The synergistic relationship between Amartya Sen entitlement theory and the systems theory in developing a food security implementation model in Matabeleland South Province, Zimbabwe.

Emmanuel Zivenge,Tapiwa Muzerengi,Ernest N Khalema

doi:10.4102/jamba.v13i1.965

Abstract

Food insecurity has increasingly become a topical issue that needs to be addressed before it goes out of hand. The article explores the synergistic relationship that exists between Amartya Sen entitlement and systems theories. The article hypothesises that food insecurity in Matabeleland South Province is mainly caused by a lack of understanding of food security pillars and how all the concepts dove tail into the food security discourse. The article further propounds that, for communities to go out of the food insecurity quagmire, they need to work collaboratively as a system as substantiated by the systems theory. Sen argues that the law stands between food availability and access. This is further simplified as follows: food can be available in the markets but the people might lack the purchasing power to purchase the food. When people try to acquire food through stealing, the law catches on them. On the other hand, the systems theory argues that for a community to function well all the parts should play their roles towards the survival of the whole. The theory further informs that government stakeholders and non-state actors must work together in addressing food insecurity without a clearly defined direction. Interactions with provincial stakeholders, revealed that, a leaf can be borrowed and applied from the two theoretical models to achieve food security in Matabeleland South Province in Zimbabwe.

Highlights

This research article is hinged on Sen’s entitlement theory and the systems theory
The entitlement theory looks at how communities can become food secure looking at food access; whilst the systems theory looks at how the communities can become food secure
The entitlement theory defined the problem of food insecurity but the systems theory informed the affected community of Matabeleland South to bring different interrelated parts to work together in fighting food insecurity

Summary

Introduction

This research article is hinged on Sen’s entitlement theory and the systems theory. The two theories complement each other and perfectly address the study thrust. This theory is very useful in this study in the sense that for a sound implementation model to address food (in) security to be done, interaction is needed from the community members, local leadership and heads of different government ministries, local authority and even the rural district councils When all these stakeholders are interacting, it means that they are working together towards the survival of a whole, which in this case is the Province of Matabeleland South. This is the same that is expected in the province of Matabeleland South for communities to be connected and unite to come up with a working implementation model that unpacks the prospects of the Agenda for Sustainable Socio-Economic Transformation, which would bring a practical solution to acute food shortages in the province All this can be realised through interaction and unity of purpose amongst different interrelated parts in the province. These stakeholders might interact together at district level as rural district development committees and feed to form the provincial development committee with a shared view from the communities of developing an implementation model that addresses food (in) security, which is one of the major thrusts of the ZimASSET

Methodology and food security implementation model

Conclusion