Household Food Security Status in South Africa
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 >>Development of evidence based policy around homestead food production
Many South Africans are food insecure and suffer from nutrient deficiencies. Homestead food production is one element of a strategy for combating food insecurity in both urban and rural areas. NGOs and the government attempt to promote homestead production; however, the scale and impact of such support are not known. Practitioners of urban agriculture indicate…
read more >>Contribution of Smallholder Production to Food Security: Evidence from Sub-Saharan Africa
Matshe explores the contribution of smallholder production to food security in sub-Saharan Africa and relates it to the South African case. Food insecurity is closely linked to the livelihood strategies of small-scale farming households. However, part of what drives food insecurity is poverty, and addressing smallholder food security should include innovations that mitigate internal constraints…
read more >>Exploring Statistics South Africa’s national household surveys as sources of information about household-level food security
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 >>The Status of Household Food Security Targets in South Africa
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.
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 >>Identifying targets for household food security in South Africa
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
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
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…
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