scholarly journals The Impact of Remittances on Food Security Status in the Global South

2018 ◽  
Vol 3 (2) ◽  
pp. 135-150 ◽  
Author(s):  
Narges Ebadi ◽  
Davod Ahmadi ◽  
Ibrahim Sirkeci ◽  
Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

International remittances to developing countries attract increasing attention because of their rise in volume and their impact on the recipient countries. Receiving remittances from outside the country has become a household coping strategy that might reduce poverty, alleviate hunger, promote better diets and increase productive investments. The main purpose of this study is to investigate the link between receiving remittances and the food security status in the Global South countries. This is the first study that examines the association between food security and receiving remittances by using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) for individuals in the Global South. Data were obtained from the 2017 Gallup World Poll (GWP), which interviewed face-to-face 68,463 individuals in more than 60 countries. We have found a significant association between receiving remittances and food security. In the unadjusted logistics regression, irrespective of geography, severe food insecurity was significantly related to not receiving remittances (OR=1.532; P= 0.000). Although receiving remittances seems to positively affect the food security status of individuals in the GS, the association might not apply to all countries in the analyzed sample.

2020 ◽  
Vol 5 (1) ◽  
pp. 37-54
Author(s):  
Narges Ebadi ◽  
Davod Ahmadi ◽  
Hugo Melgar-Quiñonez

The amount of remittances to developing counties, defined as the flow of monetary and non-monetary goods, has increased globally and has surpassed the amount of money spent on foreign aid in these developing countries. The impact of remittances on households’ purchasing power has been studied; however, its link to food security status is yet to be explored. This paper quantitatively analyses the relationship between food security status (measured using the Food Insecurity Experience Scale) and the receipt of domestic/ international or both remittances on households in sub- Saharan Africa. Data are derived from the Gallup World Poll from the years 2014-2017. Multinomial logistic regression models and binary logistic regression analyses were conducted to analyze the data. Results showed that remittance recipients had significantly higher household incomes (especially if the remittance was coming internationally and domestically), lived with significantly more household members (7 or more members), and were more likely to be separated (including divorced or widowed). Households that received domestic remittances had significantly higher odds of being food insecure than households receiving no remittances. Conversely, households receiving remittances internationally or a combination of domestic and international remittances had significantly lower odds of food insecurity compared to non-receivers. This study found that receiving remittances affect the food security status of people living in SSA countries. 


2019 ◽  
Vol 9 (1) ◽  
pp. 191
Author(s):  
Nida Baig ◽  
Chen He ◽  
Shahbaz Khan ◽  
Salman Ali Shah

Among the various major issues, food insecurity is one with which Pakistan has to encounter with. According to a report by WFP (2017), about sixty percent of the population in Pakistan is food insecure, access to food is limited or uneven, and malnutrition is widespread. Having an emerging geopolitical prestige, it is expected that through CPEC, Pakistan can get a better foundation of infrastructural -and agricultural economic zones in collaboration with Chinese counterparts which may further support to perk up the food security. Accordingly, the study tries to examine the impact of various CPEC initiatives on food security of Pakistan. The data is randomly collected from stakeholders working in various government sector organizations of Pakistan. The results show that CPEC initiatives would tend to improve the food security status in Pakistan. The research may suggest that developing countries like Pakistan may use economic corridors such as CPEC as a strategic tool to improve the food security situation.


2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (2) ◽  
pp. 180
Author(s):  
Anisa Nurpita ◽  
Latri Wihastuti ◽  
Ike Yuli Andjani

Preparation for the construction and development of  NYIA airport in Temon sub district, Kulon Progo district, D.I. Yogyakarta province has caused displacement of people for their land, including farmers. Farmers affected are located in five villages that include Jankaran, Palihan, Sindutan, Glagah and Kebon Rejo. The objective of this resrarch is to  analyze the impact of land conversion on farmer household incomes and food security status.  The research used both primary and secondary data. Primary data was collected using structured questionnaire.  Analysis of data was based on descriptive statistics and test of differences between paired samples. Results showed that land conversion has had a negative and significant influence on incomes of affected farmer households. The decline in household income of farmers in 5 villages in Temon sub district among other factors, is attributable to the reduction in farming land. Secondly, consequently, loss of farmer household income aggravated the vulnerability of the affected households to food insecurity.  The number of farmer households that experienced food insecurity increased from 87 percent of all farmer households prior to land conversion to 90 percent after land conversion. Conclusions formed the basis for several policy recommendations to mitigate and if possible overcome the problem.


2021 ◽  
Vol 9 (2) ◽  
pp. 517-529
Author(s):  
Abdulrazak Ghazal ◽  
Mehmet Bozoglu

Purpose of the study: This study aims to assess the food security status among Syrian and Iraqi refugees in Samsun, Turkey. In addition, to examine the association between refugees’ profiles and food security status. Methodology: We surveyed 252 households through face-to-face and semi-structured questionnaires; these tools were used in data collection between 2019-2020. FAO’s scale, descriptive analysis, and Chi-square test were conducted to achieve the objectives of this study. Main Findings: The findings indicated that the majority of refugees households, 60% experienced food insecurity. The results indicated that 30% of Syrian and 47% of Iraqi refugees were food security. Food security was significantly influenced by several socio-demographic (7 variables) and economic variables (9 variables). Applications of this study: This paper provides implications for policymakers and refugees. The current study recommends applying specific programs that could alleviate food insecurity among refugees. The policymakers should improve the economic status of refugees' households, especially the most vulnerable. Likewise, the policies in this field should be built by understanding the factors influencing food security. Novelty/Originality of this study: The current study is considered one of the pioneering and important studies in the food security field for refugees in Turkey. No studies have been conducted to assess food security for refugees. It seems to be important to review and re-evaluate the Turkish policies associated with refugees in Turkey.


2021 ◽  
Vol 49 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Attaullah Ahmadi ◽  
Georges Gandour ◽  
Hujjatullah Ghaffari ◽  
Heba Sati ◽  
Anthony Abou Mrad ◽  
...  

AbstractFood security is a major element for the sustainability, stability and development of a country. However, despite fundamental efforts in fighting poverty, Afghanistan continues to struggle with food insecurity with a large proportion of its population living below the poverty line. With extreme climates, protracted conflict, and now COVID-19, food insecurity has become rampant and is on the rise in the country. Efforts have been reinforced to mitigate this issue, but a spate of obstacles which seems not to come to an end, has contributed to the deterioration of the situation. With the collaboration and efforts of international organizations, there remains a glimmer of hope to potentially reduce the gravity of the food insecurity in the country. This paper aims to highlight the efforts of Afghanistan in alleviating food insecurity with a focus on the impact of COVID-19 on this issue. It also presents recommendations that may help ameliorate the country’s food security status during and after the pandemic.


Author(s):  
Jessica Soldavini ◽  
Hazael Andrew ◽  
Maureen Berner

Abstract The prevalence of food insecurity in the USA has increased since the start of the COVID-19 pandemic; however, past studies have not examined how the food security status of college students has been impacted. The purpose of this study was to examine changes in the prevalence of food insecurity; determine the proportion of students experiencing a change in food security status; and identify characteristics associated with changes in food security status from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic among a sample of college students. We administered a cross-sectional online survey to students from a large public university in the Southeastern USA. The 10-item U.S. Adult Food Security Module was used to assess food security status during the spring 2020 semester both before and during the COVID-19 pandemic, and students self-reported a variety of individual characteristics. The overall prevalence of food insecurity increased by approximately one-third during the spring 2020 semester from before to during the COVID-19 pandemic. When examining the types of changes in food security status experienced by students, 12% improved, 68% stayed the same, and 20% worsened. A variety of characteristics were associated with an improvement or worsening of food security status category from before to during the pandemic. Similar to what is seen in other reports, we found that the overall proportion of college students in our sample experiencing food insecurity increased during the COVID-19 pandemic; however, some students showed improvements in food security status. Approaches for addressing food insecurity during and beyond the pandemic are needed.


BMC Nutrition ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 7 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Milagro Escobar ◽  
Andrea DeCastro Mendez ◽  
Maria Romero Encinas ◽  
Sofia Villagomez ◽  
Janet M. Wojcicki

Abstract Background Food insecurity impacts nearly one-in-four Latinx households in the United States and has been exacerbated by the novel coronavirus or COVID-19 pandemic. Methods We examined the impact of COVID-19 on household and child food security in three preexisting, longitudinal, Latinx urban cohorts in the San Francisco Bay Area (N = 375 households, 1875 individuals). Households were initially recruited during pregnancy and postpartum at Zuckerberg San Francisco General Hospital (ZSFG) and UCSF Benioff prior to the COVID-19 pandemic. For this COVID-19 sub-study, participants responded to a 15-min telephonic interview. Participants answered 18 questions from the US Food Security Food Module (US HFSSM) and questions on types of food consumption, housing and employment status, and history of COVID-19 infection as per community or hospital-based testing. Food security and insecurity levels were compared with prior year metrics. Results We found low levels of household food security in Latinx families (by cohort: 29.2%; 34.2%; 60.0%) and child food security (56.9%, 54.1%, 78.0%) with differences between cohorts explained by self-reported levels of education and employment status. Food security levels were much lower than those reported previously in two cohorts where data had been recorded from prior years. Reported history of COVID-19 infection in households was 4.8% (95% Confidence Interval (CI); 1.5–14.3%); 7.2% (95%CI, 3.6–13.9%) and 3.5% (95%CI, 1.7–7.2%) by cohort and was associated with food insecurity in the two larger cohorts (p = 0.03; p = 0.01 respectively). Conclusions Latinx families in the Bay Area with children are experiencing a sharp rise in food insecurity levels during the COVID-19 epidemic. Food insecurity, similar to other indices of poverty, is associated with increased risk for COVID-19 infection. Comprehensive interventions are needed to address food insecurity in Latinx populations and further studies are needed to better assess independent associations between household food insecurity, poor nutritional health and risk of COVID-19 infection.


2008 ◽  
Vol 21 (suppl) ◽  
pp. 27s-37s ◽  
Author(s):  
Hugo Melgar-Quinonez ◽  
Michelle Hackett

Measuring household food insecurity represents a challenge due to the complexity and wide array of factors associated with this phenomenon. For over one decade, researchers and agencies throughout the world have been using and assessing the validity of variations of the United States Department of Agriculture Household Food Security Supplemental Module. Thanks to numerous studies of diverse design, size, and purpose, the Household Food Security Supplemental Module has shown its suitability to directly evaluate the perceptions of individuals on their food security status. In addition, challenges and limitations are becoming clearer and new research questions are emerging as the process advances. The purpose of this article is to describe the development, validation procedures, and use of the Household Food Security Supplemental Module in very diverse settings. The most common Household Food Security Supplemental Module related studies have been conducted using criterion validity, Rasch modeling and Cronbach-Alpha Coefficient. It is critical that researchers, policy makers, governmental and non-governmental agencies intensify their efforts to further develop tools that provide valid and reliable measures of food security in diverse population groups. Additional work is needed to synthesize a universally applicable tool able to capture the global human phenomenon of food insecurity.


2021 ◽  
Vol 292 ◽  
pp. 126067
Author(s):  
Xian Liu ◽  
Yueyue Xu ◽  
Bernie A. Engel ◽  
Shikun Sun ◽  
Xining Zhao ◽  
...  

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