The impact of small-scale farming on food insecurity in rural South Africa over the period 2009 to 2018
- Authors: Otunola, Olabisi Benedicta https://orcid.org/0000-0002-5615-1487
- Date: 2021-07
- Subjects: Sustainable Development Goals , Food supply
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/21387 , vital:48517
- Description: The concept of food insecurity has evolved over the years. However, due to the increases in the rate of hunger and food insecurity in many countries of the world, this phenomenon has continued to give both government and private agencies a lot of concern. As it stands now, achieving food security in African countries remain a major task regardless of various efforts made by most of these countries to reduce food insecurity and the household’s welfare by extension. As a result of the importance of this discourse, the issue of food security is number 2 on the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). In South Africa, the rate of household food insecurity is still observed to be high, especially in the rural households. One of the most talked about way of combating food insecurity is through household farming. But food insecurity is believed to have affected the household’s level of productivity despite their commitment to improved welfare situation in the country. Consequently, this study sought to assess the impact rural household farming has on food insecurity in South Africa between the year 2009 and 2018. Using the South African General household survey, information on the household socioeconomics and demographic features were retrieved, as well as variables that are believed to impact the rural household agribusiness. In determining this, frequency counts, percentages, the logistic regression model was used. Also, the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale-score (HFIAS-score), multinomial logistic regression as well as the propensity score matching (PSM) was used in achieving the objectives of this research and the data was analysed with Microsoft Excel and STATA version 15. The result of the analysis showed that, the mean age of the household head is 53.96, 55.92, 56.65 for the year 2010, 2014 and 2018 respectively. Adding to that, the range of the households’ size ranged from 1 to 20 in the year 2010, 1 to 46 in the year 2014 and 1 to 20 in the year 2018. From the inferential statistic result, the gender of the household head is significant (p<0.000, 0.011, and 0.006) in determining household participation in agricultural activities for the years under review. The results of the PSM, using different matching methods reveals that the average treatment effect (ATT) of the impact of agricultural participation ranges from -0.121, -0.174, -0.132, and -0.106 in 2015; and -0.076, -0.173, -0.073, and -0.086 in the year 2018. This study therefore recommends that household farming should be encouraged by both private and public agencies as they contribute significantly to reduction in food insecurity. The transportation services in the rural areas should be examined in order to avoid situations that will lead to the increase in cost of transporting agricultural goods and services among the rural inhabitants. , Thesis (MSc) -- Faculty of Science and Agriculture, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-07
The Relationship Between Food Sharing and Social Cohesion among Local Farmers: a case study of Ntafufu Location, Port St Johns Municipality.
- Authors: Mphompo, Aphiwe (https://orcid.org/ 0000-0003-0370-8007)
- Date: 2021-02
- Subjects: Food supply , Social integration , Food relief
- Language: English
- Type: Master's theses , text
- Identifier: http://hdl.handle.net/10353/20981 , vital:46876
- Description: The overall aim of this study was to examine how food sharing at Ntafufu location in Port St Johns (Republic of South Africa), augments social cohesion among local farmers. A mixed-method approach was used for this study. This study used a triangulation research method to measure the correlation between food sharing and social cohesion and to ensure that it is statistically sound, certainly gaining rich data from the study population. Focus groups and questionnaires were used to collect data. The researcher used thematic analysis for qualitative analysis and Statistical Packages for the Social Science (SPSS) for quantitative analysis. The researcher did not include the whole population. The researcher only interviewed selected participants, and these participants were taken from the study population. There were 13 participants for qualitative research and 43 participants for quantitative research totalling 56 participants. The findings revealed that there is a relationship between food sharing and social cohesion. An important finding to emerge in this study is that food sharing alleviates poverty. However, several limitations need to be considered. For instance, witchcraft was mentioned as a challenge for this practice. , Thesis (MSoc) (Anthropology) -- University of Fort Hare, 2021
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- Date Issued: 2021-02