Food Insecurity, Food Insecurity Determinants and Coping Strategies in the Urban Space – the Experience of Low Income Households of Msunduza in Mbabane

Food security remains central in the United Nation Development Agenda (2030) as highlighted in the Sustainable Development Goal (SDGs 2). Nonetheless, there is still limited literature on food security in African countries and the drivers of urban food insecurity remain less understood, especially in Eswatini where urban food insecurity continues to rise. This study investigated the levels of food insecurity in the low income households of Msunduza in Mbabane and the coping strategies employed by Msunduza residents to deal with food shortages. The study sought to respond to the following research questions: What are the levels of food insecurity in Msunduza? What are the determinants of food insecurity in Msunduza? How do Msunduza residents cope with food insecurity challenges? To respond to the research questions, the study adopted a quantitative approach based on a case study research design. Data was collected from 91 heads of households, selected through systematic sampling procedure. The results reveal that majority of households in Msunduza are food insecure, with a larger proportion in the mildly food insecure category. Household income, household size, employment status and gender of the household head were found to be among the key determinants of food (in)security in the area. In cases of food shortages, households in the informal settlement of Msunduza employ different coping strategies which include reducing food intake (size of meals), begging, selling of household assets and skipping of meals, among others. The paper recommended that food security interventions be considered for low income urban households, more particularly, female headed households which tend to be more vulnerable to food insecurity.

Food security — not yet

Who Eats, Where, What, and How? COVID-19, Food Security, and Canadian Foodscapes

Food security is a paramount issue, particularly in developing nations like Ethiopia. Much of the existing research focuses on identifying the factors and constraints of households related to rural areas. However, little attention has been paid to urban householders' food security and insecurity. To this end, a study has been conducted in Gondar to evaluate urban household food security, sampling 357 homes. Results revealed that 67% of male-headed households were food secure and 33% were food insecure, while 72% of female-headed households were found food insecure and 28% were found food secure. Tenants faced higher insecurity (77%) versus homeowners (12%). The Foster-Greer-Thorbecke model highlighted 53% incidence, 14% depth, and 5.4% severity of insecurity. Tackling 15% of calorie needs could eradicate it with proactive regional governance. Binary logistic modelling identified gender, homeownership, income, marital status, remittance, and credit access as significant factors (p < 0.01). The study underscores the need for tailored programs focusing on income, stable pricing, housing, and low-interest loans which are crucial for addressing overcoming urban food insecurity.

BackgroundMalnutrition is a worldwide problem that impacts every country, affecting one in three individuals, including Ghana. According to estimates from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), 690 million people were undernourished globally in 2019. Malnutrition is no exception in rural cocoa communities in Ghana. The expansion of cocoa is causing food insecurity and low dietary diversity in most cocoa-growing areas. There is little information on the food security status and dietary diversity among male-headed and female-headed cocoa households in the Juaboso-Bia cocoa landscape. Thus, this study sought to explore the dietary diversity distribution, food security status, sources of staple food, food unavailability periods, food production status, themes contributing to low dietary diversity and food insecurity, and perception of the impact of cocoa expansion on crop diversification among male-headed and female-headed cocoa households in the study area.MethodsBoth quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed to address the research questions. The study collected 200 semi-structured questionnaire data and 14 in-depth interview data from cocoa household heads in the Juaboso-Bia landscape. The survey data was cleaned and analysis, such as household dietary diversity status, food security status, and binary logistic regression were performed in the Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). The in-depth interviews were analyzed using thematic analysis.ResultsThrough this study, it was revealed that 62.8% of the male-headed cocoa households had medium to high dietary diversity compared to their female counterparts 39.3%. About 47.9% of the male-headed households were food secure than the female-headed households (29.1%). Moreover, the months that both male and female-headed households recalled facing severe food unavailability were July and June. In addition, climate change/variability, unavailable lands, poverty, large household size, and gender stereotypes were themes promoting low dietary diversity and food insecurity among male and female-headed households. Furthermore, sex, total household income, and cropland conversion to cocoa were the variables influencing household heads’ perception of the impact of cocoa expansion on crop diversification.ConclusionsThe study showed that the male-headed cocoa households had high dietary diversity and were food secure than the female-headed cocoa households, lending credence to the conceptual framework applied in this study. There is a significant relationship between household head gender and food security status. Therefore, this study recommends the following interventions to improve dietary diversity and food security among male and female-headed cocoa households: raise awareness about the need for diverse diets and provide practical information on how to incorporate a greater variety of food groups into their daily meals; and promote gender equity and inclusivity in food security interventions. Future research could investigate how gender mainstreaming policies in agriculture have helped empower and improve the food security of female-headed households in Ghana.Supplementary InformationThe online version contains supplementary material available at 10.1186/s12889-024-18204-7.

Zimbabwe is becoming increasingly urbanized, and with this accelerating process comes a host of socio-economic challenges. Rapid urbanization process has resulted in increase urban food insecurity and malnutrition, especially on the side of tandem increase in urban poverty. Urban poverty and food shortage are taking root in Zimbabwe, as a result increased food production and access becomes critical to achieving major nutritional improvement and addressing food insecurity. In the face of urban food shortages, the present paradigm of rural food production cannot meet the challenges of the new millennium. It is hardly surprising that increasing umbers of urbanites are looking to grow their own food, if only to supplement their family food needs. Food is one of the basic needs and urban agriculture, both legal and illegal, has grown as a consequence of the difficult economic climate. Many urban households lack adequate amounts of foods that are rich in the nutrients needed for health and a productive life. It is against this background of increasing urban poverty that this discussion puts forward some suggestions for promoting urban agriculture. Urban agriculture has diverse economic, social and ecological functions and can be valued as one of the agricultural sectors having enormous potential to contribute to food security in Zimbabwe. In this discussion the role of urban agriculture in improving nutrition and food security is highlighted. Urban areas are becoming more 'modern' in their patterns of consumption than in their patterns of production, and there is a danger that the urban poor will become more and more marginalized while, at the other extreme, a small increasingly wealthy elite develops. The demand for food due to increased urbanization is predicted to grow faster than production resulting in a growing food deficit and insecurity in urban areas. Strategies which foster gender equality in urban food production will impact positively on food production, which may translate into expanded food production base to meet the needs of the growing urban dwellers, who are failing to make ends meet. This means participation of women in urban agriculture on the understanding that they are custodians of food production in many urban communities is recommended. However, challenges associated with urban agriculture need to be addressed to avoid land degradation and pollution in urban areas. Therefore, urban agriculture should be considered as a normal component of agriculture system and urban development, which has the capacity to improve nutrition and food security, as it lends itself to the majority of the urban poor. Greater and more sustained food production from urban agriculture will increase the potential access of the urban household to an adequate diet. It is envisaged that urban agriculture will be the new approach to satisfying urban food demands, however best provided incentives to urban farmers are credited by formulating policy fair to urban food producers. In the face of this bleak situation, major efforts are required to promote urban agriculture in addressing the nutritional needs and the perpetual food insecurity challenges in urban areas of Zimbabwe. On the other hand, given the economic, social and ecological advantages of urban farming it is arguably deserves even greater attention than before.

A Consideration of the Evaluation of Demonstration Projects to End Childhood Hunger (EDECH)

This study was conducted in Manna woreda which is found in Jimma zone at a distance of 368 km south west of Addis Ababa and 24 km west of Jimma town. The objective of the study was to identify the determinants of household food insecurity in rural households. Even though majority of the sample households were found to be food secured, the number of food insecure households was not small. To know the food security status of the households, the data collected from sampled respondents regarding food preparation for seven day recall and daily consumption record were converted to kilocalorie using the Food Composition table manual. After that the major demographic, socioeconomic and institutional variables were assessed to look into their relative importance in determining the state of food security at household level. Accordingly Large family size and Asset possession, sex of the household head , number of oxen owned, Access to improved seed and chemical fertilizer are found to be the determinants of food insecurity in the area, Existence of major animals diseases and pest that affect crop production were found to significantly determine individuals food insecurity status. In addition, Some of the coping strategies that are used by food insecure household were assessed. Their local coping strategies at initial and severe stage includes: sale of livestock and productive assets as well as marketing of wood/charcoal which can in turn aggravate the problem of food insecurity.

Food and nutrition insecurity continues to be one of the major development challenges in sub-Saharan Africa and other developing regions of the world. Karamoja sub-region, located in northern Uganda, is one of the poorest and most food insecure part of Eastern Africa. Previous studies have generalized the sub-region as food insecure. However, limited attention has been paid to locational differences in the food and nutrition security situation within this culturally and ecologically diverse part of the country. A crosssectional study design was used to examine at a community level, disparity in food and nutrition security situation among communities in Kotido and Moroto districts of the Karamoja sub-region. The study investigated the status of agricultural production, dietary habits and food security situation using individual household survey, focus group discussions, key informant interviews, household food insecurity access scale (HFIAS) and food insecurity coping strategy index (CSI). Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, analysis of variance, and correlation and regression methods, at 5 % level of significance. The results showed that irrespective of ethnic differences, majority of households (78.8%) consumed less than 3 meals 24 hours preceding the interview. Generally, agricultural production was inadequate to support household food security and less than 30% of the households had adequate calorie intake. However, calorie intake adequacy was at least three (3) times higher in Kotido than in Moroto district. Plant foods were more frequently consumed than animal-source foods. At least 57% and 73% of households in Kotido and Moroto districts, respectively, never consumed fish. Food security was generally predicted by household size, ownership of food stores, occupation of household caregivers, number of livestock (especially goats) owned by households, time taken to fetch water (related to distance to water source) and sorghum production. Whereas it is generally known that Karamoja sub-region is highly food insecure, this study has demonstrated that communities in Moroto district are worse-off than those in Kotido district. Therefore, community-level characteristics ought to be an essential baseline consideration in designing food and nutrition interventions in Karamoja, and indeed in food insecure localities in general. Keywords: Karamoja, Eastern Africa, dietary practices, coping strategies, animal source foods

Comparing Food Security Before and During the COVID-19 Pandemic: Considerations When Choosing Measures

Food insecurity is a global issue, with higher prevalence of hunger in developing countries. Low crop yield and food production - due to difficult topography and traditional farming methods - combined with lower income; fluctuations in prices and supply, and low quality of food have been causing food insecurity in Nepal. This research examines food (in)security situation in Upper-Mustang, Nepal. The results are derived from the data collected through face–to-face interviews with the heads of 66 households, in-depth interviews conducted with 22 key informants, and discussions with the group of local people in different (6) places. The household food system was studied from livelihood perspectives and food (in)security was assessed in relation to self-sufficiency or production sufficiency, access, utilization, and stability of food. Households in the Trans-Himalaya acquire food from multiple sources such as farming and livestock ranching, buy food from the market, and also receive food aid for the sake of survival during the food crisis. Food security situation in terms of self-production in Upper-Mustang is at worst stage that many households are facing severe to chronic food insecurity. Studied households access marketed food, though the price they pay is very high. The worrisome issue is that there is no significant improvement in food security situation over time in the Trans-Himalaya. Study found that not the household size but dependency ratio in the household increases food insecurity. On the other hand, quality of farmland in terms of cropping intensity and availability of irrigation rather than the farm-plot size contribute for food security. The issue of food security is still a valid development policy goal for Nepal in general and for the Trans-Himalaya in particular. Accordingly, food security interventions are important. Yet, policy for interventions should look into all components of food systems, particularly providing irrigation, promoting local food varieties, and provisioning for food subsidies and food aid together with subsidies in food transport.

This research analyzed urban household food security and coping mechanisms in response to increasing food prices in Osun State, Nigeria, with an emphasis on the cities of Osogbo, Ile-Ife, and Ilesa. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed to survey 240 households, with data analyzed using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), multinomial logistic regression, and the Coping Strategy Index (CSI). Findings indicated that merely 17.9% of households achieved food security, whereas 39.6% and 16.3% experienced moderate and severe food insecurity, respectively. Household income, education, household size, access to credit, and the share of food expenditure significantly influenced food security. Households predominantly employed mild coping strategies, including the consumption of less expensive foods and the reduction of meal portions, whereas severe strategies were primarily observed among those experiencing significant food insecurity. Recommended policies encompass urban food support initiatives, the promotion of urban agriculture, social protection programs, access to microcredit, and nutrition education. The research underscores the necessity for cohesive strategies to enhance urban food accessibility and resilience, thereby supporting Sustainable Development Goal 2: Zero Hunger.

The Need for Investment in Rigorous Interventions to Improve Child Food Security

FOOD FOR THE CITIES: URBAN AGRICULTURE IN DEVELOPING COUNTRIES

Food security is a key development agenda. Food security exists when all people, always have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food, which meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) one and two generally aim at eradicating poverty and achieving food security, respectively. Currently, food security is explored as a rights-based issue whether at an individual or collective level. Ecological system theory illuminates the importance of interlinkages between environmental (sub) systems to attain a holistic system including a food secure system. In existence are regulations highlighting food security as a right to be enjoyed by all humans including females. Even though females are the primary caregivers and heads of their households, they have not enjoyed the right to acceptable food security due to socio-cultural and systemic exclusions, despite the existing legislations. This study on food security among female-headed households (FHHs) was conducted in Voi Division in Taita-Taveta County in Kenya. Fifteen key informants were purposively selected from organisations dealing with the matter of food security in the area. The sample was conveniently acquired by researchers requesting team leaders of the organisations to identify relevant key informants for the interview. As part of the main study, the key informants were requested to express their perspectives on plausible practice guidelines for promoting food security among female-headed households especially in Voi Division. For the purposes of the interviews, verbatim responses of 14 key informants were considered, which ultimately inform the formulation of the practice guidelines by the authors as backed up by literature. The guidelines are recommended for programme planning, for policy and programme implementation. The guidelines for programme planning are conducting participatory rural-appraisals with vulnerable groups, formulating female-friendly policies, and planning for economic empowerment. The guidelines for policy and programme implementation include poverty eradication through formation of self-help groups and implementing female-centred education policies, implementing nutritional programmes, and establishing irrigation projects. Key words: practice guidelines, food security, female-headed households, policy, programme