Evaluation of Local Community Perceptions Regarding Household Vulnerability to Food Insecurity in North ‘B’ Unguja District

Abstract

This study focuses on addressing food insecurity in a rural community by improving millet production and mitigating vulnerability factors. It adopts a cross-sectional household-based design, concentrating on North B District in the North Unguja region, known for its significant food shortages. Employing a mixed research methodology encompassing both quantitative and qualitative techniques, information was gathered from household heads. Probability was utilized to select 100 households from two wards and two villages. Triangulation techniques were implemented to ensure the validity of the data, integrating questionnaire surveys with key informant interviews. Subsequently, data were analyzed using SPSS, incorporating descriptive statistics alongside tests like chi-square, t-test, and ANOVA. The results reveal that factors such as small farm plots, dependence on singular income streams, limited livestock ownership, and inadequate millet reserves are significant contributors to food insecurity. Proposed interventions include promoting more efficient farming practices and sustainable agriculture. Future studies should focus on evaluating intervention effectiveness and exploring additional strategies to enhance food security and livelihoods in rural communities.