Household Food Security Status in South Africa
by ALTMAN, M., HART, T & JACOBS, P., 2009Agrekon, 48:4, 345-361
Altman et al assess household-level food security in South Africa using publicly available household survey data from Statistics South Africa. The two datasets that are used in particular are the General Household Survey, an annual household survey that began in 2002, and the Income and Expenditure Survey of 2005/06. Because these surveys are not designed…
read more >>Exploring Statistics South Africa’s national household surveys as sources of information about household-level food security
by ALIBER,M., 2009Agrekon, Vol 48, No 4 December 2009
Aliber investigates household-level food security in South Africa using publicly available household survey data from Statistics South Africa. The two datasets that are used in particular are the General Household Survey, an annual household survey that began in 2002, and the Income and Expenditure Survey of 2005/06. Because these surveys are not designed for the…
read more >>Exploring Definitions of Food Insecurity and Vulnerability: Time to Refocus Assessments
by HART, T., 2009Agrekon, 48:4, 362-383
Recent high food prices and changes in the world food situation are exacerbating the conditions of households that are vulnerable to food insecurity, especially those with weak livelihood strategies. To address the impact of these and other stressors it is necessary to develop a deeper understanding of concepts such as ‘vulnerability’ and ‘food insecurity’. This…
read more >>The Status of Household Food Security Targets in South Africa
by JACOBS, P, 2009Agrekon, 48:4, 410-433
Jacobs investigates the conceptual and methodological challenges to develop a set of baseline indicators for South African food security targets. A food security target is a well-defined and measurable goal to reduce the numbers of people who lack enough food of the right quality to live healthy lives. To derive baseline indicators for household food…
read more >>For us women, working is an unfulfilled dream: womens’ wage work and food security.
by ALTMAN, M. & C CROSS, 2010Agenda: Empowering Women for Gender Equity. 86:25-37. 2010.
This article reviews the findings from two small community studies in South Africa on the experience of poor households in respect of the economic downturn, employment, and food security, with special emphasis on gender dynamics. This study sought to explore the human, social and personal experiences of the economic downturn.The study interviewed 29 households in…
read more >>Should Subsistence Production be Supported as a Strategy to Address Rural Food Insecurity?
by ALIBER,M., & HART, T., 2009Agrekon, Vol 48, No 4 (December 2009)
At first glance South Africa’s black farming sector appears to contribute rather minimally to overall agricultural output in South Africa. However, despite the complexity involved in this sector and the often marginal conditions in which agriculture is practiced it appears to be important to a large number of black households. Furthermore, the significance they attach…
read more >>Identifying targets for household food security in South Africa
by JACOBS, P, 2009Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
Jacobs uses South African food spending and consumption information to develop a conceptual and methodological approach for a food security target for low-income households. A food security target is a well-defined and measurable goal to reduce the number of people who lack enough food of the right quality to live healthy lives. Policies and programmes…
read more >>The Assessment of Food Insecurity in South Africa
by LABADARIOS, D., MCIZA Z., and WEIR-SMITH, G, 2009Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
Labadarios et al. provide a synopsis of national data sets that may contribute to a better understanding of how food security is conceptualised and assessed in the South African context. A number of such data sets, with different parameters, have been used to inform policy and strategies aimed at addressing food insecurity – the National…
read more >>The Gendered Dimensions of Food Security in South Africa: A Review of the Literature
by REDDY, V., and MOLETSANE, R, 2009Research Report. Centre for Poverty Employment and Growth, Human Sciences Research Council
Reddy and Moletsane provide a broad literature review of the gendered dimensions of food security in South Africa. The paper assesses local meanings and contextual issues that influence the relations between gender, policy, and food insecurity. The report addresses: (1) the socio-political context of gender and food insecurity, (2) the policy context, (3) some theoretical…
read more >>