Influence of Wildlife Crop Raiding on Subsistence Farmers' Food Security Adjacent to Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa

Abstract

Worldwide, subsistence farmers have expressed concerns about food shortage due to crop raiding by wildlife. We investigated the effects of crop-raiding on homestead food security of subsistence farmers on the edge of the Hluhluwe Game Reserve, South Africa. We collected data through field inspections of farms and questionnaire surveys. The dietary diversity of larger homesteads (6-8 people) was potentially reduced due to the higher number of crops lost. Larger households were more vulnerable to food insecurity as compared to smaller households (3-5 people). Generally, crop damage resulted in ZAR 2,427/annum (about USD 180.71) potential loss in income, reducing homestead income by 16.18%, and this effect was greater for larger compared to smaller homesteads. Our results suggest that larger homesteads are more prone to food insecurity than smaller homesteads in a rural subsistence farming community.