scholarly journals Utilization of Post-Harvest Technologies for Improved Food Security: Case of Maize and Mangoes among Smallholder Farmers in Kerio Valley Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya

2021 ◽  
pp. 17-27
Author(s):  
L. Chepwambok ◽  
W. Adede ◽  
D. Bunyatta ◽  
V. K. Mugalavai ◽  
A. O. Onkware
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Extension Services ◽  
Processing Technologies ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Inappropriate Use

Limited availability of improved post-harvest technologies or inappropriate use of available technologies leads to spoilage of food resulting to post-harvest losses. The losses contribute to food insecurity in the sense that availability and accessibility of food will be limited. Adoption of post-harvest harvest technologies boosts the agricultural sector, and has been seen as a pathway out of poverty and food insecurity. The study assessed the utilization of post-harvest technologies among smallholder farmers in Kerio Valley Elgeyo Marakwet County, Kenya and their correlation to food security. The main objective of the study was to determine factors that influenced adoption of post-harvest technologies for both maize and mango among the farmers. A cross sectional survey was used to collect data using self-administered questionnaire and interview schedules on 217 respondents. There was a significant relationship between gender (r- .264, P<0.001), age(r=.350, P<.05), education level(r=.956, P<.001), income(r=656, P<.001) and extension services(r=.907, P<.001) and adoption of post-harvest technologies. Adoption and use of improved post-harvest and processing technologies need to be promoted to curb post-harvest losses thus improving food security. In addition, there is need for intense extension services on post-harvest technologies to enhance awareness and adoption.

scholarly journals The assessment of food security in homeless individuals: a comparison of the Food Security Survey Module and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale

2011 ◽  
Vol 14 (12) ◽  
pp. 2254-2259 ◽  
Author(s):  
Anna C Holland ◽  
Matthew C Kennedy ◽  
Stephen W Hwang
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Homeless Population ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Food ◽  
The Us ◽  
Food Insecurity Access

AbstractObjectiveTo compare the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), the US Food Security Survey Module (US FSSM) and a modified version of the US FSSM in which references to buying food were changed to references to getting food, in terms of their classification of food security levels among homeless individuals, and to determine which of these instruments was most preferred by homeless individuals.DesignA cross-sectional survey.SettingRecruitment of participants took place at seven shelters and from three drop-in programmes that serve homeless individuals in Toronto, Canada.SubjectsFifty individuals who were ≥18 years of age, able to communicate in English and currently homeless.ResultsThe modified US FSSM assigned 20 % of participants to a lower ordinal food security category compared with the US FSSM, and only 8 % to a higher food security category. The HFIAS assigned 30 % of participants to a lower food security category compared with either the US FSSM or the modified US FSSM, and only 10–16 % of participants to a higher food security category. When asked to compare all three instruments, the majority of respondents (62 %) selected the HFIAS as the best instrument for people who are homeless.ConclusionsA majority of homeless individuals selected the HFIAS as the best food security instrument for people who are homeless. Our findings suggest that the HFIAS is a more appropriate instrument than the US FSSM for measuring food security in the homeless population.

scholarly journals Household access to traditional and indigenous foods positively associated with food security and dietary diversity in Botswana

2017 ◽  
Vol 21 (6) ◽  
pp. 1200-1208 ◽  
Author(s):  
Salome Nduku Kasimba ◽  
Boitumelo Stokie Motswagole ◽  
Namukolo Margaret Covic ◽  
Nicole Claasen
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Urban Areas ◽  
Dietary Diversity ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Household Food ◽  
Food Security And Nutrition ◽  
Indigenous Foods

AbstractObjectiveTo determine access to traditional and indigenous foods (TIF) and the association with household food security, dietary diversity and women’s BMI in low socio-economic households.DesignSequential explanatory mixed-methods design, including a random household cross-sectional survey on household food insecurity access (HFIA), household dietary diversity (HDD) and women’s BMI, followed by focus group discussions.SettingTwo rural and two urban areas of Botswana.SubjectsPersons responsible for food preparation or an adult in a household (n400); for BMI, non-pregnant women aged 18–49 years (n253).ResultsAlmost two-thirds of households experienced moderate or severe food insecurity (28·8 and 37·3 %, respectively), but more than half of women were overweight or obese (26·9 and 26·9 %, respectively). Median HDD score was 6 (interquartile range 5–7) out of a total of 12. A positive correlation was found between number of TIF accessed and HDD score (r=0·457;P<0·001) and a negative correlation between number of TIF accessed and HFIA score (r=−0·272;P<0·001). There was no correlation between number of TIF accessed and women’s BMI (r=−0·066;P=0·297). TIF were perceived as healthy but with declining consumption due to preference for modern foods.ConclusionsTIF may potentially have an important role in household food security and dietary diversity. There is need to explore potential benefits that may be associated with their optimal use on food security and nutrition outcomes.

scholarly journals Agriculture and Food Security in Northern Ghana

2019 ◽  
pp. 1-7
Author(s):  
Alhassan Bawa
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Agricultural Sector ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Northern Ghana ◽  
Food Utilization ◽  
Annual Growth Rate ◽  
Subsistence Level ◽  
Agricultural Growth ◽  
Agriculture Sector

In the northern part of Ghana, about 97.9 percent of households are engaged in crop farming such as maize, rice, sorghum, soy beans, cowpea, cassava, yam, cotton and vegetables, with few households engaging in poultry, livestock and pig rearing. Agricultural production is therefore the main activity in the northern sector of Ghana and is practiced mainly on seasonal and subsistence level. The Gross Domestic Product of the country has recorded an annual growth rate of about 4 to 8 percent within the past decade. Agricultural growth has been the major driver of poverty reduction. The agriculture sector is the largest source of employment for the people of northern Ghana, and is dominated by smallholder farmers. The challenges in the agriculture sector include human resource and managerial skills, natural resource management, technology development and food insecurity. Food security is a phenomenon resulting from multiple causes which are food availability, food accessibility, food utilization and food stability. About 5% of Ghanaian populace are food insecure. Additionally, about 2 million Ghanaian people are vulnerable to become food insecure. Growth in the agricultural sector has been more rapid as compared to that of the non-agricultural sectors in recent years, expanding by an average annual rate of 5.5%, compared to 5.2% for the economy as a whole. Agricultural growth however, depends mainly on rainfall patterns and land expansion. The objective of this paper was to review literature on food security in Ghana, agricultural contribution to food security in northern Ghana and some policy measures put in place by successive governments to reduce food insecurity in northern Ghana.

scholarly journals REVIEW ON ADOPTION, TREND, POTENTIAL, AND CONSTRAINTS OF RICE PRODUCTION TO LIVELIHOOD IN ETHIOPIA

2017 ◽  
Vol 5 (6) ◽  
pp. 644-658
Author(s):  
Tamirat Belayneh ◽  
Jember Tekle
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Rice Production ◽  
Export Market ◽  
Rice Varieties ◽  
Irrigated Rice ◽  
Processing Technologies ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Production Area ◽  
The Government

Cultivation of rice in Ethiopia is generally a recent phenomenon it was started first at Fogera and Gambella Plains in the early 1970’s, which is preceded by its utilization as a food crop. Hence the present review was to review on adoption, Trend, potential, and constraints of rice production to livelihood in Ethiopia. Although rice was introduced to the country very recently, it has proven to be a crop that can assure food security in Ethiopia. It is reported that the potential rice production area in Ethiopia is estimated to be about thirty million hectares. Since 2006, Ethiopian rice production trends show increases in both area and productivity. Considering the importance and potential of the crop, it has been recognized by the Government as “the new millennium crop of Ethiopia” to attain food security. Rice has become a commodity of strategic significance across many parts of Ethiopia for domestic consumption as well as export market for economic development. Due to the introduction of upland and irrigated rice varieties in the country, rice farming has increased from time to time. There has been twelve upland/lowland NERICAs and Sativa-type, and three irrigated rice varieties released in Ethiopia from 1999 up to 2007. However, Ethiopian rice sector still faces remaining challenges such as high competition with imported rice, poor infrastructure, insufficient mechanization and post-harvest processing technologies, lack of skilled manpower and research facilities, poor marketing infrastructure, and channels. Therefore, building the capacity of the research community, experts, smallholder farmers and the private sector is necessary not only to further increase production but also to improve the quality of rice products through better post-harvest handling and processing.

scholarly journals Food insecurity measurement and prevalence estimates during the COVID-19 pandemic in a repeated cross-sectional survey in Mexico

2020 ◽  
pp. 1-10 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Gaitán-Rossi ◽  
Mireya Vilar-Compte ◽  
Graciela Teruel ◽  
Rafael Pérez-Escamilla
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Economic Status ◽  
Internal Validity ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adequate Model

Abstract Objective: To validate the telephone modality of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) included in three waves of a phone survey to estimate the monthly household food insecurity prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Design: We examined the reliability and internal validity of the ELCSA scale in three repeated waves of cross-sectional surveys with Rasch models. We estimated the monthly prevalence of food insecurity in the general population and in households with and without children and compared them with a national 2018 survey. We tested concurrent validity by testing associations of food insecurity with socio-economic status and anxiety. Setting: ENCOVID-19 is a monthly telephone cross-sectional survey collecting information on the well-being of Mexican households during the pandemic lockdown. Surveys used probabilistic samples, and we used data from April (n 833), May (n 850) and June 2020 (n 1674). Participants: Mexicans 18 years or older who had a mobile telephone. Results: ELCSA had an adequate model fit and food insecurity was associated, within each wave, with more poverty and anxiety. The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with an important reduction in food security, decreasing stepwise from 38·9 % in 2018 to 24·9 % in June 2020 in households with children. Conclusions: Telephone surveys were a feasible strategy to monitor reductions in food security during the COVID-19 lockdown.

scholarly journals Seasonal food insecurity and perceived social support in rural Tanzania

2007 ◽  
Vol 10 (6) ◽  
pp. 544-551 ◽  
Author(s):  
Craig Hadley ◽  
Monique Borgerhoff Mulder ◽  
Emily Fitzherbert
Keyword(s):  
Social Support ◽  
Food Security ◽  
Dietary Intake ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Ethnic Group ◽  
Perceived Social Support ◽  
Household Wealth ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Rural Tanzania

AbstractObjectivesTo examine whether the occurrence of seasonal food insecurity was related to ethnicity, household wealth and perceived social support, and to assess whether social support was more efficacious in protecting against food insecurity in wealthier households. Secondary objectives were to assess the association between past food insecurity, current dietary intake and perceived health.Design, setting and subjectsA sample of 208 randomly selected mothers from two ethnic groups living in the same villages in rural Tanzania participated in a cross-sectional survey.ResultsFood insecurity was highly prevalent in this area, particularly among the poorer ethnic group. Half of ethnically Sukuma households fell into the most food-secure category, compared with only 20% of ethnically Pimbwe households. Among both groups, measures of household wealth and social support were strongly associated with food security. Interestingly, social support appeared to be more effective among the wealthier ethnic group/community. Past food insecurity was also related to current indicators of dietary intake and women's self-perceptions of health.ConclusionGreater social support is associated with food security, suggesting that it may protect against the occurrence of seasonal food insecurity. Social support also interacts with wealth to offer greater protection against food insecurity, suggesting that increasing wealth at the community level may influence food insecurity through both direct and indirect means. Seasonal food insecurity also appears to have lasting effects that likely create and reinforce poverty.

scholarly journals Food Insecurity and Associated Factors Among University Students

2019 ◽  
Vol 40 (2) ◽  
pp. 271-281 ◽  
Author(s):  
Patricia Ukegbu ◽  
Blessing Nwofia ◽  
Uchechi Ndudiri ◽  
Nnenna Uwakwe ◽  
Ada Uwaegbute
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
University Students ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Associated Factors ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Public Health Issue ◽  
Contributing Factors ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Food Security Status

Background: Food insecurity is a growing public health issue and a barrier to students achieving adequate nutrition. Data regarding food insecurity among university students in Nigeria are scarce. Objective: The study assessed the prevalence of food insecurity and associated factors among university students, southeast Nigeria. Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 398 randomly selected students recruited from 2 universities in southeast Nigeria was conducted. Food security status was assessed using the 10-item US Household Food Security Scale Module. Anthropometric measurements and sociodemographic data were collected. Multivariate logistic regression was used to identify factors associated with food insecurity. Results: A majority of the students were categorized as food insecure. Of this, about 35.7% and 45.0% were considered to have low and very low food insecurity, respectively. Food insecurity was significantly associated with monthly allowance, daily amount spent on food, and source of income. The odds of food insecurity was significantly higher for students whose fathers were farmers (4.6, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.453-14.737), but lower for those whose mothers were farmers (0.18, 95% CI: 0.059-0.564). Conclusion: The result provides an insight into the food security status of university students in Nigeria. The prevalence of food insecurity was high among the students. Therefore, further studies involving different urban and rural (and/or public and private) universities in Nigeria are suggested in order to have a deeper understanding of the magnitude and contributing factors among this population group.

scholarly journals Measurement lessons of a repeated cross-sectional household food insecurity survey during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Pablo Gaitan-Rossi ◽  
Mireya Vilar-Compte ◽  
Graciela Teruel ◽  
Rafael Perez-Escamilla
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Latin American ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Mobile Telephone ◽  
Household Food Insecurity ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Adequate Model ◽  
Household Food

Objective To validate the telephone modality of the Latin American and Caribbean Food Security Scale (ELCSA) included in three waves of a phone survey to estimate the monthly household food insecurity (HFI) prevalence during the COVID-19 pandemic in Mexico. Design We examined the reliability and internal validity of the ELCSA scale in three repeated waves of a cross-sectional surveys with Rasch models. We estimated the monthly prevalence of food insecurity in the general population and in households with and without children, and compared them with a national 2018 survey. We tested concurrent validity by testing associations of HFI with socioeconomic status and anxiety. Setting ENCOVID-19 is a monthly telephone cross-sectional survey collecting information on the well-being of Mexican households during the pandemic lockdown. Surveys used probabilistic samples and we used data from April (n=833), May (n=850), and June 2020 (n=1,674). Participants Mexicans 18 years or older who had a mobile telephone. Results ELCSA had adequate model fit and HFI was associated, within each wave, with more poverty and anxiety. The COVID-19 lockdown was associated with an important reduction in food security; decreasing stepwise from 38.9% in 2018 to 24.9% in June 2020 in households with children. Conclusions Telephone surveys are a feasible strategy to monitor food insecurity with ELCSA.

scholarly journals Curbing Post Harvest Losses for Food Security: A Survey of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia

2018 ◽  
Vol 5 (2) ◽  
pp. 51
Author(s):  
Robert Agunga ◽  
Ruth Sleshi
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
World Bank ◽  
Smallholder Farmers ◽  
Agricultural Extension ◽  
Sub Saharan Africa ◽  
Great Promise ◽  
Post Harvest ◽  
Sub Saharan ◽  
Grain Farmers

Reducing post harvest losses (PHL) offers great promise for curbing hunger and reducing food insecurity in Africa.A World Bank 2011 report on Missing Food estimated that if African farmers can reduce PHL by even one percentthat will be an annual savings of US$40 million for Sub-Saharan Africa alone. Our survey of 88 smallholderfarmers in the Gondar Region of Ethiopia found that farmers faced serious to most serious losses caused by rodents,birds and the weather. About 46% of the respondents, expressed serious problems with rodents; 54% had seriousproblems with birds and even higher numbers, 55% and 63% had serious problems with the weather and pests,respectively. Another 28.4% of the farmers complained of very serious problems with birds while half of them hadvery serious problems with rodents. Many of the PHL problems seem to emanate from poor storage. The Universityof Purdue, USA, has invented what it calls the “Purdue Improved Crop Storage Bag,” which is advertised as highlyefficient and relatively inexpensive. We urge agricultural extension systems in Africa to test the effectiveness of thisbag before recommending it to their grain farmers as a means of reducing PHL.

scholarly journals Food insecurity among veterans of the US wars in Iraq and Afghanistan

2014 ◽  
Vol 18 (5) ◽  
pp. 844-849 ◽  
Author(s):  
Rachel Widome ◽  
Agnes Jensen ◽  
Ann Bangerter ◽  
Steven S Fu
Keyword(s):  
Food Security ◽  
Food Insecurity ◽  
Short Form ◽  
Household Food Security ◽  
Department Of Veterans Affairs ◽  
Cross Sectional Survey ◽  
Cross Sectional ◽  
Us Military ◽  
The Us ◽  
Sufficient Food

AbstractObjectiveFood insecurity, or lack of access to sufficient food for a healthful lifestyle, has been associated with many aspects of poor health. While the economic struggles among veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan have been documented, it is unknown how commonly this population struggles to afford food. Our purpose was to document the prevalence and correlates of food insecurity among US veterans of the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan.DesignA cross-sectional survey.SubjectsUS military veterans who had served in the wars in Iraq and Afghanistan since October 2001.SettingSubjects responded to a survey mailed to them in summer 2012. Food security was measured by the US Household Food Security Module: Six Item Short Form. Demographic and behavioural health items were also included. Survey data were matched to medical record data from the Department of Veterans Affairs.ResultsOver one in four veterans reported past-year food insecurity with 12 % reporting very low food security. Food-insecure veterans tended to be younger, not married/partnered, living in households with more children, earning lower incomes, had a lower final military pay grade, were more likely to use tobacco, reported more frequent binge drinking and slept less, compared with those who were food secure (P<0·05 for all associations listed).ConclusionsPreviously undocumented, the problem of hunger among our newest veterans deserves attention.

Sign in / Sign up

Export Citation Format

Share Document