Understanding the drivers of food security among agriculture-based households in Gurué District, Central Mozambique

Custodio Matavel,Stefan Sieber,Jonathan Steinke,Constance Rybak,Harry Hoffmann,Klaus Müller

doi:10.1186/s40066-021-00344-3

Abstract

BackgroundThe prevalence of food insecurity in Mozambique is alarming, despite progress made during the 2010s. Several studies apply different proxy indicators of food security (FS) to assess the FS situation. However, these studies overlook the factors affecting FS, using only a single data point that results in an incomplete picture of FS. Food security is expected to fluctuate, being better and worse than what studies suggest. Using a sample of 296 households to assess FS, key drivers conditioning households’ capacity to achieve FS in Gurué District, Central Mozambique, are identified. Data were collected in the pre-harvest period and during the harvest period to capture relevant interseasonal variation of FS. Household FS is assessed using three standard indicators: Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), Household Food Consumption Score (HFCS), and Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP).ResultsEach household was classified into a specific FS status depending on the indicator applied. Generally, most households were classified as being severely or moderately food insecure during the pre-harvest season, while during the harvest season, medium and high levels of FS predominated. Nevertheless, varying outcomes were found depending on the indicator used to assess FS. MAHFP and HDDS are more related to the consumption of farm-sourced food, while HFCS responds more strongly to purchased food. Gender and age of the household head, geographic location, size and quality of land, staples production (especially cassava), livestock and crop diversity, as well as cash crops had a statistically significant effect on FS indicators.ConclusionsThe study concludes that the decision whether farmers should rely on staple foods production for increasing their FS status or specialize on cash crops production to generate income and buy food depends on the indicator used to assess FS, since each indicator captures a specific domain of food security. Thus, one central recommendation derived from our results is that policy makers should promote a balance between market-oriented agriculture and subsistence production to achieve FS.

Highlights

The prevalence of food insecurity in Mozambique is alarming, despite progress made during the 2010s
The decision whether farmers should rely on staple foods production for increasing their food security (FS) status, or specialize in cash crop production to generate income and buy food items depends on the indicator used to assess FS
Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) are more related to the consumption of farmsourced food, while Household Food Consumption Score (HFCS) responds more strongly to purchased food

Summary

Introduction

The prevalence of food insecurity in Mozambique is alarming, despite progress made during the 2010s. Matavel et al Agriculture & Food Security (2022) 11:7 prevalence of undernourishment for children under the age of 5 in Gurué district, which is located in Central Mozambique, is estimated at approximately 50% [5, 6] Reasons for this include frequently occurring natural disasters [7], climate change [8], and destructive crop pests that hindered adequate agricultural production [9]. The latter negatively affects livelihoods in multiple ways, since approximately 80% of the economically active population work in the agricultural sector [10] and, may be at risk of FI. This situation is likely to worsen in the context of the COVID-19 crisis [11], potentially triggering irreversible long-term consequences [12]

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Discussion

Conclusion