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 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 Enhancing Food Security by Institutionalizing Collaborative Food Alliances in Urban Areas

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (15) ◽  
pp. 4103 ◽  
Author(s):  
Vibhas Sukhwani ◽  
Arie Nurzaman ◽  
Nadia Paramitha Kusumawardhani ◽  
Anwaar Mohammed AlHinai ◽  
Liu Hanyu ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Governments ◽  
Large Scale ◽  
Policy Coordination ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Urban And Rural Areas ◽  
Multi Stakeholder ◽  
Key Aspects

Narrowing the food supply-demand gaps between urban and rural areas within a regional space has today become a serious challenge due to the growing urban population. Resultantly, urban markets are increasingly being dominated by industrial food chains, despite their negative socio-environmental impacts. To address this issue, this paper discusses the need and significance of ‘Collaborative Food Alliances’ (CFAs), which promote the direct supply of food products from rural farmers to urban residents through improved producer–consumer relationships. Based on the literature survey, this study underlines that the current CFAs are confronted with several challenges including the small scale of functioning and limited financing. While the current research on CFAs is focused on theoretical place-based studies, this paper argues that institutionalization of CFAs at a large scale is highly important for enhancing food security in urban areas. It mainly deliberates on two key aspects: (a) The process of institutionalizing CFAs and (b) A feasible financing mechanism to support CFAs. This paper emphasizes that urban local governments have a central role to play in institutionalizing CFAs, either as a lead agency or as a facilitator. It concludes with specific suggestions on three key determinants of multi-stakeholder engagement, financial constraints and policy coordination at a regional level.

scholarly journals FINANCING SMALL FARMERS FOR INDIA’S FOOD SECURITY

2016 ◽  
Vol 4 (7) ◽  
pp. 196-212
Author(s):  
Amrit Patel
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Poverty Reduction ◽  
Meat Products ◽  
National Sample ◽  
Sample Survey ◽  
Rural India ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Small Holding ◽  
Average Size

According to the Global Hunger Report, India continues to be among nations where hunger is "alarming". It is most disappointing that despite high economic growth, the hunger index in India between 1996 and 2011 has insignificantly improved from 22.9 to 23.7. National Sample Survey Organization data revealed that the average per capita food expenditure per annum during the period from 1993 to 2010 increased only by 0.2 % annually in rural India and declined by 0.1% in the urban areas. At any given point of time, the cereal intake of the bottom 20% people in rural India which is engaged more in manual work continues to be at least 20% less than the cereal intake of the top decile of the population, despite their better access to fruit, vegetables and meat products. Endemic hunger continues to afflict a large proportion of the population. Agricultural Census [2010–11] revealed that out of 138.35 million operational holdings in India as high as 85% (which account for 44.6% of the total cultivated area) are small and marginal farmers [S&MFs] owning less than two hectares. This, therefore, characterises India’s agriculture a small-scale-farming. Average size of small-holding is only 0.61 hectare whereas overall average size of holdings declined from 1.33 ha in 2000–01 to 1.15 in 2010–11.The role of S&MFs in boosting food output and reduction of poverty is well recognized. Therefore, the future of sustainable agricultural growth, food security and poverty reduction in India depends on creating environment that enables huge number of S&MFs to easy, hassle-free and reliable access to institutional credit. Against this background, this article analyses the performance of Government–sponsored and Banks programs aimed at financing S&MFs and suggest enabling measures to achieve 8% target of credit to S&MFs within existing 18% credit to agriculture by 2017 as recently prescribed by the Reserve Bank of India [RBI].

scholarly journals The contribution of small-scale rural irrigation schemes towards food security of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe

2019 ◽  
Vol 11 (1) ◽  
Author(s):  
Smart Mhembwe ◽  
Newman Chiunya ◽  
Ernest Dube
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Security Challenges ◽  
The Status ◽  
Midlands Province ◽  
Observation Method ◽  
Effective Use ◽  
Small Scale Irrigation

Smallholder farmers across Zimbabwe have been facing a problem of food insecurity because of climate-induced droughts and lack of effective use of irrigation schemes. Rainfall patterns in the country have become more unpredictable and inconsistent with the traditional farming seasons. Faced with such challenges, many smallholder farmers in Shurugwi district in the Midlands province of Zimbabwe adopted small-scale irrigation schemes to improve food security. The principal objectives of this study were to examine the status of the irrigation schemes in the district; analyse the need to rehabilitate small-scale irrigation schemes; assess the initiatives towards the revival of irrigation schemes; establish the benefits that can accrue to smallholder farmers from small-scale irrigation schemes and discuss challenges faced by smallholder farmers in the running of small-scale irrigation schemes in rural areas. This qualitative study employed literature and interviews to obtain data from 40 purposively selected participants. The direct observation method was used to compliment the interviews. The findings of the study were that small-scale rural irrigation schemes have the capacity to significantly transform the lives of rural farmers through earning increased reliable income from farming if institutional and capacity issues of the farmers are addressed. Furthermore, the study found that small-scale irrigation schemes can also be a panacea to food security challenges mainly faced by rural households. As such, the article concluded that irrigation schemes are fortress and antidote to the effects of climate change. The study calls for capacity promotion on technical skills for the farmers, the establishment of many new irrigation schemes and the rehabilitation of the existing small-scale irrigation schemes in the country as well as calling on the farmers to adopt climate-smart irrigation.

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 Seasonality and household diets in Ethiopia

2015 ◽  
Vol 19 (10) ◽  
pp. 1723-1730 ◽  
Author(s):  
Kalle Hirvonen ◽  
Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse ◽  
Ibrahim Worku Hassen
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Energy Intake ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Rural Households ◽  
Household Level ◽  
Rural And Urban ◽  
Per Capita ◽  
Nationally Representative

AbstractObjectiveTo revisit seasonality by assessing how household diets vary across agricultural seasons in rural and urban Ethiopia. The role of seasonality on the sources and intake of energy (per capita) and household dietary diversity score (HDDS) was analysed.DesignThe use of nationally representative household-level data collected each month over one year to study the seasonal changes in the sources and intake of energy and HDDS.SettingEleven regions of Ethiopia, including rural and urban settings.SubjectsTotal of 27 835 households were interviewed between July 2010 and July 2011 in all eleven regions of the country. On average each month saw 2300 household interviews, yielding nationally representative data for each calendar month.ResultsFor rural households, the mean daily per capita energy intake was 10 288 kJ (2459 kcal) in February (post-harvest period) and lower in the lean season: 9703 kJ (2319 kcal) in June (P<0·05) and 9552 kJ (2283 kcal) in July (P<0·001). HDDS for rural households was highest in February (6·73) and lowest in June (5·98; P<0·001) but high again in July (6·57). Urban energy intake was also lower in the lean season but HDDS varied less by season. Considerable seasonal variation was also found in energy sources in rural areas, less so in urban areas.ConclusionsHousehold diets in Ethiopia remain subjected to significant seasonal stress. HDDS and food security measured using energy intake do not always agree. Preferably, HDDS and energy intake data should be used together to assess food security.

Young People and Employment in the South West

1992 ◽  
Vol 4 (3) ◽  
pp. 225-239 ◽  
Author(s):  
David Dunkerley ◽  
Claire Wallace
Keyword(s):  
Young People ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Small Businesses ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Local Economy ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Self Employment ◽  
South West ◽  
Parents And Children ◽  
The Family

From a comprehensive survey of over 1200 17 and 18 year olds in Devon and Cornwall, the paper concentrates on the economic position of young people. Important differences were found between the young people in urban and rural areas. Of interest here is the role played by them in the local economy. The rural South West is shown to be characterized by a prevalence of self-employment and small businesses. Furthermore, factors such as a shortage of housing and travelling difficulties leads to different kinds of interdependence between parents and children in rural areas from those found in urban areas. Although in rural areas a dependence of young people upon the family was found, this was balanced by the dependence of the family on them in the sense of a young person’s labour often being a crucial part of the family business. This interdependence is intensified in many rural businesses where there is often no geographical separation of home and workplace. The far South West experiences some of the highest unemployment and the lowest wages in the UK and yet young people in rural areas were found to have developed coping strategies manifested in both formal and informal work practices, casualization and self-employment. The ‘pluriactivity’ found shows young people socialized into long hours, hard work and poor rewards. It is clear from the results that young people are not simply passively dependent upon the household nor that the flow of resources goes simply from parents to children. Small scale rural enterprises in which young people are employed or seek to be employed still show a marked gender division of tasks. Further, it was difficult in many instances to make a clear distinction between work and non-work although again distinct gender differences are visible.

scholarly journals Urban Agriculture: Search for Agricultural Practice in Urbanized Rural Areas

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (12) ◽  
pp. 1461
Author(s):  
Celile Özçiçek Dölekoğlu ◽  
Sema Gün
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Urban Agriculture ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Agricultural Land ◽  
Environmental Benefits ◽  
Agricultural Practice ◽  
Rapid Urbanization ◽  
The World ◽  
The One

Rapid urbanization in developing countries involves unplanned migration, unemployment and poverty. The steady shrinking of rural areas and the use of agricultural land for other purposes are progressively increasing the pressure on natural resources. This development on the one hand increases the risk to food security, and on the other triggers climate change. The rural population who migrate to the cities or who are absorbed into urban areas continue their agricultural activities in the urban in order to provide themselves with an income or to maintain their food security. In the big cities of the developed world, contact with nature is kept by means of hobby gardens, recreational areas and urban and suburban plant and animal farming, and creative ideas such as roof gardens can be found. This development, known as urban agriculture, is practiced by 800 million people in the world. Urban agriculture has many economic, social and environmental benefits, but it may also have risks and adverse effects. In this study, the developments in this area in Turkey and the world are presented, and all aspects of its effects and outcomes are discussed.

scholarly journals Internet of Things Enabled Smart Microgrid

2020 ◽  
Vol 9 (6) ◽  
pp. 73-76
Keyword(s):  
Internet Of Things ◽  
Energy Distribution ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Power Saving ◽  
Electrical Network ◽  
Raspberry Pi ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Smart Power ◽  
Iot Platform

In the era of emerging technologies internet of things (IoT) and smart power grid, this two are major technology which would boost up the development of any country because of its perspective of smart and renewable technique. A microgrid is a small–scale localized energy grid with the capability to control the various electrical parameters and can be operated autonomously. This microgrid technology can be implemented in both rural and urban areas. In this paper, the author proposes the design of a smart microgrid system enabled IOT for a smart country. A microgrid is an excellent solution for providing a continuous supply of power during the failure of the main grid (blackouts issues). It can also be used in industries for providing additional power, and most importantly it can be implemented in areas like an island or remote/rural areas. The IoT can be a smart approach that offers the solution for detecting the fault and a convenient real-time technique to control and monitor the consumption of energy. In the present time, the non-renewable electrical network system is outdated due to the increasing demand for electrical energy. We have also proposed a smart energy distribution of power to the load by turning the appliances in power saving mode by the help of IoT platform. This smart microgrid can be installed in every house of the country for promoting smart energy distribution, a smart way of energy saving, and ecofriendly technique, this can connect parallel to the main grid supply. IoT will also help to monitor and detect the fault in a very faster manner. It will detect the fault in the microgrid with help of current sensor and voltage sensor installed in the transmission line. The current and voltage data collected from the sensors will be continuously sent to the microcontroller with the help of a Wi-Fi module and IoT platform. The microcontroller Raspberry pi 3 will store the data and it will continuously monitor the loads connected to the microgrid by the Cayenne’s IoT platform. The loads can be also triggered by the help of IoT platforms. The microgrid is incorporated with the net metering concept to make the power system reliable.

scholarly journals Small-scale Farming and Access to Market: Challenges and Opportunities in South Africa

2021 ◽  
Vol 2 (5) ◽  
pp. 50-63
Author(s):  
Confidence Ndlovu ◽  
Mandla Masuku
Keyword(s):  
South Africa ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Rural Areas ◽  
Household Income ◽  
Crop Production ◽  
Arable Land ◽  
Policy Formulation ◽  
Small Scale ◽  
Limited Access ◽  
Small Scale Farmers

The paper has aimed to explore the effectiveness of small-scale farmers in improving household income and food security, particularly looking at the barriers to market access in rural areas. This study was undertaken in rural areas of Kanyamazane, Clau-Clau and Nyongane, South Africa, where small-scale producers depend on low-risk and low-return markets to generate household income from production, thus ensuring food security. To achieve the aim of this study, a qualitative approach was used to provide in-depth interpretation of the perspectives, experiences, and behavioural patterns of the small-scale farmers faced with market related issues. Small-scale farmers, agricultural extension officers, and municipal officials were purposefully selected to share their views, perceptions, and experiences on the effectiveness in accessing markets. The findings revealed that there was limited access to formal markets by small-scale farmers because of limited knowledge and capacity to meet market requirements. The study confirmed that a lack of marketing skills, institutional support services, and limited access to arable land, have directly negative effects on achieving livelihood outcomes. This study recommends a sustainable crop production method which reduces the costs of farming resources, such as pesticide and fertilizer, through organic methods to ensure food safety and enhanced nutrient quality. This study further encourages inclusive rural development, where small-scale producers are treated as stakeholders in agricultural policy formulation to enable access to financial resources and increase in production through the formation of cooperatives.

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