Flood hazards, human displacement and food insecurity in rural riverine areas of Punjab, Pakistan: policy implications

Author(s):  
Dilshad Ahmad ◽  
Muhammad Afzal
2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (6) ◽  
Author(s):  
Roland Azibo Balgah ◽  
Salliana Ateh Fondo ◽  
Theobald Mue Nji

Bourgeoning flood hazards inflict significant negative effects on the welfare of households, particularly in developing countries. Rapid growth in scholarship on impacts and flood coping strategies from developing countries is therefore a justified consequence. However, identifying the determinants of coping decisions across space and time has so far attracted little attention, in spite of their policy implications. Current efforts have been largely limited to Isolated, individual case study floods of little relevance for broad–based policy prescription. This study examines the drivers for coping decisions, using predominantly quantitative data from 106 direct flash and riverine flood victims from six flood-affected communities in Cameroon. The capital portfolios of the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework were appropriated to categorize and identify key drivers for coping decisions. Descriptive analysis reveals that almost 70 percent of all flood victims predominantly adopted community–embedded, informal coping strategies, much in line with contemporary trends in the literature. Logistic regression analyses revealed that access to social, human, natural and physical capitals were consistent drivers of coping decisions, irrespective of flood type. Significant relationships were however observed only for flash floods (p=0.05). The results are strongly relevant, as the tested variables explained over 75 percent of the variance in the entire sample. The findings lead us to contend that policy is better informed by analyzing consistencies in drivers for flood coping decisions across space and time, especially if multiple case studies are modeled using similar methodologies. Further research is however necessary to ground this contention.


For decades, although the world has made significant progress in the fight against hunger, food insecurity has been considered as the top concern of countries, especially developing countries. In this study, we use panel data of 10 Southeast Asian countries for the period from 2000-2015 to evaluate the effect of international trade on food security. Applying panel data regression methods such as fixed effects model (FE), random effects model (RE), and feasible generalized least squares model (FGLS), the results show the positive impact of international trade on food security on all three aspects of food availability, stability, and access at each country. Besides, other factors such as agricultural productivity, the share of agricultural land over the total land area, percentage of farmers in total population, and inflation also affect to food security of Southeast Asian countries on several aspects. Based on the results, we propose some policy implications for Southeast Asian countries to deal with food insecurity problems.


2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kate Reid ◽  
catherine lido ◽  
Hannah Ross ◽  
Michelle Carruthers ◽  
Laura Cairns ◽  
...  

In Scotland, and United Kingdom, there are stark inequalities in the experience of older age, particularly for those with limited social contact, poorer health, located in deprived neighbourhoods (Centre for Ageing Better 2015). This mixed-methodology research, reports survey findings with n=169 community dwelling older adults in Scotland (average age 79.5), supported with qualitative interviews to evidence the underexplored connection between food insecurity and physiological risk indicators of undernutrition (malnutrition), with psychosocial indicators of healthy ageing. Findings are grounded in collaboration with a third sector social enterprise – Food Train, who provide food shopping and volunteer meal making for those aged 65+. Findings revealed correlations between food insecurity and early indicators of malnutrition risk with poorer wellbeing, and social connectedness. Supported food access mitigates the negative cycle of food insecurity on mental health, via empowerment (locus of control) over one’s life. Qualitative findings suggest that risks of food insecurity may not be financial (food poverty), or attributable to health realities associated with ageing. Rather, psychosocial health and wellbeing diverge as older adults attempt to draw upon available resources, reflective of their own social capital. Mitigators of malnutrition risk includes empowerment through social care located in the third sector, as well as social aspects of food access e.g. social eating, warranting future investigation. These findings are considered post Covid-19, with key policy implications.


2016 ◽  
Vol 8 (1) ◽  
pp. 55-80 ◽  
Author(s):  
Peng Nie ◽  
Alfonso Sousa-Poza

Purpose – The purpose of this paper is to use data from the 1991 to 2009 China Health and Nutrition Survey (CHNS) to analyze how income in China is related to calorie intake. Design/methodology/approach – The paper employs a variety of parametric, nonparametric, and semiparametric methods for cross-sectional and panel data, and estimates calorie-income elasticities for adults aged 18-60. Findings – The calorie-income elasticities are generally small, ranging from −0.031 to 0.022. In addition, the results show no clear nonlinearity, regardless of whether parametric, nonparametric, or semiparametric approaches are used. Originality/value – Using a wealth of estimation techniques, including parametric, nonparametric, and semiparametric approaches, this paper addresses some of the main methodological challenges encountered in estimating calorie-income elasticities. The magnitudes of calorie-income elasticities have policy implications especially with regards to the effectiveness of income-mediated policies aimed at combating food insecurity in China.


2020 ◽  
Vol 43 ◽  
pp. 101364 ◽  
Author(s):  
G M Monirul Alam ◽  
Khorshed Alam ◽  
Shahbaz Mushtaq ◽  
Md Nazirul Islam Sarker ◽  
Moazzem Hossain

Agriculture ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 10 (7) ◽  
pp. 270
Author(s):  
Leon Gwaka ◽  
Job Dubihlela

Smallholder livestock farmers (SLF) are important in research and policy development agenda because of the everlasting issue of food insecurity and the livelihoods in sub-Sahara Africa. Lack of access to technologies and information, poor infrastructure and lack of access to markets and environmental factors play a key role in deterring sustainable smallholder livestock farming. In recent years, studies have provided evidence that livestock species can play a role towards solving household food insecurity and enhancing Africa’s resilient livelihoods, particularly in rural settings. However, no studies have been conducted on the effectiveness of emerging technologies (available information technologies) as risk mitigation tools for smallholder livestock farmers. The study used survey data from 278 interviewer-administered questionnaires and 13 in-depth interviews village herds from Dumba, Mapayi, Old Nuli and Shabwe to explore whether rural SLF would use the emerging technologies to enhance their operations, and mitigate supply chain risk, exposures to stock theft and loss. Empirical results show the overwhelming need for the use of emerging technologies by the SLF, and that emerging technologies have significant and positive effects on the risk management activities. SLF indicated that, using digital technologies, they could enhance their risk mitigation and value chains. The results of the study have several policy implications. For instance, the agricultural comparative advantage should be improved through various emerging agricultural technologies. Moreover, the immediate rural development service networks for SLF could be strengthened through the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform to reduce livestock risk exposures, disasters and market reactions. Although rural livestock farming in Beitbridge has survived over the years at a subsistence level, the paper provides some interesting and pertinent findings, and projects some possible future research pathways.


2019 ◽  
Vol 12 (1) ◽  
pp. 96 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jelili Adegboyega Adebiyi ◽  
Laura Schmitt Olabisi ◽  
Robert Richardson ◽  
Lenis Saweda O Liverpool-Tasie ◽  
Kathleen Delate

Nigeria, the seventh most populous country in the world, is plagued by livelihood challenges such as poverty and food insecurity, which are more pervasive among farming households and rural communities. Organic farming is being promoted by some domestic non-governmental organizations as a means of addressing the problem of poverty and food insecurity among farming households and rural communities in the country. Promoters consider organic farming to be well-suited to smallholder farmers’ socio-economic conditions in Nigeria, and that it can help improve their livelihood conditions through increased agricultural productivity and farm income. However, the adoption of the technology by smallholder farmers has been underwhelming, for reasons yet to be studied. Using a livelihood framework and through a case study of farmers in Ibadan, Oyo State, this study qualitatively explores and provides insights into the factors that influence, constrain, and gender the adoption of organic farming in Nigeria. Overall, it was found that a mix of factors, which include institutional considerations, farmers’ livelihood assets and vulnerability contexts, their livelihood activities, and gender-related variables shaped adoption decision-making. The policy implications of the findings were outlined.


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