Role In Household Food Security Research Articles

Indigenous or Exotic Crop Diversity? Which Crops Ensure Household Food Security: Facts from Tanzania Panel

Farm crop diversity is often overlooked, predominantly indigenous crops’ role in this diversity. The main concentration has been on the contribution or role of exotic crops to household crop diversification. At the same time, the role played by both types of crops in household food security has only been aggregated, failing to show how indigenous crops play a key role in household food security. This research paper uses Tanzanian Panel data from waves 4 and 5 to study the factors influencing indigenous and exotic crop diversification and the role of this diversity in household food security. Using a random effect model, the author found that various factors are crucial in determining household crop diversification. Gender, household size, marital status, and expected harvest quantity are among the key factors influencing indigenous crop diversification. On the other hand, age, education, access to markets, access to irrigation services, and soil quality are the primary factors that affect the diversification of exotic crops. Moreover, the findings show that indigenous and exotic crop diversity significantly influences household food consumption. Thus, policies to increase the production of indigenous crops in order to improve household food consumption should be considered.

Women's empowerment and its role in household food security to achieve SDGs: Empirical evidence from rural Bangladesh

AbstractWomen in developing countries are often characterized by lower social status, less input into decision‐making, lack of access to resources, and lower mobility, while their inclusion is vital to achieving household food security. This concept is recognized as important for attaining sustainable development goals (SDGs), including SDG‐5 (gender equality). This study investigated the level of women's empowerment (WE) and its determinants, household food security, and the connections between WE and food security in farming households in Bangladesh. Using primary data collected from 350 households and applying the modified project‐level WE in Agriculture Index, this study found that less than 1% of women were empowered. Poisson regression evidenced that women's years of schooling, household size, farm type, and having household members working away were positively associated with WE, while the farm's distance from home was negatively related. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale revealed that only 18% of households were food secure. Partial least squares structural equation modeling showed that three domains of empowerment—access to decisions on financial services, input in agricultural decisions, and ownership of assets—were negatively associated with household food insecurity, while mobility was positively related. This study shows, a realistic policy is needed to achieve food security through empowering rural women to achieve SDGs in a timely manner.

Access to food markets, household wealth and child nutrition in rural Cambodia: Findings from nationally representative data.

Access to informal fresh food markets plays a vital role in household food security and dietary quality in transitioning rural economies. However, it is not well understood if market access also improves child nutrition and if the improvement applies to all socioeconomic groups. In this secondary research study, we combined a national listing of food markets (n = 503) with a national household survey to examine the associations of market access with diet and height across wealth groups in children aged 6 to 23 months in rural Cambodia. All children under two years of age with dietary data (n = 1537) or anthropometry data (n = 989) were selected from the household survey. Food markets were geocoded using Google Maps or villages' geographical coordinates publicly available in the Open Development Mekong data platform. Regression calibration was then used to estimate household distance to the nearest market. Descriptive results indicated a highly uneven distribution of food markets with median household distance to the nearest markets ranging between 4 km (IQR: 3-8 km) in the lowland areas and 9 km (IQR: 4-17 km) in the highland areas. Results from the multivariate linear regressions showed that distance to the nearest market was modestly associated with child dietary diversity score (β: -0.17; 95% CI: -0.29, -0.05) but it was not related to child height-for-age z-score, and that household wealth did not modify the associations between distance to markets and child dietary diversity score. These findings suggest that improving access to food markets alone might not lead to meaningful improvement in child diet. Detailed surveys on household food acquisition are needed to clarify the role of food markets relative to other food sources such as subsistence fisheries, subsistence gardening and mobile food traders.

Gerakan Laki-laki Sadar Stunting untuk Mencegah Stunting dan Mewujudkan Generasi Sehat Desa Lembuak, Kecamatan Narmada, Lombok Barat

Stunting is currently still a public health problem related to chronic malnutrition. Stunting cases also occur in Narmada District, West Lombok Regency, which has productive rice fields, livestock and poultry can develop well. The still high number of stunting cases is related to low nutritional intake, unequal gender roles in household food security and efforts to prevent stunting in the household. This community service activity (PKM) is aimed at raising awareness among men as part of society, religious leaders and community leaders regarding stunting and efforts to prevent it. Apart from that, this PKM activity is also aimed at optimizing the role of religious leaders, community leaders and youth leaders in carrying out stunting awareness outreach and prevention efforts to the community, especially men. The method for implementing extension activities is carried out in stages, namely the first stage at the village level and the second stage at the hamlet level. The method used is a participatory counseling method, namely brainstorming, participatory lectures, questions and answers, discussions and practice. The implementation of extension activities ran smoothly and effectively. There has been an increase in knowledge and a growing positive attitude towards extension materials. This is demonstrated by the compilation of a collection of outreach materials (Pocket Books), the enthusiastic attitude of local resource persons and the active feedback/participation of participants during the question and answer sessions and discussions.

Effect of Consumers’ Acceptance of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables and Their Contribution to Household Food Security

In the past decades, indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) have played a significant role in household food security, especially in poor rural households. However, ILVs have been replaced by exotic cash crops in the contemporary world. This study was conducted to assess the consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables and their contribution to household food security of households in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The study used secondary data collected by the South African Vulnerability Assessment Committee in 2016. A total of 1520 respondents were selected using a multistage sampling method. The results from descriptive statistics revealed that most consumers did not produce ILVs but consumed them. Meanwhile, a small number of people produced ILVs yet did not consume them. The results from the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) showed that a large proportion of the population experienced moderate food security while some of the individuals within the population experienced severe food insecurity. An endogenous switching regression model (ESRM) was employed to analyze the impact of the consumption of ILVs on household food security. The results revealed that only a few variables of the consumption of ILVs were significant and positive (household size, wealth index, and ‘if the disabled person receives grants’). As a result, the consumption of ILVs had a minimal impact on the household food security of the Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces. The findings further revealed that age, gender, and education variables negatively influenced the consumption of ILVs. Thus, the recommended programs must be established to educate people about the importance of consuming ILVs. Agricultural extension services must equally promote the consumption of exotic cash crops and ILVs. Lastly, policies can contribute by increasing the diversity of ILVs left at retail outlets through diverse production.

Gender Role on Food Security and Consumption Practices in Bangladesh

This study was carried out to investigate the factors affecting food security status, patterns of food consumption, and changes in consumption behavior. It also evaluated the gender role in food security and consumption practices in the rural areas of Bangladesh. The research was both in quantitative and qualitative in nature. Qualitative research tools such as FGD, KII and Case Study were used to collect the primary data. Data analysis was done by Microsoft Excel and SPSS. Binary Logistic regression model was used to determine the factors affecting in food security status of the selected households. Regression result shows that income, availability of food and food stock were found to be positive and size of household negatively associated with the food security. Rice dominates the food consumption pattern of the rural people. Income, production, education and awareness are causes of change in consumption behaviour of the people of study area. Men have pivotal role in household food security. Male members involve in income, assure of family assets, and on the contrary female have to manage almost all the unproductive household affairs. In the poorer household women have a little contribution in food security due to male dominating. Women contributions were more than that of men in household food consumption. Most of the household related tasks and household works related to food consumption were done by female.

The study of the practice of growing food at home in the UAE: role in household food security & wellbeing and implication for the development of urban agriculture

Home-grown food products are getting more and more prominence around the world owing to many factors including the increasing demand for fresh food materials, consumers’ awareness of food-health nexus, and the increasing public awareness of environmental impacts of food production at home and resource-saving, and others. The main objective of this study is to assess the nature of the homestead food production system in the UAE and determine its significance for household food security and identify the factors that affect households’ engagement in food production at home. Primary data was collected through reconnaissance in communities, online survey, and face-to-face interviews. The findings show that 88% of a sample of households (N = 196) interviewed produce various food products in homestead gardens. Home-grown food products are fruits, vegetables, spices, eggs, and small ruminants. The use of modern production methods like hydroponics and aquaponics is still uncommon. The sample households produce on average 21 kg of fruits and vegetables, 26 kg of mutton per month, and 30 pieces of eggs per week. The home-grown food products are mainly used for home consumption; some part is given to relatives and friends. Reasons for producing food at home include the need for self-sufficiency, reduce food purchase expenses, environmental awareness, the food being healthy, and as a hobby. The majority of the sample households would see continue producing in the future. Many factors influence the household's decision to grow food products in their homestead. Among these, availability of space, environmental awareness, availability of farmworkers, the need to reduce food purchase bills, and knowledge of home-grown food safety requirements. Analysis of the logistic model reveals that households who have not enough garden space are less likely to practice while those who consider reduction of food purchase expense, have environmental awareness, are able to hire workers for garden activities, and have knowledge of home garden food production tend to have a high likelihood of practicing homestead production. This study concludes that homestead food production is important for the urban households in the UAE and has a potential to be a basis for the development of urban agriculture. It needs more public awareness raising about its importance, technical support in demonstration of best practices and use of modern technologies (like a mini hydroponics and aquaponics), the food safety requirements of homestead based for products.

Women Empowerment and their Role in Ensuring Household Food Security in Mymensingh Division of Bangladesh

The study was carried out to determine the womenempowerment,their role in household food security of the districts of Mymensingh division in Bangladesh. The study also emphasized to explore the influence of women empowerment status on household food security, food consumption pattern. A total of 200 women from four selected districts (Mymensingh, Sherpur,Netrokona,Jamalpur) were interviewed for the study.Most of the participants are of bangali (98%) ethnicity; and follower of Islam religion (95%). When the respondents were classified according to their occupation, most of them found to be housewives (77.3%). The study found an overall empowerment score of 42.61+13.31 (Mean+SD) in a range of 0-100. The study reveals that 41.8% of the households are severely food insecure, whereas 43.2% are moderately food insecure. It observed that, households with empowered women are more food secure than household with less empowered women (p=0.02). a positive relation was found for empowerment score with food consumption score (r=0.190). The study reveals empowerment of vulnerable women group is significantly associated with the food security and dietary consumption of the corresponding households. The study suggest further research to determine the cause-effect relationship of these factors, confounding factors that may influence the relationship and specific aspects of empowerment of women that effectively influence the food security, dietary consumption and nutrition profile at larger community

Traditional foodstuffs and household food security in a time of crisis

Traditional foodstuffs play an important role in household food security. No research has, however, attempted to examine traditional foodstuffs in light of disasters and crises. Such research can provide a useful outlook on how traditional foodstuffs can aid households in a situation of disrupted food supply. This outlook becomes relevant in view of future disastrous events that can undermine household food security, especially in poor disadvantaged communities. This study examined the role of traditional foodstuffs during a major crisis. The study adopted an ethnographic perspective and the method of semi-structured household interviews to explore how traditional foodstuffs were used by communities in the city of Mosul, Iraq, under the ISIS administration and during the liberation war (2016–2017). The study showcased the critical role of traditional foodstuffs in survival of local households. It highlighted the importance of cross-generational knowledge of traditional foodstuffs in community preparedness for disasters and crises. The study proposed to integrate traditional foodstuffs into governmental strategies on household food security in Iraq, and beyond. It suggested including traditional foodstuffs in the humanitarian food supply chains in the regions prone to disasters and crises. Future research should examine the prerequisites for such inclusion, especially from the viewpoint of societal and political acceptance of traditional foodstuffs and methods of their production.

Traditional Crops for Household Food Security and Factors Associated with on-Farm Diversity in the Mountains of Nepal

Traditional crops play an important role in household food security and livelihood needs of mountain communities, while at the same time safeguarding crop biodiversity for future generations. This study aims to analyse socioeconomic, farm-specific agro-ecological and market factors influencing cultivation and maintenance of crop diversity in Nepal. It used sample surveys of 328 households from mountains of Humla, Jumla, Lamjung and Dolakha districts in 2015. The sample survey was supplemented with participatory rural appraisals, field monitoring visits and local stakeholder consultations. Tobit regression model was used to assess factors driving household decisions to allocate area for production and maintenance ofon-farm diversity. Farm maintenance of crop diversity was related to household food sufficiency level of traditional crops. Factors influencing on-farm crop diversity and household food security varied with the crops, and mainly related with farmers’ age, family size, farm size, agro-ecosystem and market factor. Future research and development interventions need to focus on diversity rich solutions and technologies tailored to specific crops, socioeconomic, market and farm-agroecology of the households enhancing household food security and management of mountain crop biodiversity.

Association of Household Food Security with Anaemia among Children of a Selected Rural Area of Bangladesh

Introduction: Food insecurity refers to a household’s having “limited or uncertain availability of food, or limited or uncertain ability to acquire acceptable foods in socially acceptable ways”. Iron deficiency and iron deficiency anaemia, are the most prevalent nutritional deficiencies worldwide and related to household food insecurity.
 Objectives: To find out the association between household food security and anaemia in children of a selected rural area of Bangladesh.
 Materials and Methods: This descriptive cross-sectional study was conducted among children ranging age from 12 to 60 months during the period ofJanuary 2009 to June 2009in Chandpur district. Mothers of the children were the respondents. A total of 192 children selected by simple random sampling were included in the study. Data were collected by face-to-face interview of the respondents and by estimation of haemoglobin of the children.
 Results: The mean age of the children was 34.5 ± 16.8 months. Male children were more than the female children with male to female ratio being 3:2. The average monthly family income was taka 7500. More than 60% of the mother had secondary level education. Farming was the prime occupation (36.4 %) of the father followed by business (25.5%) and service (22.4%). About 36% of the household did not have food security and nearly 45% of the children wereanaemic (Hb<11 g/dl). About two-thirds (65.2%) children with household food insecurity was anaemic (Hb 11g/dl). Estimation of odds ratio demonstrates that food insecured children were nearly 3 times as likely to develop anaemia as the children having household food security. The present study revealed a significant association (P<0.001) between household food security and anaemia in children. Household food security was not influenced by age and gender of the children. Low family income and mother’ illiteracy was significantly associated with household food insecurity.
 Conclusion: The present study revealed a significant association between household food insecurity and anaemia in children. Household food security was not influenced by age and gender of the children. However, low family income and mothers’ illiteracy play significant role in household food security.
 Journal of Armed Forces Medical College Bangladesh Vol.14 (2) 2018: 130-133

The Role of Informal Local Institutions in Food Security of Rural Households in Southwest Ethiopia

Among sub-Saharan countries, Ethiopia is known for its dominant informal institutions and chronic problem of food insecurity. However, the role of local institutions in households' food security in Ethiopia is less understood. Thus, the aim of the study was to identify local informal institutions and their roles in household food security. Mixed methods research was used to collect and analyse data relating to membership in local institutions and their food consumption. A logit model was employed to identify the role of local institutions in households' food security. The result showed that 45.1 per cent of households were food insecure. Rural households' membership in Iddir, Equib, Debo and Jarsumma strongly helped them escape food insecurity. On the one hand, participation in women's associations and Jiga did not significantly contribute to their food security. On the other hand, Dado was found to reduce their food security. We conclude that the programmes and policies that target food security should provide support to those informal institutions that successfully contributed to hunger reduction.

Actors’ post-harvest maize handling practices and allied mycoflora epidemiology in southwestern Ethiopia: Potential for mycotoxin-producing fungi management

Maize plays a key role in household food security in Ethiopia, but its benefit has been limited with high post-harvest losses. This study was initiated to assess post-harvest practices and associated fungi pathogen epidemiology along the maize supply chain in southwestern Ethiopia. The study was conducted in five purposively selected districts and a three-stage sampling procedure was employed for selection of the target groups. In total, 342 participants from different actors were interviewed using a semi-structured questionnaire. Maize samples were collected every month from 63 randomly selected actors for mycological analysis during six months storage period. Post-harvest loss was estimated to be 31% and loss during storage was identified as a critical loss point. Comparing all biological agents, loss due to fungal pathogens in the store ranked on top. Moisture content at loading stage could not increase the shelf life of the commodity. Germination tests showed a significant (P < 0.01) decrease as storage duration increased, while mould incidence on cobs and kernels significantly (P < 0.05) increased. In total, seven fungal genera were isolated, characterized and identified, with Fusarium, Penicillium and Aspergillus being predominant. Most of the post-harvest practices are not effective in reducing post-harvest losses. Especially, farmers’ traditional storage structures can be influenced by external climatic conditions and make the grains liable to develop mould during the rainy season. This research, therefore, highlights the need to design, develop or modify existing storage technologies that reduce post-harvest loss due to mycotoxin-producing fungal pathogens. Furthermore, post-harvest drying to obtain optimum moisture content is also crucial to reduce losses.

Nutritional Composition of Five Spontaneous Wild Plants Used as Human Foods in Côte d’ivoire Areas (West Africa), a Potential Role in Household Food Security

Nutritional Composition of Five Spontaneous Wild Plants Used as Human Foods in Côte d’ivoire Areas (West Africa), a Potential Role in Household Food Security

Household access to traditional and indigenous foods positively associated with food security and dietary diversity in Botswana.

To determine access to traditional and indigenous foods (TIF) and the association with household food security, dietary diversity and women's BMI in low socio-economic households. Sequential explanatory mixed-methods design, including a random household cross-sectional survey on household food insecurity access (HFIA), household dietary diversity (HDD) and women's BMI, followed by focus group discussions. Two rural and two urban areas of Botswana. Persons responsible for food preparation or an adult in a household (n 400); for BMI, non-pregnant women aged 18-49 years (n 253). Almost two-thirds of households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity (28·8 and 37·3 %, respectively), but more than half of women were overweight or obese (26·9 and 26·9 %, respectively). Median HDD score was 6 (interquartile range 5-7) out of a total of 12. A positive correlation was found between number of TIF accessed and HDD score (r=0·457; P<0·001) and a negative correlation between number of TIF accessed and HFIA score (r=-0·272; P<0·001). There was no correlation between number of TIF accessed and women's BMI (r=-0·066; P=0·297). TIF were perceived as healthy but with declining consumption due to preference for modern foods. TIF may potentially have an important role in household food security and dietary diversity. There is need to explore potential benefits that may be associated with their optimal use on food security and nutrition outcomes.

Use of natural biological resources and their roles in household food security in Northwest Laos

Use of natural biological resources and their roles in household food security in Northwest Laos

Nutritional deterioration of stored Zea mays L. along supply chain in southwestern Ethiopia: Implication for unseen dietary hunger

Maize plays a key role in household food security in southwestern Ethiopia, but its benefits have been negated by high post-harvest losses. Previous loss assessment and management studies have focused mainly on quantity losses. This study was therefore designed to assess nutritional quality losses of stored maize along the supply chain in Jimma Zone, southwestern Ethiopia. Three districts representing potential maize producers and different agro-ecological regimes for maize production were selected for analyses. Sample collection started at harvest and continued for six months at two-month intervals from 21 selected actors along the supply chain. The experiment was conducted for two seasons, and a total of 72 samples were collected during each season. Both nutritional and anti-nutritional analyses were carried out following the international standards of the Association of Official Analytical Chemists. Data were analysed using SAS software (version 9.2) using a general linear model (GLM). The result revealed that moisture content significantly decreases (P < 0.05) as storage duration increases under different actors and agro-ecological conditions. But, showed increment during the final months under farmers' storage conditions. In addition, moisture content at the loading stage was not optimal for safe storage. Crude protein, crude fat, carbohydrate, and calorific value content significantly decreased (P < 0.05) as the storage duration increased, but fibre, ash, and major mineral (Ca, Zn, and Fe) content increased significantly over the storage period. Phytate and tannin content varied with storage duration and agro-ecological setting. Storing maize under traditional conditions along the supply chain resulted in substantial quality losses. This has great implications for nutrition insecurity and unrecognized undernourishment in the society. Additionally, substantial increases in fibre content above the optimum have important effects on nutrient absorption. There is thus a need to develop and disseminate appropriate storage technologies that minimize quality loss in maize stores.

Effect of nutrition education on the knowledge scores of urban households with home gardens in Morogoro, Tanzania

Home gardens are an old agricultural practice playing a key role in household food security and diversity. Proximity of gardens to the home facilitates easy access to food and reduces household expenditure. Home gardens combined with nutrition education could improve household diets both quantitatively and qualitatively. The objective of this study was to assess the effect of a nutrition education intervention on families with home gardens in Morogoro, Tanzania. Two cross-sectional nutrition surveys were conducted at different time points, the baseline in October–November 2013 and endline in May–June 2014. Between the surveys, an intervention consisting of three interactive nutrition education sessions was conducted in December 2013. The study targeted forty households owning home gardens in urban areas of Morogoro municipality. Mixed methods were used to collect data, including semi-structured questionnaires for quantitative data and focus group discussions for qualitative data. The estimated marginal means showed small statistically non-significant improvements in knowledge scores for vitamin A (p = 0.145, partial η 2 = 0.065) and iron (p = 0.403, partial η 2 = 0.022). There were more positive scores observed for both nutrients at endline compared with baseline. Composite knowledge scores calculated for participants showed improvements in the category with scores between 3 and 6 points, for both nutrients. While a statistically significant improvement in knowledge scores was not observed, an increase in number of positive scores and composite knowledge scores indicate an improvement in nutrition knowledge among participants. These results show that families having home gardens and who are provided with nutrition education can improve the quality of their household diets. Nutrition education in combination with other agricultural interventions could be a potential tool to improve nutritional status and should be integrated into public health programmes and strategies.

Perceived effects of insecure land rights on rural women΄s roles in household food security in Okigwe agricultural zone of Imo State, Nigeria

Perceived effects of insecure land rights on rural women΄s roles in household food security in Okigwe agricultural zone of Imo State, Nigeria

Women's role in household food security in rural Sri Lanka

International Journal of Multidisciplinary Studies (IJMS) is published by the Faculty of Graduate Studies - University of Sri Jayewardenepura. IJMS provides a supportive environment for multidisciplinary researchers to publish their contribution to the academy of knowledge and wisdom. Focus of the journal is on multidisciplinary research which should cover at least two distinct disciplines.