scholarly journals Does smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improve household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana?

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Franklin Nantui Mabe ◽  
Eliasu Mumuni ◽  
Nashiru Sulemana
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Northern Region ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Endogenous Switching Regression ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Household Food

Abstract Background Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Whilst some smallholder farmers are aware of this goal, others are not. The question that arises is whether or not awareness translates into food security. Therefore, this study assessed whether or not smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improves household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods The study used cross-sectional primary data collected from two districts and two municipalities in the region. An endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome was used to estimate the effects of smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on household food insecurity level. Results The age of household head, distance of households to the regional capital, membership of farmer-based organizations, access to e-extension, education, and ownership of radio are the key drivers of farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2. The results from the endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome showed that households who are aware of the second goal are more food secure than their counterparts. Conclusions It is therefore prudent for stakeholders promoting and championing Sustainable Development Goals to educate farmers on goal 2 as their awareness of the goal is critical to achieving food security.

Optimal Nitrogen Management for Meeting Sustainable Development Goal 2

2020 ◽  
pp. 367-384
Author(s):  
Kshama Harpankar
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Sustainable Agriculture ◽  
Precision Agriculture ◽  
New Technologies ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Nitrogen Management ◽  
Sustainable Development Goal ◽  
Development Goal ◽  
Innovation And Diffusion

Sustainable development goal 2 aims to “end hunger, achieve food security and improved nutrition, and promote sustainable agriculture.” SDG2 is one of the most challenging goals to achieve, as it needs to be achieved within the constraints of the multiple demands agriculture faces. The goal of this chapter is to discuss the roles that science, technology, and innovation (STI) can play in optimal nitrogen management as a way to meet sustainable development goal 2. Optimal nitrogen management will enhance food security by improving yields, and it will promote sustainable agriculture by limiting environmental externalities associated with nitrogen. Specifically, this chapter aims to address the following two questions: 1) How can new technologies help boost agricultural productivity while also reducing nitrogen pollution? And, 2) What policy and institutional changes will be needed to encourage innovation and diffusion of these technologies in developing countries? The authors present STI possibilities for improved nitrogen management in the following categories: new types of nitrogen fertilizers, integrated soil and fertility management technologies, precision agriculture technologies, technologies aiding biological nitrogen fixation, and biotechnology solutions. The chapter ends with a discussion of institutional and policy changes needed for widespread adoption of the technology options among resource-poor smallholder farmers.

scholarly journals Evaluating the Impact of Large-Scale Agricultural Investments on Household Food Security Using an Endogenous Switching Regression Model

Land ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 323
Author(s):  
Wegayehu Fitawek ◽  
Sheryl Hendriks
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Regression Model ◽  
Selection Bias ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Endogenous Switching Regression ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Endogenous Switching ◽  
Agricultural Investments

This study set out to estimate the effects of large-scale agricultural investments (LSAIs) on household food security in one community each in Kenya, Madagascar and Mozambique. An endogenous switching regression model was adopted to control for a possible selection bias due to unobserved factors. It was found that households with members employed by large-scale agricultural investment companies were more likely larger households headed by younger migrant males holding smaller plots and fewer livestock than non-engaged households. The endogenous switching regression results confirmed the presence of both a positive and negative selection bias. In general, the results showed that households with a member employed by an LSAI enjoyed better household food security, higher dietary diversity, better food consumption scores and more adequate household food provisioning. Households without employed members could also enjoy these benefits should the LSAIs employ their members. However, the seasonal nature and low wages paid by LSAI may only support the purchase of food and not facilitate savings and investments to significantly improve food security.

scholarly journals Household food security of rainfed-rice farmers in Sragen District to achieve sustainable development goals

2021 ◽  
Vol 905 (1) ◽  
pp. 012064
Author(s):  
M N Mu’afa ◽  
S Marwanti ◽  
W Rahayu
Keyword(s):  
Sustainable Development ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Energy Consumption ◽  
Sustainable Development Goals ◽  
Rice Fields ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Consumption Level ◽  
Rainfed Rice ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Development Goals

Abstract Goal 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals is Zero Hunger or ensure food security in the world. This study aims to determine households’ food security in Sragen District using descriptive and analytical methods with survey techniques. The research was conducted in Gemolong Sub-district, Sragen District. The determination of village samples is done deliberately (purposive) considering the largest rainfed rice fields. The data analysis used is the analysis of energy consumption and household food security. The results showed that the energy consumption of farmers’ households amounted to 6,041 kcal/day with an energy sufficiency value of 5,368 kcal/day, then obtained energy consumption level of 113% and classified in the category of high level because energy consumption level ≥ 100%. Household food security conditions showed that 53.33% were food resistant households and 46.67% were food vulnerable. Increasing production and household income by optimizing drill wells to ensure water availability or procurement of seeds resistant to rainfed rice fields can address vulnerable food situations.

Can Organic Agriculture Feed the Smallholders? Experience from Rural Bangladesh

2021 ◽  
Vol 31 (1) ◽  
pp. 91-107
Author(s):  
M. A. Sarker ◽  
M. Hoque ◽  
A. H. Chowdhury ◽  
Z. Ferdous
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Organic Agriculture ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Base Line ◽  
Project Staff ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Safe Food

This study empirically tests the benefit of the smallholders from organic farming in Bangladesh through their improved food security which is realised from their increased productivity and farm income. The respondent smallholders were picked up from two districts of Bangladesh namely Mymensingh and Bogra. The respondents (80) were the beneficiaries of the organic agriculture promotion project of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Three years data were collected by the project staff and were crosschecked with the base line. Findings of the study explored that before joining with the project extreme majority (93%) of the small farmers were involved in rice mono-culture and more than half (67%) of them were food deficit. The study also revealed that at the initial year of joining organic agriculture project their farm productivity was 10–12% lesser and it increased continually in the successive years. In some cases, it crossed the yield compared to conventional farming. The findings of the study showed that 100% of the farmers have followed crop diversification with high value vegetables and spices along with rice. Due to adoption of organic practices, the cost of production of the smallholders has declined from 27% to 36% and additionally they enjoy 10% to 15% premium prices which have enhanced their farm income significantly. The study shows that 62.5% of the smallholder farmers had attained household food security due to adoption of organic agriculture. Thus, adoption of organic agriculture effectively increased smallholders’ access to surplus safe food. However, the study also explored that farm size, extension media contact, access to assured market and access to institutional support are the most important factors in improving smallholders’ household food security through participation in organic agriculture programme. Thus, it can be concluded that organic agriculture can feed the smallholders in a better way.

scholarly journals Factors Associated with Household Food Security in Zambia

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (9) ◽  
pp. 2715 ◽  
Author(s):  
William Nkomoki ◽  
Miroslava Bavorová ◽  
Jan Banout
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Land Tenure ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Animal Husbandry ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Food And Nutrition Security ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food And Nutrition

Food security is a global challenge and threatens mainly smallholder farmers in developing countries. The main aim of this paper is to determine factors that are associated with food security in Zambia. This study utilizes the household questionnaire survey dataset of 400 smallholder farmers in four districts conducted in southern Zambia in 2016. To measure food security, the study employs two food security indicators, namely the food consumption score (FCS) and the household hunger scale (HHS). Two ordered probit models are estimated with the dependent variables FCS and HHS. Both the FCS and HHS models’ findings reveal that higher education levels of household head, increasing livestock income, secure land tenure, increasing land size, and group membership increase the probability of household food and nutrition security. The results imply that policies supporting livestock development programs such as training of farmers in animal husbandry, as well as policies increasing land tenure security and empowerment of farmers groups, have the potential to enhance household food and nutrition security.

scholarly journals Linking Household Food Security and Food Value Chains in North West Mt. Kenya

2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (12) ◽  
pp. 4999
Author(s):  
Veronica Mwangi ◽  
Samuel Owuor ◽  
Boniface Kiteme ◽  
Markus Giger ◽  
Johanna Jacobi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Value Chain ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Value Chains ◽  
North West ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Value

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists produce the largest proportion of food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. However, they remain among the food insecure populations. This paper explores the food (in)security among smallholder farmers and pastoralists using a sample of 175 households in three agro-food value chains of wheat, dairy, and beef in the north-west Mt. Kenya region. The study seeks to answer if a farmer’s participation in a particular agro-food value chain determines his/her food security situation. We use the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and two Poisson regression models, parsimonious and full, to assess the household food security status and determinants of food security among the smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The results show that 61% of the households were either mildly, moderately, or severely food insecure. Households in the beef value chain experienced relatively higher incidences of food insecurity compared to households in the wheat and dairy value chains. The HFIAS scores revealed a wide gap between households with minimum and maximum score. Household size, income and income-related variables (ability to save and borrow to meet family needs), transport assets, membership in farmers’ associations, and household energy were significant in determining household food security, while access to credit and to extension services was not. Strategies that focus on boosting smallholder farmers’ incomes, building strong and resilient farmers associations to improve inclusive and equitable value chains have the potential to get smallholder farmers out of recurrent food insecurity.

Determinants of Crop Diversification and Its Effects on Household Food Security in Northern Ghana

2020 ◽  
pp. 097674792093681
Author(s):  
Abdul Razak Baba ◽  
Abdul-Malik Abdulai
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Process Model ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Crop Diversification ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Security Status ◽  
Northern Regions

This study analyses factors that determine smallholder farmers’ crop diversification decisions and their effects on household food security in Northern Ghana. A total of 1,284 households were sampled across the five northern regions of Ghana. Herfindahl Index for measuring crop diversification was used. The study found average crop diversity to be 0.55 and about 61 per cent of the sampled farmers had values above the average which indicated high crop diversification in the study area. The study also estimated the determinants of crop diversification and their effects on household dietary food security using the conditional mixed process model. Upon examining the determinants of crop diversification, occupation, technology adoption, labour, extension contact and farm size were identified as significant determinants. The study also computed the Household Food Consumption Score as a proxy for measuring food security. The result indicated that crop diversification contributes significantly to improving household food security status in Northern Ghana.

scholarly journals What drives smallholder farmers’ crop production choices in Central Zambia? Lessons from the 2012/2013 agricultural season

2015 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 1 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kabwe Harnadih Mubanga ◽  
Bridget Bwalya Umar ◽  
Jane Muchabi ◽  
Chishimba Mubanga
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
State Agency ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Climate Information ◽  
Adaptation Measures ◽  
Household Food

The study, conducted in central Zambia was aimed at determining the major drivers of crop production choices among smallholder farmers. It utilized recent national crop production and utilization data; 200 semi-structured interview schedules, and key informant interviews conducted with smallholder farmers and experts from the agricultural sector in Zambia respectively. Results showed that despite being confronted by late on-set of rains and post germination crop attacks by army worms which made maize (Zea mays) production extremely precarious, 61.5% of the affected smallholder farmers replanted their cultivated land with maize. The farmers had a choice of whether to replant maize which had a ready market from the state agency, the Food Reserve Agency, or to plant a drought tolerant crop such as sorghum or millet which would have guaranteed them with household food security from own production. They mainly chose the former option. They increased production of other crops such as soya beans (Glycine max), sun flower(Helianthus annuus) and cotton (Gossypium hirsutum) when contract farming with private business entities became available. Markets determined smallholder farmers’ crop production choices more than household food security from own production or availability of climate information forecasting poor rainfall distribution. The study concludes that (i) prior knowledge of climate information does not necessarily result in a change of smallholder farmers’ crop production choices in response to a predicted climate anomaly, (ii) markets are a major determinant of crops cultivated by smallholder farmers, and hence adaptation measures involving crop diversification should be designed with market availability in mind. 

scholarly journals Organic Fertilizer Adoption, Household Food Access, and Gender-Based Farm Labor Use: Empirical Insights from Northern Ghana

2021 ◽  
pp. 1-24
Author(s):  
Bunbom Edward Daadi ◽  
Uwe Latacz-Lohmann
Keyword(s):  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Organic Fertilizer ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Farm Labor ◽  
Switching Regression ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Fertilizer Adoption ◽  
Gender Based ◽  
And Gender

Abstract This paper examined organic fertilizer adoption and its effects on two household food security indicators and gender-based farm labor use among smallholder farmers in Northern Ghana. An endogenous switching regression analysis shows that observed and unobserved farmer background factors determine farmers’ decision to adopt organic fertilizer as well as the outcomes from adoption. On average, adoption is associated with an 11% increase in per capita food consumption and a 55% reduction in household food gap duration. Adoption is also related to an increased labor use by 5.9 (90%) of female worker days and 1.3 (9%) of male worker days per acre, placing nearly all (82%) of the increased labor burden on female farmhands. We recommend mitigation of factors that hinder farmers from adopting the input and provision of female-user-friendly labor-saving devices for organic fertilizer use tasks.

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