scholarly journals The Adverse Effects Government Initiatives Have on Aboriginal Food Insecurity

Author(s):  
Chinonso Ekeanyanwu

This research paper focuses on the attempts of the Canadian government to deal with food scarcity in the Indigenous community. Despite the many efforts of the government to make amends with the Indigenous population, they have some of the highest rates of poverty demographically in Canada. Food scarcity is a major topic when talking about Indigenous people because many live in areas where there is no access to healthy affordable food. Many do not have access to traditional food and are unable to exercise their right as Indigenous people to fish and hunt. Within this paper, three pertinent examples are explored: first, the lack of regard for Indigenous food sovereignty; second, the issue of fishing legislations; finally, food security initiatives in the North. Far from meaningfully, addressing food insecurity, nutritional programs designed by the federal government have often exacerbated the issue. This is likely due to the lack of involvement from the Indigenous community and their leaders in decision-making. By incorporating the Indigenous community, food security laws and programs made for Indigenous people have the potential to actually have a positive impact on the Indigenous community. Ce document de recherche se concentre sur les efforts du gouvernement canadien d’affronter la pénurie alimentaire dans la communauté autochtone. Malgré les nombreux efforts déployés par le gouvernement pour aider la population autochtone, leur niveau de pauvreté est parmi les plus élevés au Canada. La pénurie alimentaire est un problème majeur en ce qui concerne les Autochtones, car beaucoup d’entre eux vivent dans des zones qui n’ont pas accès à des aliments sains et abordables. Beaucoup n’ont pas accès à la nourriture traditionnelle et sont incapables d’exercer leur droit en tant que peuple indigène de pêcher et de chasser. Dans ce document, trois exemples pertinents sont explorés: premièrement, le manque de respect pour la souveraineté alimentaire indigène; deuxièmement, le problème des législations de pêche; et en fin, les initiatives de sécurité alimentaire au Nord. Pour tenter de remédier à l’insécurité alimentaire, les programmes nutritionnels conçus par le gouvernement fédéral ont souvent exacerbé la question. Cela est probablement dû au manque d’implication de la communauté autochtone et de ses dirigeants dans la prise de décision concernant ces programmes. En incorporant la communauté autochtone dans la discussion entourant les lois et les programmes de sécurité alimentaire, ils ont le potentiel d’avoir un impact réel et positif sur la communauté indigene. 

2021 ◽  
Vol 22 (4) ◽  
Author(s):  
María Flor Feuermann ◽  

ABSTRACT Introduction: food is a human right and a basic need for their subsistence and development. enough food is produced worldwide to supply all inhabitants and satisfy their caloric and nutritional needs. But the mere fact of producing them does not ensure access to safe and nutritious food for all. Therefore, the correct measurement of nutritional food insecurity is essential for a better understanding of this phenomenon, allowing better communication between society, decision-makers and the political agenda. Objectives: analyze the strengths and limitations of the methodologies used to measure nutritional food security in the Argentine Republic between 1984 and 2017. Materials and methods: a systematic review of articles published in five electronic databases was carried out: Scopus, SciELO, PubMed, BVS and Redalyc. The categories analyzed were the nutritional food security measurement methodologies (when people enjoy food security in addition to a healthy environment, as well as adequate health, education and care), with their type of technique, level, duration and dimension evaluated, limitations and strengths. The search terms used were food insecurity, food security, hunger, food sovereignty, food policy, food availability, nutritional programs, nutritional policies and food assistance. Results: after the search, 22 articles were selected for analysis. Conclusions: all the methodologies analyzed take partial aspects. A methodology has not yet been developed that reflects the multisectoral (food, agricultural, governmental, economic, social, etc.) and multidimensional (access, availability, use and stability) nature of the concept of nutritional food security. Having an adequate measurement of nutritional food security is essential to assess the state of nutritional food insecurity in the Argentine Republic, the government policies that are developed under this concept and verify its impact on the health and nutrition of the Argentine population. Key words: food security; food insecurity; hunger; nutrition policy; Argentina.


Author(s):  
Shailesh Shukla ◽  
Jazmin Alfaro ◽  
Carol Cochrane ◽  
Cindy Garson ◽  
Gerald Mason ◽  
...  

Food insecurity in Indigenous communities in Canada continue to gain increasing attention among scholars, community practitioners, and policy makers. Meanwhile, the role and importance of Indigenous foods, associated knowledges, and perspectives of Indigenous peoples (Council of Canadian Academies, 2014) that highlight community voices in food security still remain under-represented and under-studied in this discourse. University of Winnipeg (UW) researchers and Fisher River Cree Nation (FRCN) representatives began an action research partnership to explore Indigenous knowledges associated with food cultivation, production, and consumption practices within the community since 2012. The participatory, place-based, and collaborative case study involved 17 oral history interviews with knowledge keepers of FRCN. The goal was to understand their perspectives of and challenges to community food security, and to explore the potential role of Indigenous food knowledges in meeting community food security needs. In particular, the role of land-based Indigenous foods in meeting community food security through restoration of health, cultural values, identity, and self-determination were emphasized by the knowledge keepers—a vision that supports Indigenous food sovereignty. The restorative potential of Indigenous food sovereignty in empowering individuals and communities is well-acknowledged. It can nurture sacred relationships and actions to renew and strengthen relationships to the community’s own Indigenous land-based foods, previously weakened by colonialism, globalization, and neoliberal policies.


2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Frank Adusei

Abstract The COVID-19 and partial lockdown has brought significant effects on the entire economy, especially on food security and job losses. This study was carried out in Asokwa Municipal with the objective of examining the impact of COVID-19 disease and its related lockdown on food and nutrition security and job losses. The study site form part of the cities in Ghana to experience the partial lockdown, hence it qualifies for the selection. Both primary and secondary data were used. By means of purposive sampling technique, fifty respondents were selected as sample size. The study employed a qualitative approach with a descriptive and narrative posture to the presentation, discussion and analysis of data. Open-ended questionnaire and a checklist were used for data collection through semi-structured interviews. The results revealed that, food and nutrition insecurity, job loss and income reductions are still very common, affecting participants livelihood. Disproportionally affected are households whose income comes from farming, transporters, informal labour, as well as marketers.It was concluded that food insecurity is not outside the impact of COVID-19 and its associated partial lockdown. Food and nutrition security are the global concern at present circumstances. The supply chain has been hit hardest by COVID-19, which causes food insecurity of most vulnerable segment of population which put them at risk. And also, most of the migrant, informal, seasonal farm workers were losing their jobs which may affect their demand for food. Therefore, the government should step-up the measures to control the pandemic without disturbing the food supply chain. The development and use of online marketing strategies where people can make orders of various produce and booked for purchases and or deliveries during a stated time range should be promoted.


2021 ◽  
Vol 13 (16) ◽  
pp. 8753
Author(s):  
Maha Hoteit ◽  
Youssef Al-Atat ◽  
Hussein Joumaa ◽  
Suheir El Ghali ◽  
Rania Mansour ◽  
...  

This study aims to explore the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among Lebanese households since the ordeals of COVID-19, economic crisis, and Beirut port explosions. At the core of the study, a mobile application entitled Nutrition Assessment System (NAS) that simplified the data collection was used as toolkit and a technical test was carried out in all Lebanese governorates between November 2020 and March 2021. Findings show that food insecurity is an immediate problem for households in Beirut and in many governorates in Lebanon. Nine in every 16 households ate less than 2 meals per day and more than 70% of them skipped their meals to spare food. Even though half the population studied had a low food consumption score, 82.4% of the people were not relying on livelihood coping strategies. However, more than three out of ten of these households relied on at least three food-based coping strategies. In addition, as for the livelihoods, this assessment found that most Lebanese households reported a drop in income along with an expansion in debt incurrence in the last 24 months to be able to buy food. Improving food security in Lebanon requires effort not only on the part of the government, but through regional and international actions.


2019 ◽  
Vol 18 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Sara Berthe ◽  
Steven A. Harvey ◽  
Matthew Lynch ◽  
Hannah Koenker ◽  
Vincent Jumbe ◽  
...  

Abstract Background Over the past decade, food insecurity, connected to erratic rains and reduced agricultural outputs, has plagued Malawi. Many households are turning to fishing to seek additional sources of income and food. There is anecdotal evidence that insecticide-treated net (ITN) recipients in Malawi are using their nets for purposes other than sleeping, such as for fishing, protecting crops, and displaying merchandise, among others. The objective of this qualitative study was to explore the factors leading residents of waterside communities in Malawi to use ITNs for fishing. Methods This study used qualitative and observational methods. Five waterside communities were identified, two each in the North, Central and Southern regions, representing a mix of lakeside and riverside settings. Fifteen focus group discussions were conducted with a total of 146 participants, including men, women, and community leaders. Results Respondents stated that they knew that ITNs should be slept under to protect from malaria. Respondents discussed financial hardships their communities were facing due to droughts, poverty, food scarcity, unemployment, and devaluation of the Malawian currency, the kwacha. Many described selling household goods, including clothes and cooking pots, to generate short-term income for their family. Though no respondents admitted to selling an ITN themselves, the practice was commonly known. Participants said that food shortages were forcing them to make difficult choices. Fishing with ITNs was reported to be common in the study sites, as a response to food insecurity, and was widely understood to be harmful over the longer term. Respondents felt that it was everyone’s responsibility to cut down on this practice, but that efforts to confiscate or burn nets and boats of those caught fishing with ITNs were counter-productive since boats, especially, were a required resource for a productive livelihood. Respondents feared that if the health workers, government officials and donors continued to see ITNs being misused for fishing, the distribution of free ITNs would end, which would worsen malaria in their communities. Conclusions Faced with economic hardships and food security crises, participants reported being forced to look for alternative incomes to feed their families. This sometimes included selling or repurposing their belongings, including ITNs, for income. This issue is complex and will require a community-led multisectoral response to preserve health, fisheries, and livelihoods.


2017 ◽  
Vol 49 (5) ◽  
pp. 1181-1205 ◽  
Author(s):  
Mahbubur R Meenar

This paper discusses the development of a Place-Based Food Insecurity and Vulnerability Index (PFIVI), which incorporates six indicators and 30 variables. It also presents an application of this Index within the context of Philadelphia, a postindustrial U.S. city. The paper argues that in order to thoroughly measure a multidimensional socioeconomic problem that is tied to the built environment (e.g., food insecurity and vulnerability), the use of participatory and mixed-methods approaches in GIS (e.g., participatory GIS or PGIS) may produce more comprehensive results compared to other commonly used methods. This paper makes an intervention in the food environment literature, which tends to analyze food access in a narrow way, by applying a methodology conceptually grounded in community food security and operationalized through a PGIS project. It also contributes to still-evolving PGIS methodologies by directly engaging stakeholders in a complicated GIS-based analytical process.


2020 ◽  
Vol 15 (2) ◽  
pp. 205-218
Author(s):  
Yara M. Asi

Food aid is a common response to the food insecurity brought by conflict and inadequate development. Yet the very well-intentioned actions that are meant to stave off immediate humanitarian crises may, in the long-term, serve as tools that promote dependence, decrease the likelihood of sustainable development, and make peace less possible. In this article, I examine food insecurity and food aid in the conflict-affected Palestinian territories. I will describe ways in which Palestinian efforts to localise food production and increase food security are actively hindered, as well as how the system of humanitarian food assistance meant to fill these gaps may in fact perpetuate them. Finally, I discuss policy recommendations for stakeholders in the conflict that can encourage Palestinian food sovereignty in a manner that increases prospects for long-term peace and development, while providing immediate benefits for Palestinian quality of life and well-being.


2012 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 284-289 ◽  
Author(s):  
Melanie Zurba ◽  
Durdana Islam ◽  
Dori Smith ◽  
Shirley Thompson

2021 ◽  
Vol 112 (S1) ◽  
pp. 52-63 ◽  
Author(s):  
Malek Batal ◽  
Hing Man Chan ◽  
Karen Fediuk ◽  
Amy Ing ◽  
Peter R. Berti ◽  
...  

Abstract Objective To describe the prevalence of food insecurity in First Nations households across Canada while identifying barriers and enablers to traditional food (TF) consumption. Methods The First Nations Food, Nutrition and Environment Study is a cross-Canada participatory study of on-reserve First Nations from 2008 to 2018. The Household Food Security Survey Module was used to capture income-related challenges experienced by First Nations households. Households were classified as food secure, or marginally, moderately, or severely food insecure. Barriers and enablers to TF access and use were identified describing the Indigenous experience. Results Almost half of on-reserve First Nations households were food insecure and the prevalence was higher than that for non-Indigenous households in Canada. On-reserve food insecurity prevalence was higher in western regions of Canada. First Nations households with children experienced greater food insecurity than those without children. More adults experienced severe food insecurity than children. Most adults would like to have more TF in their diet but state that factors such as financial and household constraints, industrial activities, government regulations, climate change, and fear of contamination impede greater access. Food costs were substantially higher in remote First Nations communities, but remoteness was not associated with food security in multivariable analysis. Conclusion Existing systems have been unsuccessful in curbing the food insecurity in First Nations households. Improving food security hinges on achieving Indigenous Food Sovereignty, the key to long-term conservation and stewardship of the land and the co-management of these by Indigenous Peoples. Studies investigating the feasibility of increasing TF from an Indigenous perspective are required.


2021 ◽  
Vol 14 (1) ◽  
pp. 33-40
Author(s):  
Rajput Swati ◽  
Arora Kavita

Food insecurity is a global issue that persists at various scales and intensity. It is linked to irregularity or uncertainty of food, water and fuel and can develop under the influence of multiple factors. Food availability, accessibility, consumption and stability are the four broad dimensions of food security. This paper analyses the relationship between these four dimensions and food insecurity for 33 districts in Rajasthan, India, using the data collected from the published documents, periodicals and websites of the government or other authentic sources. To analyse the link between these four dimensions, several indicators were taken into consideration. The collected data was used to rank the districts based on their level of food insecurity. Thus, the results include categorization of the districts into four zones based on the values of the variables. The results are presented through maps, which show the spatial distribution of food insecurity. It can be concluded, that the districts of Banswara, Dungarpur, Udaipur, Bharatpur, Rajsamand, Dhaulpur and Jalore have a very high level of food insecurity.


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