p<0.05). Those in socioeconomic class-1 were the most food secure (23.8%), while 63.6%, and 36.4% of households in socioeconomic class-5 were food insecure with moderate hunger and severe hunger respectively. Up to 36.4% of those with a household size of >7 suffered food insecurity with severe hunger. Regarding household income, 48.9% of households with income less than 50,000 naira per month, were food insecure with severe hunger (p<0.05). Coping strategies engaged in by food insecure households included borrowing money from friends, 33.7%, collecting food from friends 26.1% and sending children to work, 8.8%. There was high prevalence of food insecurity among studied households. It is recommended that better educational opportunities be made available to those of the low socioeconomic class, so as to ensure gainful employment. Minimum wage in Nigeria should be increased to ensure increased household income.
Journal of Food Security. 2019, 7(1), 1-7. DOI: 10.12691/jfs-7-1-1
Pub. Date: January 06, 2019
9561 Views2416 Downloads