Enhance Household Food Security Research Articles

Circular bioeconomy practices and their associations with household food security in four RUNRES African city regions

Achieving the United Nation’s 2030 agenda which aims, among other goals, to ensure sustainable consumption and production patterns, requires a sustainable resource use model deployed at scale across global food systems. A circular bioeconomy (CBE) model of resource use has been proposed to reuse of organic waste in agricultural production to enhance food security. However, despite several initiatives recently introduced towards establishing a CBE in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), minimal scientific efforts have been dedicated to understanding the association of CBE practices and food security. This study use data from 777 smallholder farm households from DRC, Ethiopia, Rwanda, and South Africa, to examine associations between three CBE practices (use of organic waste as compost, as livestock feed, and sorting waste) and household food security. Using different regression and propensity score matching models (PSM). Result reveal that using CBE practices more likely adds a 0.203 score of food insecurity access prevalence (HFIAP), 1.283 food insecurity access scale (HFIAS-score) and 0.277 for household dietary diversity score (HDDS) among households using CBE practiced groups. Associations regarding using organic waste as compost are generally positive but insignificant, while those with sorting waste are significantly and consistently negative. Thus, CBE innovations aiming to enhance household food security could prioritize organic waste valorization into livestock feed consider socio economic aspects such as access to land, access to market, education level, using mobile phone, income and city regions where interventions took place. However, prior sorting of waste is necessary to enable effective waste valorization.

Impact of credit on household food security: The case of Omo microfinance institution in southern Ethiopia

To effectively address the pressing issue of insufficient food production and limited purchasing power among rural farm households in Ethiopia, it is of utmost importance to empower them through comprehensive developmental mechanisms and evaluate the effectiveness of these activities. By providing financial services to small-scale farmers and entrepreneurs, Omo microfinance plays a vital role in empowering individuals and communities to improve their livelihoods and contribute to the overall food security of the nation. The study assessed the impact of credit utilization on household food security among rural borrowers in the Offa district of Southern Ethiopia. Through the implementation of a multi-stage sampling technique, a total of 352 credit users and non-user groups were selected for rigorous analysis. Data collection was conducted via a semi-structured interview schedule. The Propensity Score Matching (PSM) method was used for data analysis. The compelling results of this study reveal the significant and positive role of credit intervention in enhancing household food security. Credit utilization has led to a remarkable increase in the average calorie intake per capita per day, amounting to 248.53 kcal/day. The finding of this paper provides a case study for policymakers to give more attention to creating an enabling environment for microfinance institutions to develop appropriate products and services for rural farming households to address food insecurity in Ethiopia.

Enhancing Household Food Security and Dietary Diversity through Homegardens: A Case Study in Selected Districts of Sri Lanka

Homegardens are resourceful ecosystems that provide essential services to the environment and mankind. Their contribution to secure household food requirement is among the provisional services of contemporary relevance. A study was conducted in 429 homegardens in Jaffna, Matale, Ratnapura, and Hambantota districts to assess the scope of utilizing homegarden resources on household food security. A questionnaire survey was conducted to gather information on the consumption frequency and the number of food categories that were purchased, produced, and shared. The mean food consumption score (FCS) was 60±23, where 89% of the study population had an acceptable level of FCS (FCS>35). As per the dietary diversity score (HDDS), an average household consumed at least eight food categories per day. Coconut was the most common food commodity produced in homegardens, followed by jackfruit and other fruits (mango, guava, soursop and pomegranate). Households rely on the market-available foods as their primary food source. The study revealed that utilizing at least one food category as a homestead-resource produced, could improve FCS and assist to fulfil the household food demand significantly. However, the majority of the homestead-resources were identified as plant-based, except in Jaffna where the presence of livestock and poultry in homegarden was common. Many of the plant-based resources were from perennial fruit-bearing trees. Therefore, modifying and utilizing the tree composition and viable crops can be considered a timely option to avert household food insecurity. Further, incorporating livestock components (dairy, poultry) as a part of homegardens is beneficial in fulfilling the animal protein demand of the household.

Enhancing household food security through flood disaster risk reduction in little Ruaha River Basin, Iringa district, Tanzania

ABSTRACT The study presents strategies adopted by households in the Little Ruaha River Basin in Iringa district to reduce flood disaster risk thereby enhancing household food security. A mixed research design was employed. Primary data were collected through semi-structured interviews, in-depth interviews, direct field observation and Focus Group Discussions; secondary data were collected through documentary review. The study found that the Little Ruaha river floodplain is very fertile and conducive for crop and livestock rearing. However, the area is frequently affected by flood disasters, thus, making livelihoods at risk. It was also noted that floods in the area affected food production and intensified the households’ food insecurity. It shows that to enhance food security in the household, people moved to safe places during floods, planted trees, dredged the river, practised social cohesion, built flood-resistant houses and used early warning systems. It was also revealed that most flood disaster risk reduction strategies were not effective in enhancing household food security. The study, thus, recommends that the government and other stakehodgders need to organize communities to actively participate in flood disaster risk reduction to reduce their vulnerability to floods and enhance household food security.

Exploring the Nexus between Agricultural Seasonal Dynamics and Rural Household Food Security in Kilombero Wetland, Morogoro Region, Tanzania

It is recognized that wetlands have great potential for enhancing agricultural activities due to their prolonged periods of water availability and good fertile soils making great expansion and intensification of agricultural production enhancing household food security in rural areas hence, communities have been relying on those wetlands for their livelihoods in different ways. It is from this interdependence that this study was proposed to examine the seasonal patterns of agriculture in the wetland and their implications on food security in three villages, Njage, Mngeta and Mkangawalo in the Kilombero wetland. The study employed mixed method approach whereby household questionnaires,-key informant interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, wealth ranking and documentary review were used to collect primary and secondary data. Purposive and simple random sampling techniques were used to obtain 150 respondents. Content analysis was used to analyze qualitative data while descriptive statistics were used to analyze quantitative data. Chi-square test was used to test the statistical significances of the differences between wetland and upland yields as well as size of wetland plots cultivated among socio-economic groups. The findings revealed that wetland users were the average wealthy (42.7%) and poor farmers (40.7%) who depended on the wetland for their survival. Crop production in Kilombero wetland was low as farmers practiced mono-cropping of rice and maize in both dry and wet seasons depending on rain-fed agriculture. Very few wealthy (8.7%) practiced dry season farming. The small size of the wetland plots cultivated, inadequate use of agro-inputs and over dependence on subsistence led to low crop production. Consequently, farmers experienced seasonal food shortages and food insecurity, particularly among the poor and very poor households. The study concludes that, despite its agricultural potential, Kilombero wetland had not contributed much to improve the food security status of the poor and very poor households, only the well-off and average wealthy were benefiting from the wetland. Therefore, Kilombero district authorities should ensure that village governments allocate adequate land for both the poor and very poor farmers to enable them increase crop production. The agricultural extension officials of Kilombero district should build capacity to farmers on the importance of intensive agriculture, use of improved seeds and use of a variety of cropping methods in order to improve their produce.

Drivers of household food security: Evidence from the Ghana living standards survey

The continuous increase in the population remains a challenge as the demand for food also increases at a greater pace than food production. This study sought to examine the determinants of food security in Ghana using the Ghana Living Standard Survey round seven (GLSS 7) data. Households' food security was measured using a food consumption score (FCS). A partial proportional odds model (PPO) was employed to analyse the drivers of household food security in Ghana. The results showed that being a male household head, engaging in farming, and leaving in rural areas decrease the household's chances of falling into poor and borderline food consumption poverty. The study, therefore, concluded that households in Ghana may be food-consumption-poor due to factors such as low level of education, employment status, and the location of the household, that is being in a rural area. Policies that provide employment and bridge the rural-urban divide, increasing access to education, particularly, nutrition education will enhance household food security status.

English

This study assessed the impacts of Farmer Field Schools (FFS) on household food security and environmental conservation in the Western Province of Kenya. The outcome variables were: Maize yield per acre, income per acre, household food insecurity score and environmental conservation score. Principal component analysis and propensity score matching techniques were used for analyses and regression method to test the robustness of matching results. We found that FFS households harvest higher crop yield of up to 9.45 bags which is significantly different (p<0.05) from their counterparts. Consequently, FFS households earn significantly (p<0.05) higher income estimated over KSh 2,800 per acre than Non-FFS households. Although the EC score were not significantly different, FS scores were low in FFS households. The study showed that FFS program significantly (-0.42**) reduce severity of food insecurity this implies that FFS plays a critical role in enhancing household food security. Key words: Farmer field schools, food security, environmental conservation.

Factors associated with wasting and stunting among children aged 06–59 months in South Ari District, Southern Ethiopia: a community-based cross-sectional study

BackgroundChild undernutrition is a major public health problem in Ethiopia despite different nutrition-specific and sensitive interventions implemented by the government. However, evidence regarding the burden and responsible factors is limited in the South Ari district. Hence, this study aimed to assess factors associated with wasting and stunting among children aged 06–59 months in the South Ari district, Southern Ethiopia, 2021.MethodsA community-based cross-sectional study was conducted from March 11 to April 11, 2021, among 717 households with at least one child aged 06–59 months. Anthropometric measurements were taken using standard procedures and were converted to height for age Z score and weight-for-height using WHO Anthro software Version 3.2.2. Data were checked and entered into Epi-Data Version 3.1 and analyzed using SPSS Version 25.0. Binary logistic regression analysis was fitted to identify predictors of wasting and stunting. A p-value < 0.05 was used to declare statistical significance.ResultThe prevalence of wasting and stunting among children aged 06–59 months in the district was 9.1% (95% CI: 7.07%, 11.41%) and 59.97% (95% CI: 56.28%, 63.58%), respectively. Family size (8 and above) (AOR = 3.03, 95% CI: 1.31, 7.03), family size (5 to 7) (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.11, 3.81), poor and medium wealth index (AOR = 3.69, 95% CI: 1.65, 8.26) and (AOR = 2.29, 95% CI: 1.01, 5.16), insufficient maternal knowledge on child feeding practice (AOR = 2.58, 95% CI: 1.31, 5.07), presence of diarrhea in the past two weeks (AOR = 2.05, 95% CI: 1.10, 3.85), non-exclusive breastfeeding (AOR = 2.65, 95% CI: 1.51, 4.65), and birth interval of < 24 months (AOR = 4.49, 95% CI: 2.40, 8.37) were factors significantly associated with wasting. Whereas, children in the age group of 24–59 months (AOR = 2.24, 95% CI: 1.58, 3.16), non-exclusive breastfeeding (AOR = 1.81, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.65), birth interval of fewer than 24 months (AOR = 1.54, 95% CI: 1.11, 2.14), sub-optimal child dietary diversity score (AOR = 1.59, 95% CI: 1.14, 2.22), being a non-beneficiary of productive safety-net program (AOR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.24, 2.95), and household food insecurity (AOR = 2.60, 95% CI: 1.86, 3.64) were factors significantly associated with stunting.ConclusionsWasting and stunting were found to be key public health problems in the South Ari District. Hence, further interventions should consider strategies to enhance household food security and integration of productive safety net programs with primary health care services. Rigorous work is required in advocating and strengthening the provision of family planning services, child care, and integrated management of common childhood illnesses. Moreover, behavioral change communication is highly demanded to improve child feeding practices.

Home gardens, household nutrition and income in rural farm households in Odisha, India

AbstractHome gardens have been an integral part of the recent food‐based interventions aimed at stimulating changes in dietary patterns and improving nutrition. However, evidence of their effects on food security, dietary quality, child anthropometry and incomes is limited, particularly among vulnerable populations groups. Using panel data from a sample of approximately 1900 households from vulnerable population groups in Odisha, India, difference‐in‐differences and other econometric techniques, we analyse the effects of home gardens on food security, dietary quality, child anthropometry and income. On average, home gardens contribute to better household food security, higher dietary quality of men and women but do not contribute to higher children's dietary quality and anthropometry. Also, home gardens increase monthly per adult equivalent incomes by 37% and reduce the prevalence of poverty by 11.7 percentage points. Quantile regression results suggest that home gardens enhance food security and incomes in all quantiles, but richer farmers benefit more than poorer farmers. Overall, home gardens can enhance household food security, dietary quality of men and women, and income gains among vulnerable farming population groups, but they may not suffice to improve child dietary quality and anthropometry.

Effect of rainfall and temperature variability on maize yield in the Asante Akim North District, Ghana

One of the largest consumed and grown cereals in Ghana is maize. However, there is a dearth of research on the response of maize yield to rainfall and temperature variability in Ghana. Precisely, prior studies conducted in Ghana have employed only quantitative approaches to explore the effect of climate variability on the yield of food crops including maize. However, this study combined both quantitative and qualitative approaches to investigate the effect of rainfall and temperature variability on maize yield in the Asante Akim North District of the Ashanti Region, Ghana. Since research will help the decision-making process of the policymakers at several cadres of managerial leadership of the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) all around the world where the goals are intended, this study will have significant implications on the attainment of the SDGs particularly Goals 1 (no poverty), 2 (zero hunger), and 13 (climate action). Pragmatic research philosophy was utilized with the aid of questionnaire surveys involving 150 maize farmers and three focus group discussions in three purposively chosen communities (Ananekrom, Juansa, and Agogo). The Mann-Kendall trend test was used to evaluate the trends of rainfall, temperature, and maize yield data for the period 2012 to 2021 in the study district. Multiple regression was used to assess the effect of rainfall and temperature variability on maize yield. Results showed that the surveyed maize farmers perceived rising temperatures and erratic rainfall patterns. Similarly, the Mann-Kendall trend test results revealed a significant temperature rise (p < 0.05) and an increasing rainfall pattern (p > 0.05). The increasing annual rainfall and rising temperature trends increased maize yield significantly (p < 0.05) in the district from 2012 to 2021 contributing about 70% of the yield variation. The surveyed maize farmers implemented key on-farm and off-farm practices including planting drought-resistant maize varieties, crop rotation, changing diets, and selling assets to adapt to the rainfall and temperature variability. The increasing annual rainfall and temperature patterns significantly affect maize yield positively in the Asante Akim North district stressing the need for continued implementation of adaptation practices such as planting high-yielding and drought-resistant maize varieties to enhance household food security. Furthermore, the results demonstrate the urgent need for policy formulation by policymakers to make maize production resilient to the adverse impacts of the changing rainfall and rising temperature trends in Ghana.

A Geospatial Approach to Assessing the Impact of Agroecological Knowledge and Practice on Crop Health in a Smallholder Agricultural Context

In the context of food insecurity in resource-poor settings, agroecology (AE) has emerged as an important approach promoted for improving crop productivity, yet few studies have demonstrated how a combination of agroecological methods can improve crop health and thereby crop productivity. Using a geospatial approach, this study investigated whether agroecological practices can improve crop health in smallholder contexts. We compared leaf area indexes (LAIs) of crops on AE and non-AE farms and prospectively predicted the impact of AE using vegetation indexes (VIs). We found that crops on AE farms produced higher average growing season LAIs for maize and pigeon peas (1.28 m2/m2) and maize and beans (1.29 m2/m2) farms compared to 0.97 m2/m2 and 0.80 m2/m2, respectively, for the same crops on the non-AE farms. The higher LAIs suggest that the combination of farming strategies practiced on the AE farms produced healthier crops on AE farms. Random forest regression prospective predictions generated statistically significant higher LAIs for maize and beans (R 2 = 0.90, root mean square error [RMSE] = 0.32 m2/m2) and maize and pigeon peas (R 2 = 0.88 m2/m2, RMSE = 0.42 m2/m2) on the AE farms, but predictions for the non-AE farms were not statistically significant. The findings demonstrate that combining AE strategies can potentially improve crop productivity to enhance household food security and income in smallholder contexts.

Land-use strategies of household-based agroforestry in Pendua Village, North Lombok

Competing needs for land resources are increasing as the world’s population grows. Indonesia ranks as the fourth most populous country in the world. The population of Lombok Island has increased more than double in ten years, from around 1.5 million people in 2010 to 3.8 million people in 2020. Home garden improvement has been regarded as one of the important strategies to enhance household food security. Home gardens are also part of local food systems in Lombok. Local people of Pendua Village, North Lombok, are using their home garden for apiculture to meet their needs. This research aims to understand the horizontal land-use allocation of home gardens practicing apiculture in Pendua Village, North Lombok. The horizontal land-use allocation was analyzed using Spatially Explicit Individual-based Forest Simulator (SExI-FS) in 26 home gardens. The result shows that most home gardens allocate an average of 20% of their area for bee’s forage plants, 5% for bee hives, 30% for building, and 40% are the potential open area for plants and bee hives enrichment. The highest important value index (IVI) for the tree is Mangifera indica (163.08%), for pole is Theobroma cacao (62.54%), for sapling and seedling is Dimocarpus longan (27.66% and 37.92%, respectively), and Capsicum frutescens (36,44%) for understory.

Assessment of Household Food Security and Its Determinants in Minjar Shenkora and Ada’a woredas of Central Ethiopia

Food security issues become one of the critical concerns and top priority areas for Ethiopia. This study analyzed rural households’ food security status and its determinants in Minjar Shenkora woreda of Amhara Regional State and Ada’a woreda of Oromia Regional State. Data were collected from 240 randomly selected rural farm households. The study employed both descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model to estimate the status and determinants of households’ food security, respectively. The findings indicated that the average dietary energy available for food secured households was 2,860.6 kilo calorie per day while 1,891.7 kilo calorie per day for the insecure group. According to the findings of the binary logit model, factors such as education level, farm size, livestock ownership, cooperatives membership, off-farm income and credit access have positive and significant effects on household food security. While household size has a negative and significant effect on household food security. The results recommend that interventions should target at improving rural financial services and off-farm activities that increase households’ income and focusing on those most significant variables when attempting to enhance household food security.

The contribution of voluntary savings and loan associations towards enhancing household food security in kole district, mid-north Uganda

Purpose: The study examined the relationship between VSLA activities and household food security in Kole District. Specifically, the study examined the effect of VSLA on three aspects of household food security, namely availability, food access, and food stability.&#x0D; Methods: The study adopted a cross-sectional design, which employed a mixed methods approach combining both quantitative and qualitative methods. A target population of 252 respondents including district and sub-county officials, VSLA leaders, and VSLA members was used. Both simple-random sampling and purposive sampling were applied to select a sample size of 148 and data were collected using self-administered questionnaires, interview guide and focus group discussions. Data was largely presented using tables. Descriptive statistics (mean, and standard deviation) and inferential statistics (correlation and regression) were used to analyse numerical data while Content analysis was used to analyse qualitative data.&#x0D; Findings: The findings revealed a statistically significant positive relationship between activities of VSLA and household food security in the area of study. Also, VSLA activities yielded a significant effect on food availability (β=0.721, P&lt;0.05), food accessibility (β=0.609, P&lt;0.05) and food stability (β=0.761, P&lt;0.05). It was decided that VSLA activities have a significant effect on household food security in Kole District, something that contributes to empirical-evidence of the association between VSLA activities and household food security.&#x0D; Unique contribution of theory, practice and policy: For improved household food security, it is encouraged that Kole District Local Government should mobilise the local community to join VSLA groups so that they can access affordable capital with a view to increase their level of food production.

English

Gynanisa maja is an edible caterpillar and contributes significantly towards household food security. The linkage between indigenous and scientific knowledge influencing G. maja forage preference is not yet clear, and therefore the study aimed at determining this linkage regarding host preferences for G. maja in western Zambia. A household survey was conducted to determine people&rsquo;s perception on the most preferred host plants and in order to compare with the laboratory tests, phytochemical and proximate analyses on host plants were conducted. Local people (100% of the respondents) mentioned that G. maja frequently feed on Julbernadia paniculata than on any other tree in the area. Both phytochemical and proximate analyses showed that J. paniculata had significantly high amount of total ash (F2.15 = 557.0, p &lt; 0.001) and crude protein (F2.15 = 77.6, p &lt; 0.001) and low content of total fat. The presence of terpenoids and lack of saponins and phenols in J. paniculata provided further support that J. paniculata is the most preferred host for G. maja. Study findings lays a foundation for embarking on farming G. maja using J. paniculata which will consequently enhance household food security. Key words: Edible caterpillar, Forage preference, plant nutrients, phytochemicals, indigenous knowledge.

Combining Climate Smart Agriculture Practises Pays Off: Evidence on Food Security From Southern Highland Zone of Tanzania

Concerns of food insecurity and climate change are serious global challenges, Tanzania included. In response, farm households are using various climate-smart agricultural practises (CSA-practises) which are believed to play a vital role to increase agricultural productivity, increasing resilience to climate change, and reducing mitigation costs for greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions while improving households' food security. Despite these benefits of CSA-practises but the usage of these practises is still voluntary and its impact on household welfare specifically food security is not well-documented in Tanzania, particularly in Mbeya and Songwe Region. Therefore, the determinants of using CSA-practises (in particular organic manure, drought-tolerant maize seeds, and irrigation) and the impact of the usage of household food security was examined. The cross-sectional study design was used to collect information from farming households in the Southern Highlands of Tanzania (Mbeya and Songwe regions). To evaluate the impact of the combination of CSA-practises on household food security the study used a multinomial endogenous treatment effect model. A counterfactual analysis was conducted to compare the impacts from different combinations of CSA-practises considered. The findings show that household, plot, and institutional characteristics have significant effects on the usage of a different combination of CSA-practises. The study also found that the highest payoff of food security is achieved when CSA-practises are used in combination rather than in isolation. The package that contains a combination of drought-tolerant maize seeds and Irrigation (Or0Dt1Ir1) gave a higher payoff than the combination of all three CSA-practises. The study suggests that based on the practises considered in this study, the usage of a combination of various practises results in better food security compared to the usage of these practises individually. This indicates that promoting a combination of CSA-practises could enhance household food security.

An Assessment of the Contribution of The Pfumvudza Concept Towards Climate Smart Agriculture in Zimbabwe: A Review

Concerns of food and environmental security have increased enormously in recent years due to the vagaries of climate change and variability. Efforts to promote food security and environmental sustainability often reinforce each other and enable farmers to adapt to and mitigate the impact of climate change and other stresses. Some of these efforts are based on appropriate technologies and practices that restore natural ecosystems and improve the resilience of farming systems, thus enhancing food security. Climate smart agriculture (CSA) principles, for example, translate into a number of locally-devised and applied practices that work simultaneously through contextualised crop-soil-water-nutrient-pest-ecosystem management at a variety of scales. The purpose of this paper is to review concisely the current state-of-the-art literature and ascertain the potential of the Pfumvudza concept to enhance household food security, climate change mitigation and adaptation as it is promoted in Zimbabwe. The study relied heavily on data from print and electronic media. Datasets pertaining to carbon, nitrous oxide and methane storage in soils and crop yield under zero tillage and conventional tillage were compiled. Findings show that, compared to conventional farming, Pfumvudza has great potential to contribute towards household food security and reducing carbon emissions if implemented following the stipulated recommendations. These include among others, adequate land preparation and timely planting and acquiring inputs. However, nitrous oxide emissions tend to increase with reduced tillage and, the use of artificial fertilizers, pesticides and herbicides is environmentally unfriendly.

Exploring the Food (In)Security Status of Suburban Households and Its Determinants during COVID-19

Household food insecurity in South African suburban low-income households is a major challenge. Research outcomes that will inform decisions on effective solutions towards reducing household food insecurity in South Africa are essential. The purpose of this study was firstly to determine the food security status of households and the skills of household members in Ward 60 of the Nelson Mandela Bay Municipality in the Eastern Cape Province in South Africa. Secondly, it was also to determine the association between the socioeconomic and demographic variables of the households and their level of food (in-)security. The study employed a mixed method of both qualitative and quantitative methodologies, comprising a qualitative Community-Based Participatory Action Research (CBPAR) methodology and a quantitative household food security survey methodology. A household food security survey was employed using a questionnaire that was based on the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The questionnaire was used to collect data from 170 randomly selected households. The data analysis used the HFIAS score and logistic regression analysis. The results show 6.1% of households as food secure, 3.05% as mildly food insecure, 13.4% as moderately food insecure, and 77.4% as severely food insecure. The results also show that a significant unemployment rate, a reliance on social grants, and absence of income seriously impact the extent of household food insecurity. The results show a significant association between the household food security and the variables of unemployment, income, and gender. The regression analysis results suggest that gender, household size, age, employment, and household income influence household food security. The results of the household skills show that the households had a variety of skills. These results can help to inform decisions by the government, local municipalities, NGOs, and other stakeholders towards designing effective solutions for enhancing household food security.

Assessment of factors affecting the decision of smallholder farmers to use alternative maize storage technologies in Gatsibo District-Rwanda

Storage is an important aspect of food security in developing countries. Therefore, it is crucial for farmers to have access to sustainable storage technologies to cope with storage losses. Maize is an important staple and commercial food in Rwanda, but maize farmers are still being challenged by storage losses because of the lack of proper storage facilities. It is in that regard that advanced maize storage technology, notably hermetic maize storage technology, has been introduced in Rwanda in 2012. However, since its introduction, the adoption rate is low among smallholder maize farmers. Understanding the factors influencing farmers’ choice of alternative maize storage technology could provide Rwandan policymakers with important information for designing policies and programs aimed at reducing maize post-harvest losses to enhance household food security. This study used a multivariate probit model on a randomly selected cross-sectional sample of 301 smallholder maize farmers from the Gatsibo District of Rwanda to take part. The results revealed that the common maize storage technologies used among smallholder farmers were polypropylene sacks with and without chemicals, hermetic bags, and silos. Only 41% of respondents used hermetic maize storage technology. The model results showed that membership in a farmer group, access to credit, the quantity of maize produced, access to training, and selling maize soon after it dries, were the major factors influencing the decision of smallholder farmers to use alternative maize storage technologies. The study recommends that the policymakers and other stakeholders in post-harvest loss reduction should support the dissemination of advanced storage technologies to facilitate access. The government should support farmer acquisition of post-harvest maize loss reduction technologies either through subsidization of hermetic bags or provision of cheap credit.

Achievements, challenges and opportunities of rainwater harvesting in the Ethiopia context: a review

Abstract Rainwater harvesting (RWH) is a novel way for developing countries to construct and maintain long-term water supply systems. As a result, this review paper draws on actual findings and lessons learned from various places in Ethiopia to assess the country's achievements and opportunities when it comes to RWH, as well as to guide future alternatives toward its sustainability. RWH acts as to help throughout the rainy season's dry spells, as a potential asset for the dry season, aiding human and livestock consumption as well as crop production through irrigation. So, for successful well-organized rain water collection, watershed treatment, seepage and evaporation control, soil and water conservation, conservation tillage, and integration of low-cost water lifting techniques and family drip systems should all be undertaken. Given that the country has not been significantly modernized, it has outdated experience in the operation and exploitation of RWH systems. Aside from financial inadequacies, historical and political instability, lack of understanding among farmers, and resistance to new technologies, the country has opportunities and has made some progress on RWH systems. In general, RWH could enable smallholder farmers to diversify their crops, thereby enhancing household food security, dietary status, and economic return. In addition, the much-needed green revolution and climate change adaptations should combine RWH ideas with agronomic principles in the country. More work is needed to strengthen indigenous practices and share best practices to a larger scale.