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 >>Strategies to Support South African Smallholders as a Contribution to Government’s Second Economy Strategy (2 Volumes)
This is Volume 1 of the study ‘Strategies to Support South African Smallholders as a Contribution to Government’s Second Economy Strategy’. In this study, Aliber et al. assess the key elements of an implementable programme to support the smallholder sector in South Africa. The study identifies successful smallholders in different settings, and examines the factors…
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 >>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…
read more >>The Impact of HIV/AIDS on Food Security and Nutrition in South Africa
An estimated 33.2 million people worldwide were living with HIV and AIDS in 2007. Sub-Saharan Africa has the highest number of HIV-infected persons (about 70%), yet it accounts for only 11% of the world population. South Africa is reported to have the highest number of HIV-infected persons in the world, with about 5.5 million people…
read more >>Food Security Definitions, Measurements and Recent Initiatives in South Africa and Southern Africa
The international debate on food security has changed during the past thirty years, culminating in a more robust but nuanced understanding. No longer is the availability of food at national level sufficient; all people must be able to access enough nutritious food at all times, no matter how marginal the areas in which they reside….
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