A Framework for Analyzing the Role of ICT on Agricultural Commercialization and Household Food Security

Lack of agricultural information has been attributed to the inability of smallholder farmers to transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture. Recent efforts to improve smallholder access to agricultural information have seen increased application of ICT technologies in developing agriculture. These efforts use ICT-based market information to reduce transaction costs of smallholder participation in markets, promote commercialization, and improve household food security. Emerging studies document the benefits of such ICT-based applications in agriculture, including increased incomes and improved performance of agricultural markets. Unfortunately these studies have been context specific and the link between provision of ICT-based market information, smallholder commercialization and household security remains unclear. This paper develops a framework that can be used to analyze the link between ICT application in smallholder agriculture, household commercialization, and food security. The paper generates testable hypotheses relating ICT application in agriculture and reduction in transactions costs, smallholder farmer commercialization, and household food security. It then provides illustrative cases where ICT application in agriculture has benefited smallholder production and improved market performance. However, more research must be done to test the generated hypotheses. The paper discusses the implications of the framework for practitioners.

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Role of farmer group institutions in increasing farm production and household food security

IOP Conference Series Earth and Environmental Science ◽

10.1088/1755-1315/157/1/012062 ◽

2018 ◽

Vol 157 ◽

pp. 012062 ◽

Cited By ~ 2

Author(s):

Rahmadanih ◽

S Bulkis ◽

M Arsyad ◽

A Amrullah ◽

N M Viantika

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Farm Production ◽

Household Food

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Does smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improve household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana?

Agriculture & Food Security ◽

10.1186/s40066-020-00281-7 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 10 (1) ◽

Author(s):

Franklin Nantui Mabe ◽

Eliasu Mumuni ◽

Nashiru Sulemana

Keyword(s):

Sustainable Development ◽

Food Security ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Northern Region ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Switching Regression ◽

Sustainable Development Goal ◽

Endogenous Switching Regression ◽

Development Goal ◽

Household Food

Abstract Background Sustainable Development Goal 2 aims at ending hunger, achieving food security, improving nutrition and promoting sustainable agriculture. Whilst some smallholder farmers are aware of this goal, others are not. The question that arises is whether or not awareness translates into food security. Therefore, this study assessed whether or not smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 improves household food security in the Northern Region of Ghana. Methods The study used cross-sectional primary data collected from two districts and two municipalities in the region. An endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome was used to estimate the effects of smallholder farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2 on household food insecurity level. Results The age of household head, distance of households to the regional capital, membership of farmer-based organizations, access to e-extension, education, and ownership of radio are the key drivers of farmers’ awareness of Sustainable Development Goal 2. The results from the endogenous switching regression treatment effects model with ordered outcome showed that households who are aware of the second goal are more food secure than their counterparts. Conclusions It is therefore prudent for stakeholders promoting and championing Sustainable Development Goals to educate farmers on goal 2 as their awareness of the goal is critical to achieving food security.

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P65 The Role of Older Adults in 2- and 3-Generation Households: Implications for Diet Quality and Household Food Security

Journal of Nutrition Education and Behavior ◽

10.1016/j.jneb.2021.04.124 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 53 (7) ◽

pp. S54

Author(s):

Joshua Brown ◽

Patrick Creedon ◽

Christopher Taylor ◽

Kammi Schmeer ◽

Neal Hooker ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Food Security ◽

Diet Quality ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Household Food

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Can Organic Agriculture Feed the Smallholders? Experience from Rural Bangladesh

Asia-Pacific Journal of Rural Development ◽

10.1177/24551333211036938 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 31 (1) ◽

pp. 91-107

Author(s):

M. A. Sarker ◽

M. Hoque ◽

A. H. Chowdhury ◽

Z. Ferdous

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Organic Agriculture ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Farm Size ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Farm Income ◽

Base Line ◽

Project Staff ◽

Household Food ◽

Safe Food

This study empirically tests the benefit of the smallholders from organic farming in Bangladesh through their improved food security which is realised from their increased productivity and farm income. The respondent smallholders were picked up from two districts of Bangladesh namely Mymensingh and Bogra. The respondents (80) were the beneficiaries of the organic agriculture promotion project of Bangladesh Agricultural University. Three years data were collected by the project staff and were crosschecked with the base line. Findings of the study explored that before joining with the project extreme majority (93%) of the small farmers were involved in rice mono-culture and more than half (67%) of them were food deficit. The study also revealed that at the initial year of joining organic agriculture project their farm productivity was 10–12% lesser and it increased continually in the successive years. In some cases, it crossed the yield compared to conventional farming. The findings of the study showed that 100% of the farmers have followed crop diversification with high value vegetables and spices along with rice. Due to adoption of organic practices, the cost of production of the smallholders has declined from 27% to 36% and additionally they enjoy 10% to 15% premium prices which have enhanced their farm income significantly. The study shows that 62.5% of the smallholder farmers had attained household food security due to adoption of organic agriculture. Thus, adoption of organic agriculture effectively increased smallholders’ access to surplus safe food. However, the study also explored that farm size, extension media contact, access to assured market and access to institutional support are the most important factors in improving smallholders’ household food security through participation in organic agriculture programme. Thus, it can be concluded that organic agriculture can feed the smallholders in a better way.

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Technology adoption and household food security among rural households in South Africa: The role of improved maize varieties

Technology in Society ◽

10.1016/j.techsoc.2019.101214 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 60 ◽

pp. 101214 ◽

Cited By ~ 5

Author(s):

Sikhulumile Sinyolo

Keyword(s):

South Africa ◽

Food Security ◽

Technology Adoption ◽

Rural Households ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Household Food ◽

Maize Varieties

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Factors Associated with Household Food Security in Zambia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11092715 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (9) ◽

pp. 2715 ◽

Cited By ~ 3

Author(s):

William Nkomoki ◽

Miroslava Bavorová ◽

Jan Banout

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Land Tenure ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Household Head ◽

Animal Husbandry ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Food And Nutrition Security ◽

Nutrition Security ◽

Household Food ◽

Food And Nutrition

Food security is a global challenge and threatens mainly smallholder farmers in developing countries. The main aim of this paper is to determine factors that are associated with food security in Zambia. This study utilizes the household questionnaire survey dataset of 400 smallholder farmers in four districts conducted in southern Zambia in 2016. To measure food security, the study employs two food security indicators, namely the food consumption score (FCS) and the household hunger scale (HHS). Two ordered probit models are estimated with the dependent variables FCS and HHS. Both the FCS and HHS models’ findings reveal that higher education levels of household head, increasing livestock income, secure land tenure, increasing land size, and group membership increase the probability of household food and nutrition security. The results imply that policies supporting livestock development programs such as training of farmers in animal husbandry, as well as policies increasing land tenure security and empowerment of farmers groups, have the potential to enhance household food and nutrition security.

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Linking Household Food Security and Food Value Chains in North West Mt. Kenya

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su12124999 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 12 (12) ◽

pp. 4999

Author(s):

Veronica Mwangi ◽

Samuel Owuor ◽

Boniface Kiteme ◽

Markus Giger ◽

Johanna Jacobi ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Food Security ◽

Food Insecurity ◽

Value Chain ◽

Smallholder Farmers ◽

Sub Saharan Africa ◽

Household Food Security ◽

Value Chains ◽

North West ◽

Household Food ◽

Food Value

Smallholder farmers and pastoralists produce the largest proportion of food consumed in sub-Saharan Africa. However, they remain among the food insecure populations. This paper explores the food (in)security among smallholder farmers and pastoralists using a sample of 175 households in three agro-food value chains of wheat, dairy, and beef in the north-west Mt. Kenya region. The study seeks to answer if a farmer’s participation in a particular agro-food value chain determines his/her food security situation. We use the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) and two Poisson regression models, parsimonious and full, to assess the household food security status and determinants of food security among the smallholder farmers and pastoralists. The results show that 61% of the households were either mildly, moderately, or severely food insecure. Households in the beef value chain experienced relatively higher incidences of food insecurity compared to households in the wheat and dairy value chains. The HFIAS scores revealed a wide gap between households with minimum and maximum score. Household size, income and income-related variables (ability to save and borrow to meet family needs), transport assets, membership in farmers’ associations, and household energy were significant in determining household food security, while access to credit and to extension services was not. Strategies that focus on boosting smallholder farmers’ incomes, building strong and resilient farmers associations to improve inclusive and equitable value chains have the potential to get smallholder farmers out of recurrent food insecurity.

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