scholarly journals Enhancing food security through home gardening in urbanizing environment in Machakos County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (3) ◽  
pp. 450-455
Author(s):  
Julius Huho ◽  
Margaret Muriuki
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Home Gardens ◽  
Capital City ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
The Impact

Kenya is rapidly urbanizing at an annual rate of about 4.3%. One of the consequences of urbanization has been the problem of food insecurity in peri-urban areas. Increased migration to urban from rural areas has enhanced food insecurity in these areas. The peri-urban area of Kangundo-Tala in Machakos County is one of the fastest-growing peri-urban areas due to its proximity to the capital city of Nairobi. This study investigated the impact of home gardening in enhancing food security in the rapidly urbanizing middle-income Kangundo–Tala peri-urban areas of Machakos County, Kenya. The specific objectives of the study were: to identify the causes of households’ food insecurity in the study area; to examine the factors influencing the adoption of home gardening and; to establish the role of home gardening as a measure of households’ food security. To measure food security, three consumption behaviors were analyzed: consumption changes, food expenditure reduction and income expansion. A qualitative approach was adopted where a total of 120 newly settled households were interviewed. The three main causes of food insecurity were identified (i) small land sizes, (ii) low and erratic rainfall and, (iii) the socialization of peri-urban dwellers. About 68% of the households were practicing at least one form of home gardening. The need for safe and nutritious food, seasonal unavailability, and inaccessibility of food encouraged the establishment of home gardens. From the gardens, households were able to diversify their diets, access safe food and have food readily available. With enhanced stability in food availability, accessibility, and utilization, the study concluded that home gardens played a major role in enhancing food. However, the production was at a very small scale. Up-scaling of home gardening by the Ministry of Agriculture through training was recommended.    

scholarly journals HOUSEHOLDS’ RESILIENCE TO COVID 19 PANDEMIC IN NIGERIA: WAY FORWARD

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 7-18
Author(s):  
Aminu O. ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Economic Activities ◽  
Secondary Sources ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
The Poor ◽  
Global Pandemic ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
The Impact

The impact of the current global pandemic on households’ economy in Nigeria cannot be overemphasized. Undoubtedly, households’ resilience is threatened by the global pandemic that has ravaged the means of survival of people in both urban and rural areas. The onset of the lockdown that affected all individuals put setback on economic activities and this impacted negatively on the income of households. The already dwindling economy of households, especially those in rural areas become hampered thereby enhancing vulnerability. The poor becomes poorer because there is no back up that the poor could easily fall on. Also, the capacity to recover and adapt become impaired. The emergence of COVID 19 has implication for food security sustainability among households. This study employed the use of secondary sources to examine the vulnerability of households to the global pandemic and the ramifications of the effect of COVID 19 on households’ economy in the rural and urban areas of Nigeria. Containment strategies (such as innovative information system delivery, interest free loan especially to entrepreneurs, sensitization and promotion of home gardening particularly in urban, among others) that could stimulate households’ resilience or foster quick economic recovery in urban and rural Nigeria in the bid to ensure food security and livelihood sustainability were suggested.

scholarly journals The Effects of Types of Residence and Nutrition Knowledge on Food Insecurity Status Among Syrian Refugees Residing in the State of Florida

2020 ◽  
Vol 4 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. 901-901
Author(s):  
Racha Sankar ◽  
Adriana Campa ◽  
Florence George ◽  
Justina Owusu ◽  
Catherine Coccia ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Nutrition Knowledge ◽  
The State ◽  
Syrian Refugees ◽  
Exact Test ◽  
Fisher's Exact Test ◽  
Fisher’S Exact Test

Abstract Objectives As a recently arrived vulnerable population, food insecurity might be associated with types of residence and nutrition knowledge among Syrian refugees residing in the State of Florida. We assessed the relationship between food insecurity status, types of residence and nutrition knowledge among Syrian refugees in Florida. Methods In one-on-one sessions, the assessments of nutrition knowledge and food insecurity were completed in 80 households (n = 80, 43 in rural area, 37 in urban area). The outcome measures included demographics, types of residence, food insecurity status, the levels of food insecurity, and nutrition knowledge. Results Of the 80 households, 20% were food secure while 80% of households experienced food insecurity at different levels. Fisher's exact test showed significant differences between the levels of food insecurity in rural and urban areas, P = 0.02. The mean nutrition knowledge score (42.0 ± 13.6) indicated that Syrian refugees had fair nutrition knowledge. Fisher's exact test showed marginal differences between the levels of food insecurity in households with different nutrition knowledge, P = 0.08. The results of our multivariate logistic regression model showed that types of residence had an inverse significant effect on food security, which remained significant after controlling for nutrition knowledge. Syrian refugees in rural areas had 78.4 greater odds of being food insecure compared with urban areas, odds ratio = 0.216, 95% CI: 0.06–0.777, P = 0.02. Conclusions Food insecurity was experienced by 80% of our participants. It was estimated that Syrian refugees had fair nutrition knowledge. Geographical location, types of residence, is a determinant for food insecurity status; Syrian refugees residing in rural areas are more likely to be food insecure compared with urban areas. Greater nutrition knowledge might increase the likelihood of food security among Syrian refugee households. Increasing sample size may be recommended to support our findings. Funding Sources Personal funding.

scholarly journals Nutrient-Dense Crops for Rural and Peri-Urban Smallholders in Kenya—A Regional Social Accounting Approach

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (11) ◽  
pp. 3017 ◽  
Author(s):  
Henning Krause ◽  
Anja Faße ◽  
Ulrike Grote
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Supply And Demand ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Social Accounting ◽  
Income Effects ◽  
Multiplier Analysis ◽  
African Indigenous Vegetables ◽  
Stability Dimension

Kenya ranks among the countries with the highest micronutrient deficiency worldwide. Due to their high micronutrient content, African indigenous vegetables (AIVs) can be a solution to this problem, and urban areas in Kenya have seen a rise in demand for these crops in the previous decade. To fill the gap between supply and demand, programmes to promote AIV production have been implemented in rural and peri-urban areas. However, the effects of increased AIV production on income and food security in the regional economies are not clear. Thus, in this analysis, we first evaluate differences between the livelihoods of household groups with different levels of food security in rural and peri-urban Kenya using a two-step cluster analysis. Then, we generate a regional social accounting matrix (SAM) and calculate the direct and indirect income effects of AIVs and other crops grown in the area using a multiplier analysis. For the analysis, a total of 706 small-scale vegetable producers in four counties in Kenya were interviewed in 2015. Households in rural areas were more food insecure, especially with respect to the utilization and stability dimension of food security. Multiplier analysis showed increased indirect income effects of AIVs in the regional economy compared to those of many cash crops. We suggest further promoting the production of AIVs in rural and peri-urban Kenya.

scholarly journals Accessibility of summer meals and the food insecurity of low-income households with children

2016 ◽  
Vol 19 (11) ◽  
pp. 2079-2089 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniel P Miller
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
California Health Interview Survey ◽  
Lower Probability ◽  
Geographic Accessibility ◽  
Households With Children ◽  
The Impact ◽  
Low Income Households

AbstractObjectiveAlmost no previous research has examined the impact of the US Department of Agriculture’s (USDA) Summer Food Service Program and related Seamless Summer Option, which provide meals and snacks to low-income children over the summer. The present study investigated whether geographic accessibility of summer meals programme sites (a proxy for programme participation) was associated with food insecurity for low-income households.DesignThe study used data from the California Health Interview Survey (CHIS) and administrative data on summer meals sites in California. Geocoding was used to calculate driving time between CHIS households and nearby summer meals sites. Geographic accessibility was measured using a gravity model, which accounted for the spatially distributed supply of and demand for summer meals. Food insecurity and very low food security were measured using a standard six-item measure from the USDA.SubjectsLow-income families with children (n5394).SettingA representative surveillance study of non-institutionalized households in California.ResultsGeographic accessibility was not associated with food insecurity. However, geographic accessibility was associated with a significantly lower probability of very low food security in the full sample and among households with younger children and those living in less urban areas.ConclusionsThe USDA’s summer meals programme may be effective at reducing the most severe form of food insecurity for low-income households with children. Expanding the number of summer meals sites, the number of meals served at sites and sites’ hours of operation may be effective strategies to promote nutritional health over the summer months.

Demand and supply side changes in the Santa Cruz, Bolivia, milk sector 1985 – 2002: impact on small-scale producers and poor consumers

2004 ◽  
Vol 33 ◽  
pp. 315-321
Author(s):  
J. Rushton ◽  
N. Duran ◽  
S. Anderson
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Supply Side ◽  
Santa Cruz ◽  
Demand And Supply ◽  
The Past ◽  
Country Study ◽  
The Impact ◽  
The City

During the past three decades worldwide dairy policies have been implemented to promote the consumption of milk and milk products in urban areas and the production from rural areas close to big cities (Alderman et al., 1987). Bolivia and the city of Santa Cruz de la Sierra have been influenced by these worldwide directives and this current study examines the impact of policies on the demand and supply side of the sector, but with particular emphasis on smallholder milk producers and poor urban consumers. The current research is part of a multi-country study on the supply, demand and impact of dairy and other policies over a 10 to 15 year period (1985 to 2000) of the milk sectors of Santa Cruz, Bolivia; Nairobi, Kenya; and Kathmandu, Nepal.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity and the Rising Urbanisation in Africa: Can ICT Revolution Bridge the GAP?

2018 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
pp. 217
Author(s):  
Isaac B. Oluwatayo ◽  
Ayodeji O. Ojo
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Climate Change Impacts ◽  
Youth Unemployment ◽  
Urban Migration ◽  
Enabling Factors ◽  
Rural Urban Migration ◽  
African Agriculture

The task of reducing food insecurity in Africa is very challenging. This is because of the changing conditions such as adverse climate change impacts. This study examined food insecurity, urbanisation and ICT in Africa.  The paper employed a combination of both secondary and historical information obtained from different sources (UNHCR, FAO, Mo Ibrahim Foundation etc). Analytical method used include descriptive statistics such as charts. Food security indices in Africa is alarming and disturbing. One in four people in Africa do not have access to food in adequate quantities and one in five African children are underweight. African agriculture is rendered unattractive by low productivity hence the exodus of labour from rural to urban areas. Africa is the most rapidly urbanising continent in the world with enabling factors comprising of infrastructure deficits in rural areas, dearth of employment opportunities and glamour of city life. However, Africa’s urban centres are not immune to the challenges inducing rural-urban migration in the first place. In fact, youth unemployment in Africa is 6 times higher in urban areas than in rural areas. About 72percent of urban dwellers live in slums with the most of them having no access to basic amenities. These culminated in what is regarded in literature as ‘urbanisation of poverty’. Migrants are generally scapegoated as the causes of crimes, violence and even unemployment in urban areas. Therefore, they are subjected to sub-human living conditions. Information and Communication Technology (ICT) is particularly critical to the achievement of food security in Africa. This is because of the huge gap between markets and farmers which it is capable of filling. The paper therefore recommends increased but monitored investments in infrastructure in Africa in order to make rural areas more attractive and discourage rural-urban migration. There is also the need to provide favourable micro and macro-environment for businesses to grow especially in rural Africa. 

scholarly journals Foodscapes in urban spaces of Africa: implications for food and nutrition security among the urban poor

2021 ◽  
Vol 4 ◽  
pp. 44
Author(s):  
Fidelia A. A. Dake
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Urban Poor ◽  
Urban Spaces ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Increased Risk ◽  
Food And Nutrition ◽  
Sub Saharan

Food security has been a global development agenda for several decades, and rightly so: nearly 945 million people were food insecure in 2005 and a decade later, this number declined to 784 million in 2014, only to rise to 821 million three years later in 2017. These global figures, however, mask variations in the extent of progress in different regions of the world. Progress towards achieving food security has been much slower in sub-Saharan Africa, and the region continues to be the worst hit by food insecurity. Furthermore, it is increasingly being recognised that food insecurity is prevalent in urban, and not just rural areas, and that the urban poor rather than the rural poor are particularly vulnerable, and at increased risk of being food insecure. Additionally, nutrition insecurity, a closely related component of food insecurity, is common among the urban poor and contributes to malnutrition. While several factors have been explored in trying to address the issue of food security, the potential role of foodscapes in urban spaces of Africa has been less researched. Recent evidence, however, indicates that foodscapes in urban areas of sub-Saharan Africa potentially contribute to food and nutrition insecurity, particularly among the urban poor. Addressing food and nutrition insecurity in sub-Saharan Africa will thus first require reframing the discourse about these issues from solely a rural to also an urban problem, and secondly improving access, especially availability of healthy and nutritious options that are also economically accessible, for vulnerable and at-risk groups; in particularly, the urban poor.

The Contribution of Home Food Gardening Program to Household Food Security in Indonesia: A Review

2021 ◽  
Vol 17 ◽  
pp. 795-809
Author(s):  
Haji Saediman ◽  
Abdul Gafaruddin ◽  
Hidrawati Hidrawati ◽  
Idrus Salam ◽  
Almira Ulimaz ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Home Gardens ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Positive Contribution ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Home Gardening ◽  
Home Food ◽  
Food Gardening

Home gardens are an essential component of the local food system and family farming worldwide. In Indonesia, a home food gardening program was initiated in the early 2010s to optimally utilize home yards for improving the adequacy of food consumption and nutrition intake of households. In the present challenging situation of Covid-19 pandemic, there has been a growing interest in home gardens to help mitigate food insecurity caused by food supply chain disruptions and the emergence of physical and economic barriers that limit access to food. This paper is a review of pertinent literature to find out the characteristics of home gardens and home gardening program in Indonesia and then examine their contribution to each pillar of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. The experiences of home gardens worldwide are reviewed to understand the global context of home gardens and food security. Literature reviews found a positive impact of home gardening program on food availability, access, and utilization. However, improving food stability through a home food gardening program is still a challenging task. This finding implies that the positive contribution of the home food gardening program to household food security is largely limited to the program period. Nevertheless, the program is still an important strategy to address food insecurity and nutrition deficiency of low-income households. Future research should assess factors affecting the sustainability of the program to derive viable models applicable in diverse circumstances. There is a need for research to assess the value and importance of home gardens as a coping strategy to reduce vulnerability and food insecurity in the present global Covid-19 pandemic.

scholarly journals The catastrophic and impoverishing effects of out-of-pocket healthcare payments in Kenya, 2018

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (6) ◽  
pp. e001809
Author(s):  
Paola Salari ◽  
Laura Di Giorgio ◽  
Stefania Ilinca ◽  
Jane Chuma
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Health Expenditure ◽  
Scale Up ◽  
Two Dimensions ◽  
Poor People ◽  
Financial Protection ◽  
Health Coverage ◽  
Catastrophic Payments ◽  
The Impact

IntroductionProgress towards effective service coverage and financial protection—the two dimensions of Universal Health Coverage (UHC)—has been limited in Kenya in the last decade. The government of Kenya has embarked on a highly ambitious reform programme currently being piloted in four Kenyan counties and aiming at national rollout by 2022. This study provides an updated assessment of the performance of the Kenyan health system in terms of financial protection allowing to monitor trends over time. In light of the UHC initiative, the study provides a baseline to assess the impact of the UHC pilot programme and inform scale-up plans. It also investigates household characteristics associated with catastrophic payments.MethodsUsing data from the Kenya Household Health Expenditure and Utilization Survey (KHHEUS) 2018, we investigated the incidence and intensity of catastrophic and impoverishing health expenditure. We used a logistic regression analysis to assess households’ characteristics associated with the probability of incurring catastrophic health expenditures.ResultsThe results show that the incidence of catastrophic payments is more severe for the poorest households and in the rural areas and mainly due to outpatient services. Results for the impoverishing effect suggest that after accounting for out-of-pocket(OOP) payments, the proportion of poor people increases by 2.2 percentage points in both rural and urban areas. Thus, between 1 and 1.1 million individuals are pushed into poverty due to OOP payments. Among the characteristics associated with the probability of incurring OOP expenditures, socioeconomic conditions, the presence of elderly and of people affected by chronic conditions showed significant results.ConclusionKenya is still lagging behind in terms of protecting its citizens against financial risks associated with ill health and healthcare seeking behaviour. More effort is needed to protect the most vulnerable population groups from the high costs of illness.

scholarly journals Food security assessment in rural areas: evidence from Iran

2021 ◽  
Vol 10 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Atefeh Ahmadi Dehrashid ◽  
Masoud Bijani ◽  
Naser Valizadeh ◽  
Hossein Ahmadi Dehrashid ◽  
Bahram Nasrollahizadeh ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Low Income ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Underground Water ◽  
Current Status ◽  
Security Assessment ◽  
Validity And Reliability ◽  
Adequate Food

Abstract Background Food security is considered a pivotal factor for the sustainable development of communities and focus on this issue in rural areas. More specifically, it is of paramount importance in developing countries. Accordingly, this descriptive-analytical study aimed to evaluate the status of food security in rural areas of Iran. The main originality of the present study is to assess the strategic future-oriented vision for food security in addition to the evaluation of the current status of the studied area. Methodology Data were collected using the standard questionnaire of U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA) and a researcher-made close-ended questionnaire. The validity and reliability of the research instrument were confirmed by a panel of specialists and Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, respectively. In addition, data analysis was performed using SPSS24 (to analyze the descriptive statistics) and Fuzzy Technique for Order Preference by Similarity to Ideal Situation (FTOPSIS). Results According to the results, 80% of the villagers suffered from food insecurity (25% in low food insecurity situation, 42% in moderate food insecurity situation, and 13% in severe food insecurity situation). Evaluation of the factors affecting food insecurity demonstrated that economic (standardized weight of 0.566), stability (standardized weight of 0.559), and availability (standardized weight of 0.558) were the most important components affecting food insecurity. Moreover, in a systemic approach, the growth of migration from rural to urban areas, pressure on water and soil resources, and the occurrence of environmental hazards are of the most significant consequences of food insecurity. In addition, due to the excessive use of underground water for cucurbits, which is the dominant cultivation pattern in this region, the groundwater level has dropped sharply in some villages farther from the city which can be alarming for exacerbating food insecurity in the near future. Conclusion Since the low-income level of villagers, lack of job diversity, and lack of access to adequate food are the main reasons for food insecurity, in this respect, it is suggested that more attention be paid to the development of occupations and job diversity in these regions by decision-makers and policy-makers.

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