Improve Food Security Research Articles

The influence of sugarcane growing by smallholder farmers on household livelihood, food security, and nutrition status of children below five years in mid-western Uganda

The current study aimed at determining the influence of sugarcane production on livelihoods, food security and nutrition status. A cross-sectional study was carried out among 350 smallholder farmers in mid-western Uganda. Food security was assessed by Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) while household livelihood and nutrition status of children below five (5) years were assessed by a semi-structured questionnaire and anthropometry respectively. Results showed that sugarcane growing households (SCG) cultivated more acreage of food, owned more assets, earned more income than the non-sugarcane growing households (NSCG). Ownership of motorcycles was higher (p < 0.05) among SCG than NSCG. Households reported anxiety and uncertainty of having food in the previous four weeks (SCG 38%; NSCG 55.2%); had insufficient food quality (SCG 56.8%; NSCG 70.7%); and had insufficient food quantity (SCG 41.7%; NSCG 49.2%). SCG were more food secure (32.3%) than the NSCG (20.8%) (p < 0.05) with a corresponding mean HFIAS of 6.56 ± 6.69 and 8.41 ± 6.41, respectively. Stunting among children below five years among NSCG was higher (34.6%) than in SCG (21.3%). Among SCG, 7.3% and 5.2% of children were underweight and wasted while 6.06% and 2.7% were underweight and wasted from NSCG. This demonstrated that sugarcane growing had better livelihood outcomes, positively impacted on asset ownership and food security but mixed effect on nutrition indicators among children in sugarcane growing and non-sugarcane growing households. It is recommended that government and development agencies diversify livelihoods among the NSCG and reinforce the existing livelihoods among SCG; provide nutrition education to both SCG and NSCG for improved food security and nutrition outcomes. Authors suggest further studies using a mixed approach to assess the levels of household nutrient intake in sugarcane growing areas.

Solving Food Insecurity and Agricultural Challenges with Hydroponics

In the face of an ever-expanding global population and the impending threat of food insecurity, the limitations of conventional agricultural methods have become evident. However, hydroponics–a crucial agricultural development–could present a sustainable and efficient solution to address the challenges posed by overpopulation. By cultivating food in smaller spaces with higher yields, hydroponics offers a potential remedy to improve food security and nourish the world. This research paper delves into the impact of hydroponics in Ontario, and provides insights into hydroponics' potential to reduce water consumption, mitigate environmental impact, and optimize land use. This paper will also provide lessons for enhancing traditional agriculture's sustainability. Ultimately, this comparison enables informed decisions and promotes environmentally conscious approaches to crop production, fostering a resilient and ecologically harmonious future.

Exposure of Social Media Advertising Media to Corn Farmers

Agriculture has an important role in improving food security and food availability which is also a source of income for farming communities in the village. The decision of farmers in cultivation has started from one month of planting. This activity is carried out by farmers to ensure good results. This study uses a quantitative approach that looks at farmers' activities in media exposure on social media related to managed farming. The farmers who were respondents were South Sumatran farmers in two districts of Ogan Ilir and Banyuasin. Sampling of 100 people by considering the adequacy of data to generalize. The data extracted is seen from the use of social media and the management of cultivation carried out. The results showed that the use of social media was carried out more than the entertainment used by farmers. Very few farmers use social media as part of decision-making considerations. Decisions are taken from the accumulation of information received directly by farmers and conditions in the field

PKM for Improving Food Security at PKK Bongan Village Tabanan District, Tabanan District-Bali Province

The problems faced are that chili cultivation techniques are not yet understood, chili processing has not been carried out, equipment and materials for cultivation and chili processing are not yet complete, and the importance of strengthening organizational management. The solution is that the partner group needs to be facilitated from the technological aspects of chili cultivation, chili processing, post-harvest and processing processes, and business management of the partner group. The aim of the activity is: to increase the knowledge and skills of partners in an effort to increase food security by cultivating in the yard and utilizing chili products to be processed into processed products with high economic value which can increase people's income.

Promoting Economic Empowerment Through Effective Implementation and Linking Social Capital in Urban Agriculture Programs

Promoting Economic Empowerment Through Effective Implementation and Linking Social Capital in Urban Agriculture Programs

Watershed management intervention on land use land cover change and food security improvement among smallholder farmers in Qarsa Woreda, East Hararge zone, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT Natural resource bases are the basic foundations of food security. However, they are facing problems both in quantity and quality, leading to decreased land productivity and societal issues. Watershed management is the most effective technique for managing and utilising these resources while improving food security. The study evaluated the effectiveness of the watershed management approach using Arc GIS 10.5 to track changes in land use cover for the years 2009, 2014, and 2020 and surveyed 337 households in three different Programmes. The findings showed six land-use land cover areas, where the proportion of farmland and bare land decreased while the proportion of settlements and shrub land increased in the three micro-watersheds. Population pressure and exotic species' invasion were significant factors contributing to the decline in farmland, while a decrease in bare land and an increase in shrub land were the results of successful watershed management interventions. Survey results showed that approximately 93.4% and 84.9% of respondents reported reduced soil erosion and deforestation, respectively. Further, the integrated watershed approach implemented in the area improved water availability, reduced dependency on single crops, and increased off-farm activity. Thus, scaling up an integrated watershed approach can enhance food security and protect natural resources.

Little evidence of avoided yield loss in US corn when short-term forecasts correctly predict extreme heat

Successful agricultural adaptation to extreme heat has the potential to avert large crop losses and improve food security. Because adaptation is costly, accurate weather forecasts have the potential to improve targeting of adaptation efforts. To understand the role of short-term (1–7 day) forecasts in reducing heat-related yield loss, we analyze a novel dataset combining corn yields, short-term weather forecasts, and weather realizations in the United States from 2008 to 2021. We find no evidence that forecasts facilitate avoidance of heat-related yield losses on average, and only limited benefits when we allow for forecast benefits to vary with irrigation prevalence. While our results paint a pessimistic picture of in-season adaptation to heat, forecasts may be more valuable for other crops and regions, especially given continuing investment in adaptation technologies.

A Framework for Blockchain and Internet of Things Integration in Improving Food Security in the Food Supply Chain

Food security, as defined by the United Nations' Committee on World Food Security, means that “all people, at all times, have physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food that meets their food preferences and dietary needs for an active and healthy life”. Food security is not just ensuring food sufficiency, but also ensuring the quality and the reliability of supply chains which have become more complex with diversified sources of farm productions. Some common issues in food supply chains are lacking efficient traceability of product origins and distributions. Blockchain is an emerging technology for the agricultural supply chain which could monitor food quality and safety by digitally tracking data and processes of material resources. Meanwhile, the Internet of Things (IoT) system is used for diagnosis and control in smart agriculture such as crop growth observation that can produce good quality and sustainable farm production. This work proposes a framework of the integration of blockchain with IoT to improve the reliability of food supply chain (FSC) by focusing on optimizing the consensus algorithm of blockchain. The expected outcome is to produce an efficient traceability and higher quality transactions which can integrate all procedures and dealings in real-time processes across the FSC.

An example of a convergent mixed-methods analysis to examine food security: the case of Popokabaka in the Democratic Republic of Congo

BackgroundFood insecurity is alarming in all four dimensions—availability, access, utilization, and stability—in Popokabaka, DR Congo. In such cases, a unique indicator may not help to develop adapted and local long-term actions. A comprehensive analysis of food insecurity is needed. We aimed to examine the burden and extent of food insecurity and suggest integrative pathways using a mixed approach for transformative actions at the local level.MethodsWe designed a convergent parallel mixed-methods study with four-level data sources collected in Popokabaka: (1) a household food survey (using the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), a Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and the Food Consumption Score (FCS), (2) a market food census (assessing food availability and cost per 100 g), and (3) an exit food market survey (assessing buyers' food choices and client satisfaction), and (4) on-farm qualitative study among food producers (exploring challenges and opportunities). Descriptive statistics from our quantitative data were triangulated with themes emerging from qualitative data.ResultsPopokabaka experienced severe food access insecurity (89%), poor food consumption (40.7%), and low dietary diversity (30.2%) at the household level. The quantitative findings at the household level were linked to market characteristics and farmer-reported themes under three pathways: poor diet quality, culturally grounded diet, and risk perception.ConclusionsThe focus should be on improving livestock development, developing adapted communications about nutrition to change established dietary habits, and engaging the government and all stakeholders to empower local communities for improved food security.

Challenges and opportunities existing in the floriculture industry in Africa: knowledge and future research prospects

Floriculture is a growing sector and represents an asset to the economy of most developing countries in Africa. This paper aims to access the existing knowledge gaps and how such gaps might be filled to develop the floriculture industry sustainably in Africa. Scientific information on the floriculture industry was searched on three online databases (ScienceDirect, Google Scholar African Journals Online and PubMed) to gather much reliable data on the last 30 years in Africa. Thus, 23 scientific publications distributed in eight African countries were considered and examined. East African countries are the most interested in the floriculture industry, with Kenya and Ethiopia as the leaders. There are about a hundred ornamental plant in Africa and they are dominated by exotic species that sold (50%) in northern countries. The cut flowers and foliage are mainly used to brighten up party days, insightful human well-being and the perfumery industry, as well as landscape plants, for hedging, game cover, slope stabilization, food, and aromatherapy. The most important challenges to tackle in floricultural production are related to climate change, pests, and pathogens attacks. Irrigated floricultural production, development and culture of resistant and adaptative varieties, and creation of home markets are recommended to ensure sustainable improvement of environmental quality, food security, and socio-economic aggregate for communities.

A method for estimating physical and economic food access at high spatial resolution

Physical and economic access to food vary spatially. Methods to map that variability at high levels of spatial detail over large areas are scarce, even though suitable datasets and methods exist. Using open-access data for Ethiopia, we developed a method to map the disparities in physical and economic food access at 1-km resolution. We selected 25 access-related variables for 486 geo-located communities from the 2018 Ethiopian Living Standards Measurement Study to create a food access index (FAI). The index was based on a weighted summation of the 25 variables from a principal component analysis (PCA). We then extrapolated the FAI to the rest of Ethiopia using a generalized additive model (GAM) to produce a 1-km resolution FAI map and used that to describe the spatial variability of food access. Economic access had a heavier weight than physical access in the FAI reflecting the fact that proximity to food markets alone is insufficient if one cannot afford food. The GAM had an R2 of 0.57 and a normalized root mean square error of 22.2% which are comparable to measures of model performance in studies that provided micro-level estimates of relative wealth. Peri-urban areas, representing 67% of the population, had relatively low food access, suggesting that these areas should be a priority for infrastructure or economic intervention. The scarcity of detailed spatial information on food access may limit the effectiveness of targeted policymaking to improve food security. The methodology developed in this study uses widely available and carefully selected datasets and can contribute to more spatially detailed estimates of food access in other countries.

Drivers of food and nutrition security during the lean period in southeastern Madagascar

The rural population in southeastern Madagascar faces widespread poverty and weak resilience to frequent climate shocks, both contributing to severe food and nutrition insecurity. For effective policy responses and tailored interventions, development stakeholders need to know which factors determine household food and nutrition security status. In particular, the relative contributions of on-farm production diversity versus cash income are of importance since they would suggest different intervention priorities. We collected survey data on household food security and women's diets during the lean season, where improvements are most needed, as well as on households' agricultural activities, market participation, and sources of cash income from 413 randomly sampled households. Regression results suggest that frequent market participation and cash income from non-farm self-employment improve food security, but on-farm diversity does not. Other determinants of household food security include livestock assets and maternal education. Women's dietary diversity, in contrast, is associated only with market participation. The importance of market participation for food and nutrition security reflects the situation in the lean period, when farm production is low and many households' food supply relies, in part, on market purchases enabled by non-agricultural income. Our findings imply that a focus on developing food markets and enabling opportunities for income generation are likely viable strategies for improving the rural food and nutrition security situation during the lean period in southeastern Madagascar. Relatively food- and nutrition-secure households are characterized by their ability to mobilize cash (e.g., from non-farm self-employment) to purchase food.

Can women’s empowerment in livestock farming improve household food security? Empirical evidence from rural households in Malawi

BackgroundOver the years the Government of Malawi has launched several initiatives to improve food security in the country. Despite these efforts there have been limited improvements in food security, raising the spectre of persistently elevated levels of food insecurity. Efforts to reduce food insecurity may involve women who play a central role in the production, processing, preparation and control of vital livestock products for food security. However, women’s ability to achieve food security is limited by their lack of access to productive resources and limited ability to participate in decision-making. The main objective of this study is to estimate the impact of women’s empowerment in household livestock production and marketing decisions on household food security.MethodsThis study uses data from a proportionate random sample of 400 households in two major livestock producing Extension Planning Areas in the Nsanje district to estimate the relationship between women’s empowerment and household food security in rural households in Malawi.ResultsTobit regression results show that the empowerment of women in the livestock sector, especially in decisions pertaining to agricultural production, nutrition, and income control, improves household food security. In addition, factors such as household income, household size, and the main occupation of the household head play a significant role in ensuring household food security.ConclusionThe results suggest that nutrition-sensitive programmes should target women’s agency in livestock production and nutrition decisions for improved food security among rural households in Malawi. As part of their food security strategy, Government of Malawi could develop programs to sensitize households on the importance of enhancing women’s agency in agriculture and nutrition decision-making, while also providing targeted income-support for women.

Examining the Impact of Integrated Nutrient Management and Vermicompost on Mustard Growth and Nutrient Composition

This study examines the impact of Integrated Nutrient Management (INM) on the growth attributes and nutrient composition of Indian mustard (Brassica juncea L.), a vital rabi season oilseed crop in India. Nine different treatment combinations were evaluated in a Randomized Block Design at Agronomy Research Farm. The treatments included various combinations of chemical fertilizers, vermicompost, sulfur, and zinc. The results indicate that the application of INM significantly influenced various growth parameters, including plant height and dry matter accumulation. Treatment T4 (75% RDF +Vermicompost@ 4t ha-1 + S @ 20kg ha-1) demonstrated the highest plant height and dry matter accumulation at different stages of growth. Additionally, seed yield, stover yield, and biological yield were positively impacted by INM, with T4 exhibiting the highest seed yield. Furthermore, the study highlights the importance of INM in enhancing the overall quality of Indian mustard. The application of these nutrient management practices not only led to increased seed yield but also improved the nutrient composition of the crop. The findings underscore the potential of INM as a sustainable approach to optimize crop productivity and improve food security in India. Overall, this research provides valuable insights for farmers, agricultural practitioners, and policymakers, offering a promising strategy for enhancing oilseed production and contributing to the agricultural economy of India. The positive outcomes of this study support the adoption of INM practices to ensure sustainable and productive mustard cultivation in the region.

Biofortification to improve food security

Crop biofortification has significantly progressed in the last few decades. The first biofortification success was quality protein maize, leading to double the amount of the essential amino acids lysine and tryptophan. This was followed by biofortification of staple crops such as maize, wheat, rice, legumes and cassava for nutrients such as Fe and Zn and provitamin A. These crops have reached millions of households, especially in the developing regions of the world. The development and release of these biofortified crops through conventional breeding generally took 8–10 years. To speed up the process, molecular markers, genome-wide association studies and genomic selection have been incorporated into breeding efforts. Genetic engineering has the potential to increase the efficiency of crop biofortification through multi-nutrient biofortification in a short timespan and to combine biofortification with climate resilience. Regulatory issues still prevent the dissemination of genetically modified crops in many countries. This could be overcome by CRISPR–Cas-mediated genome editing, as it seems that many countries will regulate products of genome editing less strictly than transgenic crops. Effective policies on national or regional level are needed for the sustainable production of biofortified crops. The availability of affordable quality biofortified seed and other inputs should be ensured through local seed systems, which will increase the production and adoption of biofortified crops. There is scope to expand the crops and the range of nutrients for biofortification. Genetic engineering should be combined with conventional breeding as a approach for future improvement of multi-nutrient crops.

Sustainable agriculture and food sovereignty in Haiti: sharing knowledge and shaping understanding of food systems at the University of Fondwa

The Association of Peasants of Fondwa (APF), a grassroots organization led by a visionary Haitian Spiritan priest, established the private nonprofit University of Fondwa (UNIF) in Haiti in 2004. The University aims to fill a gap in educational opportunities for rural youth and to develop community leaders able to steward food security, sustainable farm animal husbandry, and small business development. Since the institution’s foundation, University faculty members have explored low-input sustainable agriculture techniques, which were inspired by strategies shared earlier by Cuban agronomists and adapted to the Fondwa region’s mountainous terrain. While the University has faced and continues to confront many challenges related to its sustainability as an institution, this article describes the processes by which its faculty and students have conducted diagnoses of soils and crop choices, the innovations they have developed and introduced to improve harvest productivity in rural Haiti and, especially, the ways and means by which they have sought to share such (re)thinking of traditional practices with local farmers. We argue that the University of Fondwa faculty’s close collaboration with local farmers and the agricultural techniques they have refined thereby have not only improved food security for the families involved but have also contributed to the creation of social capital in the countryside and enabled participating Haitian farmers to imagine a path toward food sovereignty. In addition, by educating farmers and providing them tools to improve their food production, the University has worked to close the deep inequality gap that exists between urban and rural Haiti.

Food Insecurity after Cash Transfer Program in Rural Areas of Tehran: A Mixed Method Study

Background: Cash transfer (CT) is one of the strategies used by many developing countries to improve food security and nutritional status of lower socio-economic groups. This study aims to assessing household food insecurity (HFI) and viewpoints of women after CT program in rural population of Tehran province by both quantitative and qualitative methods. Methods: After making arrangements with rural health centers of Shahid Beheshti University of Medical Sciences and Health Services, 250 households were selected from five rural of Iran with different socio-economic status (SES) by cluster sampling. Locally adapted Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), food frequency, and SES questionnaires were completed, and height, weight, and waist circumference of adult females were measured. .Data on families' coping strategies were collected through 7 focus-group discussions. Results: The frequency of mild, moderate, and severe HFI was 22.3, 22.3, and 16.0%, respectively. SES negatively affected HFI (P&lt;0.001), and HFI negatively influenced food-group consumption (P&lt;0.001). Most of the women reported strategies like borrowing from family and friends, skipping meals, and eating less food by mothers. Conclusions: It seems that in spite of CT program, the prevalence of HFI among Iranians in rural areas was relatively high and consumption of food groups in FI households was low.

A Best-Bet System of Rice Intensification and Poverty Alleviation in Zamfara State, Nigeria: A Mixed Method Analysis

CONTEXTZamfara State is impoverished due to low agricultural productivity, inadequate infrastructure, and insecurity. Research has explored System of Rice Intensification (SRI)’s agronomic benefits but not its monetary and non-monetary advantages for rural households in the State. OBJECTIVEThe study investigates the effectiveness of a best-bet SRI (BB-SRI) as a poverty alleviation strategy in Zamfara State by utilizing Bakolori Irrigation Scheme as a case study. The study's anticipated outcome is to provide insights that inform policies and practices in the agricultural sector. METHODA mixed-method approach, including survey and field experiment, was used to gather quantitative and qualitative data from 300 rice farming households, consisting of both users and non-users of BB-SRI in the BIS, Zamfara State. Foster-Greer-Thorbecke method with two poverty lines and a three-dimensional poverty index with three poverty cutoffs were used to analyze monetary and non-monetary poverty, respectively, while three impact parameters were estimated using two selection models. RESULTS AND CONCLUSIONAgriculture is a critical sector in the BIS area of Zamfara State, Nigeria, but limited electricity and large household sizes pose challenges for productivity and food security. The BB-SRI farming method, which is costlier but yields more rice, has been found to increase revenue and profitability for farmers. Poverty incidence varies significantly depending on the production method used, with BB-SRI users experiencing lower poverty rates than traditional farming methods. BB-SRI reduces non-monetary poverty by 52% among its users in BIS and has the potential to decrease poverty by 16% if adopted by all rice farming households in the region. However, the monetary benefits mainly go to those near the upper monetary poverty line, with the poorest sector benefiting the least. While BB-SRI reduces monetary poverty incidence by 83% among its users, there is a 10% increase in extreme monetary poverty. The poverty alleviation impact of BB-SRI varies across different sectors, with some showing larger reductions than others. Overall, if all farmers used BB-SRI, monetary poverty incidence would decrease by 25%, with an actual reduction of 52% among its users. SIGNIFICANCETargeted policies can ensure disadvantaged communities benefit from SRI adoption, balancing trade-offs between increased yields and reduced off-farm work earnings. Poverty alleviation policies are needed to support vulnerable populations, as SRI adoption can improve food security and livelihoods. This research on SRI's impact on poverty reduction in Zamfara State and northern Nigeria contributes to sustainable agriculture literature and policy development.

Exploring the relationship between extreme weather events, urbanization, and food insecurity: Institutional quality perspective

This study examines the potential for institutional quality to address Africa's trilemma of food insecurity, rapid urbanization, and extreme weather events.Using a two-stage least squares regression analysis of 28 African countries between 2012Q1 and 2021Q4, our results suggest that extreme weather events have a significant negative impact on food security, particularly in urban areas.We found that institutional quality can have a significant positive impact on food security and can mitigate the negative effects of extreme weather events on food security. Our study also decomposed the food security index into its four components and found that extreme weather events negatively affect the affordability, availability, quality, and natural resource resilience of food. The findings are robust to the use of the feasible generalized least squares and panel-corrected standard errors estimation techniques.The policy implications of our study are significant, as our findings suggest that central governments can take practical steps to minimize the impact of extreme weather events on food security. Specifically, investing in disaster preparedness, improving infrastructure, and promoting agricultural development can all help improve food security. Additionally, improving institutional quality can be an effective way to mitigate the negative impact of extreme weather events on food security.

Abstract 12075: Does Improvement in Food Insecurity Lead to Improvement in Weight and Waist Circumference?

Purpose: The Food Insecurity and its Sequelae on Health (FISH) Research Study measures the impacts of the Geaux Get Healthy Clinical Program (GGH) on food insecurity and metabolic health. GGH is an 8-week program that provides community members with food insecurity nutrition/cooking education and access to resources. We have already shown that this program improves food security scores from enrollment to completion of the program with continued improvement at 6 months with USDA Adult Food Security Survey Module scores of 6.9 to 4 to 2.7 respectively 1 . We proposed that improvements in food insecurity with GGH would also translate into sustainable improvements in weight and waist circumference. Methods: Eligible participants included patients who qualified for the GGH Program ages 18-65, were English-speaking and without audiovisual deficits. Upon enrollment, participants met with the Health Specialist, again at 8-12 weeks, and again at 6 months. At each visit, participants completed validated surveys which included food security scores and vital signs were obtained. Results: At the time of this analysis, a total of 118 participants were enrolled. Participants’ mean BMI was 34.89 kg/m 2 ( SD =9.20). 66% of enrollees had diabetes (37%) or pre-diabetes (29%) and 56% of enrollees had hypertension. Of those who completed the study (n= 57), the mean weights were 92.2 kg at initial visit; 86.1 kg at 8 weeks; and 91.2 kg at 6 months. The mean waist circumferences were 42.26 in at initial visit; 40.2 in at 8 weeks; and 41.06 in at 6 months. The Wilcoxon Signed Rank Test was used to analyze change in response over 2 timepoints. Significant improvement in means of both weight ( p =0.011) and waist circumference ( p =0.008) occurred from enrollment to program completion at 8 weeks. However, neither of these improvements were sustained. Conclusions: It appears that a program providing access to resources and education improves food security scores along with weight and waist circumference. Although food security score improvements persist, improvements in weight and waist circumference do not. This suggests that intense programs addressing food insecurity may not continue to improve metabolic health once the educational piece is over and only access to community resources remains.