scholarly journals Factors Influencing Food Insecurity in Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 24 (2) ◽  
pp. 22-29
Author(s):  
Hem Raj Regmi ◽  
Kedar Rijal ◽  
Ganesh Raj Joshi ◽  
Ramesh P. Sapkota ◽  
Sridhar Thapa
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Logistic Models ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Household Assets ◽  
Using Data

 Nepal has been persistently encountering food insecurity and under-nutrition. It is therefore utmost important to determine the factors responsible for influencing food insecurity in Nepal. This study examines the factors determining food insecurity in Nepal applying binary logistic models for food poverty, household with inadequate food consumption and poor dietary diversity using data from Nepal Living Standard Survey 2010/11. Food security was determined to be strongly associated with education level and age of household head, household with higher female education level, larger farm size with higher ratio of irrigated land, better access to markets, roads and cooperatives, better household assets and remittance recipient households. Food insecure is relatively more prevalent in rural areas with higher dependent on rain-fed agriculture, higher dependency ratio and larger family size. Improving both physical and economic access to foods, together with investment in education and agriculture could help to reduce food insecurity and hunger from Nepal.

Do Foreign Remittances Matter in Attaining Zero Hunger?

2020 ◽  
pp. 197-215
Author(s):  
Oluwakemi Adeola Obayelu ◽  
Rebecca Funmi Akinmulewo
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
The North ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Zero Hunger ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
Food Insecurity Access

Foreign remittance has remained a major source of income and a means to reduce hunger for many poor people in developing countries. The contribution of foreign remittances to food insecurity status of rural households in Nigeria was assessed using data from 2015/2016 Living Standard Measurement Study-Integrated Surveys on Agriculture (LSMS-ISA). Food insecurity status was achieved using the household food insecurity access scale. Data were analysed using descriptive, ordered, and nested logit models. Female-headed households residing in south-east zone with 51 to 70 years old heads and more than six members had greater access to remittances but were severely food insecure. Drivers of food insecurity were age, gender, marital status, education of the household head, membership of cooperatives, access to extension, farm size and per capita income, and living in the north central geo-political zone. Foreign remittances had a positive effect on the food insecurity status of rural households.

scholarly journals Assessing Context-Specific Factors to Increase Tree Survival for Scaling Ecosystem Restoration Efforts in East Africa

Land ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (12) ◽  
pp. 494
Author(s):  
Christine Magaju ◽  
Leigh Ann Winowiecki ◽  
Mary Crossland ◽  
Aymen Frija ◽  
Hassen Ouerghemmi ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Land Tenure ◽  
Management Practices ◽  
Seedling Survival ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Tree Planting ◽  
Tree Cover ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Tree Survival ◽  
Context Specific

Increasing tree cover in agricultural lands can contribute to achieving global and national restoration goals, more so in the drylands where trees play a key role in enhancing both ecosystem and livelihood resilience of the communities that depend on them. Despite this, drylands are characterized by low tree survival especially for tree species preferred by local communities. We conducted a study in arid and semi-arid areas of Kenya and Ethiopia with 1773 households to assess how different tree planting and management practices influence seedling survival. Using on-farm planned comparisons, farmers experimented and compared tree survival under different planting and management practices as well as under varying socioeconomic and biophysical contexts in the two countries. Seedling survival was monitored at least six months after planting. Results show that watering, manure application, seedling protection by fencing and planting in a small hole (30 cm diameter and 45 cm depth) had a significant effect on tree seedling survival in Kenya, while in Ethiopia, mulching, watering and planting niche were significant to tree survival. Household socioeconomics and farms’ biophysical characteristics such as farm size, education level of the household head, land tenure, age of the household head had significant effects on seedling survival in both Ethiopia and Kenya while presence of soil erosion on the farm had a significant effect in Kenya. Soil quality ranking was positively correlated with tree survival in Ethiopia, regardless of species assessed. Current findings have confirmed effects of context specific variables some involving intrahousehold socioeconomic status such education level of the household head, and farm size that influence survival.

scholarly journals Agricultural Food Production Diversity and Dietary Diversity among Female Small Holder Farmers in a Region of the Ecuadorian Andes Experiencing Nutrition Transition

Nutrients ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 12 (8) ◽  
pp. 2454
Author(s):  
Christopher L Melby ◽  
Fadya Orozco ◽  
Jenni Averett ◽  
Fabián Muñoz ◽  
Maria José Romero ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Food Groups ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Small Holder Farmers ◽  
Production Diversity ◽  
Small Holder ◽  
Agricultural Food

Some rural areas of Ecuador, including the Imbabura Province of the Andes Highlands, are experiencing a double burden of malnutrition where micronutrient deficiencies persist at the same time obesity is increasing as many traditional home-grown foods are being replaced with more commercially prepared convenience foods. Thus, the relationships among agricultural food production diversity (FPD), dietary diversity (DD), and household food insecurity (HFI) of the rural small holder farmers need further study. Therefore, we examined these associations in small holder farmers residing in this Province in the Andes Highlands (elevation > 2500 m). Non-pregnant maternal home managers (n = 558, x age = 44.1, SD = 16.5 y) were interviewed regarding the number of different agricultural food crops cultivated and domestic animals raised in their family farm plots. DD was determined using the Minimum Dietary Diversity for Women Score (MDD-W) based on the number of 10 different food groups consumed, and household food insecurity (HFI) was determined using the 8-item Household Food Insecurity Experience Scale. The women reported consuming an average of 53% of their total food from what they cultivated or raised. Women with higher DD [MMD-W score ≥ 5 food groups (79% of total sample)] were on farms that cultivated a greater variety of crops (x = 8.7 vs. 6.7), raised more animals (x = 17.9 vs. 12.7, p < 0.05), and reported lower HFI and significantly higher intakes of energy, protein, iron, zinc, and vitamin A (all p < 0.05). Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that FPD was only modestly related to DD, which together with years of education, per capita family income, and HFI accounted for 26% of DD variance. In rural areas of the Imbabura Province, small holder farmers still rely heavily on consumption of self-cultivated foods, but greater diversity of crops grown in family farm plots is only weakly associated with greater DD and lower HFI among the female caretakers.

scholarly journals Household Food Insecurity, Dietary Diversity, Stunting, and Anaemia among Left-Behind Children in Poor Rural Areas of China

2019 ◽  
Vol 16 (23) ◽  
pp. 4778 ◽  
Author(s):  
Yang ◽  
Yuan ◽  
Yang ◽  
Zou ◽  
Ji ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Rural China ◽  
Nutritional Intervention ◽  
Food Group ◽  
Hunan Province ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Left Behind ◽  
Household Food

Left-behind children (LBC) are a newly emerged social group in China. Poor nutritional status is particularly prominent in this population. However, their food insecurity tends to attract very little attention. This study aims to investigate the relationship between food insecurity and undernutrition (stunting and anaemia) in 3 to 5-year-old LBC in rural China. Face-to-face interviews were administered to 553 LBC caregivers in 40 rural villages of Hunan Province, China. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to assess household food insecurity (HFI). Dietary diversity score (DDS) and food group consumption frequency were measured by 24 h-recall and food frequency questionnaires (FFQ). Hemoglobin tests and anthropometric measurements including height and weight were measured by trained health professionals. Logistic regression was constructed to assess the association between household food insecurity and dietary diversity, stunting, and anaemia. A high prevalence of household food insecurity was determined (67.6%). The weighted prevalence of stunting and anaemia were 16.6% and 26.5%, respectively. Food insecurity was positively associate with LBC stunting (severe HFI: OR = 6.50, 95% CI: 2.81, 15.00; moderate HFI: OR = 3.47, 95% CI: 1.60, 7.54), and anaemia (severe HFI: OR = 1.91, 95% CI: 1.02, 3.57). LBC with food insecurity had significantly lower dietary diversity than those who were food-secure (p < 0.001). The prevalence of household food insecurity among LBC in poor rural China is high and is associated with low DDS, stunting, and anaemia. Nutritional intervention programs and policies are urgently needed to reduce household food insecurity and undernutrition for this vulnerable population.

scholarly journals Measurement and Decomposition of Consumption Inequality in Nepal

2019 ◽  
Vol 4 (2) ◽  
pp. 53-69
Author(s):  
Pravat Uprety
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Gini Index ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Rural And Urban Areas ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Significant Difference ◽  
Female Headed Households ◽  
Measures Of Inequality

This study aims at computing, comparing and decomposing the different inequality indices by rural and urban areas, sex of household head and ecological belt, so that policy maker can make the policy to reduce the inequality in Nepal. This study is based on the raw data taken from the 3rd Nepal Living Standard Survey-2011 conducted by the Central Bureau of Statistics (CBS). The study has used real consumption as the main variable to measure the inequality. In most of the cases five measures of inequality; Coefficient of variation (CV), Quantile Ratio Index, Gini Index, Generalised Entropy Index with parameter 0 and 1 were computed. The Gini index, Theil’s L and Theil’s T indices are 0.328, 0.175 and 0.194, respectively. The study has found no significant difference in inequality between male- and female-headed households; and the inequality in urban areas is higher than that in the rural areas. By ecological belts, the inequality is highest in hills and lowest in mountains. The country should place focus on urban areas and hilly belt to reduce inequality.

scholarly journals THE ISSUE OF INCOME DIVERSIFICATION AMONG RURAL FARMING HOUSEHOLDS: EMPIRICAL EVIDENCE FROM KWARA STATE, NIGERIA

2018 ◽  
Vol 49 (3) ◽  
pp. 231-238 ◽  
Author(s):  
Adeniyi Felix Akinrinde ◽  
Kemi Funmilayo Omotesho ◽  
Israel Ogulande
Keyword(s):  
Rural Areas ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Sampling Technique ◽  
Structured Interview ◽  
Farm Size ◽  
Farm Income ◽  
Income Diversification ◽  
Income Sources ◽  
Farming Families ◽  
The Government

The rising incidences of poverty among rural farming families are the reason behind renewed interest in income diversification. This study determined the level of income diversification; identified alternative income sources; examined the reasons for diversification; and identified the constraints to diversification. A three-stage random sampling technique was used in selecting 160 households on which a structured interview schedule was administered. Descriptive statistics, a Likert-type scale, and the Pearson’s Product Moment Correlation were used for data analyses. Findings reveal that 1.3% of the households had no additional sources of income while 40.6% had at least four. Trading (55%) and livestock keeping (40.7%) were the most popular alternative income sources. The declining farm income (mean = 2.96) was the primary reason for diversification, while poor rural infrastructure (mean = 3.04) was the most severe constraint to income diversification. Farm size, access to extension services, household size, age and educational level of the household head were significantly related to the level of income diversification at p < 0.05. The study concluded that the level of income diversification was high and influenced by socioeconomic characteristics of the households. It recommends that the government should provide adequate infrastructural facilities in rural areas. Farmer associations should also ensure better prices for agricultural produce through joint marketing.

scholarly journals Synthesis of Policies Applied in the Fight Against Malaria in two African Countries at different Stages of Intervention (Model of Burkina Faso and Model of Senegal) using Data from Surveys and Literature

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Elvire MFUENI BIKUNDI ◽  
Annie ROBERT ◽  
Catherine BOULAND ◽  
Edouard AKOTIONGA ◽  
MAREME Ndèye SOUGOU ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Burkina Faso ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Public Health Problem ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Global Public Health ◽  
Linear Regression Models ◽  
African Countries ◽  
Entomological Monitoring ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Background: Malaria is a global public health problem with many cases each year (228 million cases in 2018 with 405,000 deaths). Most malaria cases occur in Africa. Methods: Data used for analysis are from Demographics and Health Surveys (DHS) 2017-2018 for Burkina Faso and DHS 2017 for Senegal. We added information from a synthesis of literature. Linear regression models were performed with an estimation of the mean number of persons using ITNs among groups (urban or rural areas, wealth level, highest education level in the household and age of household head) in each country. We evaluated the importance of co-factors in the relationship between the number of ITNs (insecticide-treated nets) in a household and the number of household members by calculating the R-squared. A criteria grid used for this synthesis of literature included eight important sub-groups: funding sources, entomological monitoring, use of ITNs, use of insecticide, malaria case management, health system organization, communication and surveillance. Results: Senegal and Burkina Faso have the same proportion (51%) of households in which all children under 5 sleep under ITNs. We found R-squared (R2=0.007 in Burkina Faso and R2=0.16 in Senegal) for the relationship between the number of ITNs in a household and household size. When wealth level, age of head of household, area of residence (rural or urban), highest education level in the household and number of bedrooms in the household were controlled for, we found R2=0.106 for Burkina Faso and R2=0.167 for Senegal. We found that Senegal’s national malaria program is decentralized with entomological monitoring in all districts, which is normal considering the intervention stage in the fight against malaria. In Burkina Faso, we found centralization of routine data.Conclusion: Our study synthesized the health policies applied in African countries which are at different stages of intervention in the fight against malaria and which have succeeded in maintaining low malaria prevalence (in Senegal) or in rapidly decreasing the prevalence of the disease (in Burkina Faso). Being close to elimination, Senegal required more active malaria surveillance than passive surveillance. Burkina Faso did not require a lot of active surveillance being not close to malaria elimination. These results merit a review in the context of each African country.

scholarly journals Household level determinants of food insecurity in rural areas of Dire Dawa, eastern Ethiopia

2009 ◽  
Vol 9 (30) ◽  
pp. 1914-1926
Author(s):  
Ayalneh Bogale ◽  
◽  
Shimelis A ◽  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Survey Data ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Dire Dawa

Even though the struggle to achieve food security at the household level in the rural areas of Ethiopia dates back a long period, it has remained as a challenging goal even today. Making their living on marginal, moisture stressed, heavily degraded and less productive land, households in rural areas of Dire Dawa face persistent food shortages. The design and implementation of effective measures to reduce household food insecurity in the region depends on in-depth understanding of its covariates. This study seeks to address these issues by assessing location specific socio-economic factors that influence food insecurity of households in rural areas of Dire Dawa Administrative region. The analysis is based on survey data gathered from randomly selected 115 sample rural households in the study area. A binary logit model was used to identify the factors influencing household level food insecurity. A total of thirteen explanatory variables were included in the empirical model. The empirical results estimated using the survey data to identify the determinants of food insecurity among rural households in the study area revealed mixed impressions. Among variables considered , family size, annual income, amount of credit received, access to irrigation, age of household head, farm size, and livestock owned showed theoretically consistent and statistically significant effect. However, estimated coefficients of number of oxen owned and dependency ratio showed theoretically inconsistent and statistically insignificant effect on the probability of household to be food insecure.. Estimated coefficients of sex of household head, total off-farm income, education of household head and amount of food aid received were not found to be statistically significant in determining household food insecurity in the study area. The findings imply that improvement in food security situation needs to build assets, improve the functioning of rural financial markets and promote family planning. These areas could provide entry points for policy intervention to reduce hunger and augment household and community livelihood opportunities.

scholarly journals Agricultural seasonality, market access, and food security in Sierra Leone

Food Security ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Isaac Bonuedi ◽  
Lukas Kornher ◽  
Nicolas Gerber
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Sierra Leone ◽  
Food Consumption ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Market Access ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Food Markets ◽  
Nutrition Security ◽  
Using Data ◽  
Household Dietary Diversity

AbstractSeasonal variations in agriculture is a major contributor to undernutrition in many agrarian economies. While recent studies have highlighted the role of markets in improving nutrition, the relative importance of markets in smoothing food consumption across seasons remains largely unexamined. Using data from Sierra Leone, this paper analyses whether access to local food markets mitigates seasonal fluctuations in household dietary diversity and food security. Our results confirm that agricultural seasonality imposes significant fluctuations on household dietary diversity and food security. Households, especially those in rural areas, are found to experience significant deteriorations in dietary diversity and food security during the lean season. Most importantly, the results also show that households with better market access consume more diverse diets and are more food secure in both lean and non-lean seasons than remoter households. An important policy implication of these results is that market-based interventions aimed at strengthening market access through improved market infrastructure and roads can significantly contribute to year-long food consumption smoothing, improved dietary diversity and overall food and nutrition security.

scholarly journals Exploring the important determinants of access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation in Punjab, Pakistan

Water Policy ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Shahid Adil ◽  
Muhammad Nadeem ◽  
Irfan Malik
Keyword(s):  
Drinking Water ◽  
Social Norms ◽  
Household Head ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Education Level ◽  
Living Standard ◽  
Safe Drinking Water ◽  
Wealth Status ◽  
Improved Sanitation

Abstract Access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation is a fundamental human right and basic ingredient of public health. However, one of the major problems faced by developing countries in the twenty-first century is the lack of access to these facilities. Punjab is the most populous province of Pakistan with more than 50% of the country's population is no exception. Keeping in view its importance, the current study is an effort to investigate important determinants of access to safe drinking water and improved sanitation in Punjab to ensure the provision of these services to the masses. Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey Household data from 2017 to 2018 has been used for analysis. The results of a logistic regression model revealed that household media exposure, education level of household head, household wealth status, and ethnic background of the household head are some of the important determinants of household access to safe drinking water. For household access to improved sanitation, along with these factors, the role of social norms and place of residence are also important. Particularly, the role of social norms is very profound. Findings from the study suggest that efforts should be made to provide readily available media access, household education level needs to be enhanced, policies should be made to raise the living standard of the poorest households, and the social norm for the use of improved sanitation needs to be promoted.

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