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Facilitated by Prof Sheryl Hendriks and Prof Mike Lyne
Food Security Programme and Agricultural Economics
University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg.
A Pre-conference Workshop at the 43rd Annual Conference,
Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa,
21 September 2005, The Ranch, Limpopo, South Africa
The aim of this transdisciplinary workshop is to:
- Draw together food security related researchers and practitioners to consider policy approaches, interventions and appropriate monitoring for food security in Africa through reflection on interactive case studies, and
- Share experiences and encourage adoption of appropriate policy and effective intervention and monitoring programmes for food security in Africa through discussion of ‘best practices’ and lessons learnt.
Programme:
Time / Topic / Activity9 – 9:15 / Welcome and introduction / Prof Sheryl Hendriks, Food Security Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal
9:15 – 11:00 / Policy approaches in Africa / Session Chair: Prof Sheryl Hendriks, Food Security Programme, University of KwaZulu-Natal
Case Study 1: Prof Mark Laing, Dr Pangirayi Tongoona, and Prof Walter de Milliano, African Centre for Crop Improvement (ACCI), University of KwaZulu-Natal.Slides.
Case Study 2: Policy formulation process of national food and nutrition in Kenya. Prof Wellington A Otieno (Presenter) and Francis E Omondi, FoodLink Resources, National Food and Nutrition Policy of Kenya Secretariat,Slides. Abstract.
Discussion.
11:00 / Tea
11:30 – 13:00 / Interventions in Africa / Session Chair: Dr Stuart Ferrer, Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
Case Study 3: Small Livestock Production for Food Security & HIV/AIDS Mitigation in Rural Zimbabwe, Pride Magwali. Catholic Relief Services Box 8295BelmontBulawayoZimbabwe. Slides. Abstract.
Case Study 4: Experiences in promoting household Food security among smallholder farmers in Zambia, DrCANjobvu. Institute of Economics and Social Research, University of Zambia.Slides. Abstract.
Discussion.
13:00 – 14:30 / Lunch
14:30 – 16:00 / Monitoring food security in Africa / Session Chair: Dr Scott Drimie, Independent Consultant.
Case Study 5: Changes in Household Food Security in Uganda, 1999-2002, Sarah Ssewanyana, Ibrahim Kasirye, Vernatta Barungi. Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC), MakerereUniversity, Slides. Abstract.
Case Study 6: Review of 2002/03 drought preparedness and response in Tanzania, Dennis Rweyemamu. Economic and Social Research Foundation, Dar es SalaamTanzaniaSlides. Abstract.
Discussion.
16:30 – 17:00 / Wrap-up & closure / Prof Mike Lyne, Agricultural Economics, University of KwaZulu-Natal.
The following case study was selected but not presented due to visa problems:
Case Study 7: Strengthening agriculture, nutrition, and gender linkages for improvement of household food security and reduction in malnutrition in Nigeria. Mr V Amuwah (Presenter), Dr B Maziya-Dixon & Prof I Akinyele. Abstract.
List of Workshop Delegates
Food Security in Africa Workshop – ABSTRACTS
Policy Formulation Process of National Food and Nutrition in Kenya
Prof Wellington A Otieno and Francis E. Omondi
National Food and Nutrition Policy of Kenya Secretariat,
P.O. Box 15509-00100Nairobi, Kenya.
Email:
Kenya is basically an agricultural country with the capacity to feed itself. This reality has yet to be realized. Under normal circumstances, two million people are regularly on food relief and this figure rises to between four and five million people requiring food assistance. In addition to this, an estimated seventeen million people, of whom 75% live in rural areas, actually live on less than one dollar per day.
In an effort to address these challenges, the GOK formulated the Economic Recovery Strategyfor Wealth and Employment Creation 2003 0 2007 (ERS). The ERS identifies agriculture sector as the third pillar of the economic recovery effort, which aims at achieving a planned annual GDP growth rate from 1.1% in 2002 to 7% in 2006. During the same period, the agriculture sector is expected to grow at an average annual rate of 4.7%. Further, the World Food Summit of 1996 declared that the food insecure population should be reduced to half by year 2015 accompanied with an overall improvement of human welfare in the country (FAO, 1996). Similarly, the Strategy for Revitalizing Agriculture (SRA) 2004, produced by the Ministry of Agriculture and Ministry of Livestock and Fisheries Development provides a new strategy for addressing agricultural development.
Thirdly the Kenya Government made a decision in 2003 to undertake a comprehensive review of the National Food and Nutrition Policy. To this end, a Task Force comprising of relevant government ministries, the private sector and the civil society was appointed to formulate a new policy document. The Task Force was to undertake a detailed review of the status of food and nutrition insecurity in the country and its impact on people’s livelihoods; identify challenges and opportunity for attaining rapid national food and nutrition security, propose policy recommendations while identifying the roles of all stakeholders in the draft of the comprehensive National Food and Nutrition Policy they were to produce.
In undertaking the assignment, the Task Force adopted a methodology that comprised of:
- A detailed literature review of primary and secondary information covering agriculture, nutrition and trade issues.
- National sensitization workshop - was achieved through holding a national senior policy level stakeholders’ workshop comprising different government ministries, civil society and the private sector. This was an all inclusive and participatory approach.
- People’s involvement - was achieved through Provincial Workshops where the farmers, the agricultural traders, the district agricultural technical staff, the private sector, the NGOS (Civil Society) gave their ideas on how to achieve national food security. The Provincial Workshops culminated into a National Validation Workshop where the total vision for the national picture on national food security was deliberated upon.
- Professional input was achieved through formation of specialist theme-based sub-committees on key areas of food security. Their deliberations and recommendations formed useful feedback into the process of formulating the national food policy. They consisted of knowledgeable and experienced persons in the areas of: health, nutrition, land and water issues, agriculture, livestock development economics, humanities governance etc.
- Building Consensus - was achieved through Special Briefing Sessions with high ranking decision-makers such as Members of Parliament (MPs) Parliamentary Committee on Health, Trade and Industry, Infrastructure, Agriculture, National Resources as well as concerned Ministers and the relevant Permanent Secretaries of the Government, especially Planning and National Development, Agriculture, Trade and Industry, Health, Water, Road and Public Works, Office of the President, etc.
- Advocacy – the media (both print and electronic) was used to build awareness among the population about the national food and nutrition policy. Breakfast meetings as well as other fora were used to present the policy.
- A Secretariat for National Food & Nutrition Policy was established to offer logistical support to policy formulation, development and through to enactment.
An all-inclusive and participatory will thus produce a widely accepted National Food and Nutrition document, which should serve Kenya well in the future.
Strengthening Agriculture, Nutrition and Gender Linkages for Improvement of Household Food Security and Reduction in Malnutrition in Nigeria
Mr V, Amuwah Dr B. Maziya-Dixon Prof. I. Akinyele
Dept. of Agriculture,Int’l Institute of Tropical Agric. University of Ibadan,
ONLG, Akwukwu-Igbo Ibadan, Ibadan,
Asaba, DeltaState. OyoState. OyoState.
The overall objective of “The Agriculture, Nutrition Advantage Project” in Nigeria is todevise an effective mechanism for promoting strong linkages among agriculture, nutrition, and gender for the improvement of household food security and a reduction in malnutrition on a sustainable basis. Thiswas achieved through sensitising and mobilizing high-level decision- and policy-makers at the National, State and Local Government levels to understand the interrelationships among agriculture, nutrition, and gender issues. And also by strengthening the technical Committees on Food and Nutrition to support the development and coordination of gender-sensitive and integrated projects.
A combination of consultative and stakeholders meetings among the ANGWG, NCFN members and members of its extended advisory group (Nutrition Partners), consultants, concept papers, PROFILES and acombination of semi – structured pre-tested questionnaire and Participatory Information Collection Strategies (PICS) were used in achieving the stated objectives
Key findings and achievements of the project includes: Formation and institutionalization of the Nutrition Partners group as a coalition of stakeholders in food and nutrition activities in Nigeria. Membership includes National Committee on Food and Nutrition, line ministries of agriculture, health, education, information, women affairs and finance involved in nutrition activities, governmental parastatals like Primary Health Care Development Agency (NPHCDA), National Agency for Food Drug Administration and Control (NAFDAC), Standard Organization of Nigeria (SON), Universities, NGOs and Development Partners like USAID, UNICEF, WHO, HKI, JICA, JHU, MITOSATH etc. Adaptation of PROFILES, a computer-modeling program used in influencing decision-makers in the allocation of resources in National, State, and Local government areas using the data generated from the Nigerian Food Consumption and Nutrition Survey (2001-2003). Facilitation of the eventual launching of the National Policy on Food and Nutrition that was developed in 1995 and approved in 1998.Development of a National Plan of Action for Food and Nutrition for Nigeria to operationalize the National Policy on Food and Nutrition. Development of a concept paper on the need for and importance of linkages among agriculture, nutrition and gender issues, principally for food and nutrition advocacy. . Preparation of two manuals, Participants Manual and Resource Manual on Participatory Action Planning for Nutrition and Agriculture (PAPNA) to convene a 4-day Workshop for technical committee members of States andlocal government Committees on Food and Nutrition and Conduct of a content analysis of all sectoral policies of the six line ministries to identify opportunities for integrating agriculture and nutrition activities with a gender perspective and reviewed the report from the National Food Consumption and Nutrition survey to identify appropriate interventions in the 12 states.
The general conclusion is that policy makers are beginning to appreciate the linkages between agriculture and nutrition through the gender perspectives and indication that sectoral allocation to food and nutrition shall improve in the near future.
Experiences in Promoting Household Food Security among
Smallholder Farmers in Zambia[1]
Dr Chosani. A. Njobvu
Institute of Economics and Social Research, University of Zambia, P. O Box 30900, Lusaka, Zambia.
Contact address from 1/10/05:
CHESSORE, Tazara House, 6th Floor, P.O.Box 320168 Woodlands, Lusaka, Zambia
Zamia’s Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper places household Food security and poverty reduction high on the country’s development agenda. As part of the wider strategies for enhancing food security and poverty reduction in rural areas, the Government of Zambia adopted a subsidized Fertilizer Support Programme (FSP) as an intervention policy instrument to enhance household food security in rural areas. This paper describes the Fertilizer Support Programme as an intervention strategy for enhancing household food security among smallholder farmers. Using both qualitative and questionnaire survey data from selected districts; the paper assesses the sources of household food insecurity and highlights the conditions for improving food security among small-scale farmers. These factors include: promotion of drought tolerant crops such as cassava, timely supply of inputs, reducing distances from input collection points, use of satellite depots for farmers in remote areas, synchronizing marketing system of farm inputs and crop marketing season, promoting monitoring and evaluation of the fertilizer support programme implementation, and encouraging payments of farm produce to the farmers in time.
The paper concludes that use of a combination of qualitative and questionnaire survey data collection methods provided critical information for identifying factors that enhances food security and reduces poverty among smallholder farmers and argues that although the two programmes aimed at enhancing household food security among stallholder farmers, these programmes may not yield the intended goals unless government makes efforts to reduce the effects of the above factors.
Small Livestock Production for Food Security &
HIV/AIDS Mitigation in Rural Zimbabwe
Pride Methuseli Magwali
Catholic Relief Services Box 8295BelmontBulawayoZimbabwe
Mobile: +263 11 418 574 - Business: +263 9 889962/3, 886447, 880656
The CRS Small Livestock Support Program (SLSP) was initiated in October 2003 by CRS Zimbabwe. On its inception, the program had 2 pilot districts, namely Hwange and Bubi districts in Matebeleland North province with a target of 2000 households. To date the program has expanded to 8 other districts in the country targeting 4000 more families. The goal of the small livestock support program is to improve food security for poor households affected by HIV/AIDS in the rural areas of Zimbabwe through small livestock production. Small livestock breeding stock is made available to the selected vulnerable households through a Livestock Vouchers and Fairs (LVF) system.
The concept of LVF was borrowed from the concept of Seed Vouchers and Fairs that CRS Zimbabwe has been using to avail seed to vulnerable households. Through LVF, beneficiaries get an opportunity to purchase livestock of their choice at a market organized for a particular day at a central point in the targeted community. The CRS SLSP chose to distribute small livestock to vulnerable households because of its ability to multiply fast and less management and feed requirements compared to larger stock such as cattle. Livestock brought to the livestock fairs is inspected by staff from the Veterinary Services Department, Agricultural Research and Extension Services (AREX), CRS staff and CRS Partners’ staff before it is registered to be sold. The inspection process ensures that only material that is suitable for breeding is sold. All livestock sold at the livestock fairs is identified using paint or tags.
To date a total of close to 4000 households have received small livestock breeding stock in the form of goats, sheep, chickens, guinea fowls, turkeys, rabbits and pigs through the SLSP. The program also offers training of the beneficiaries in general management of their livestock. Through the training program and during the livestock fairs process, beneficiaries get to share information on management of their livestock with other local farmers. Demonstration structures for proper housing for poultry and goats have been constructed in most of the targeted communities. Some of the beneficiaries have also planted forages for feeding their livestock during the dry season and in the event of drought. Of the household that received livestock in the year 2004, many have started selling off their stock to pay school fees for their children, purchase books and other stationery as well as exchange, e.g. chickens for grain. Most of the chickens brought to the livestock fairs in the current phase were from beneficiaries who received chickens in 2004. Some of the households that were selected last year did not have even a single goat or chicken at their homesteads. To date some have up to 3 goats and/or up to 10 mature chickens. Future livestock fairs in the same communities will rely on breeding stock from the first beneficiaries of the program. Small livestock production does help in improving food security and mitigating the effects of HIV/AIDS amongst the rural poor.
Changes in Household Food Security in Uganda, 1999-2002
Sarah Ssewanyana, Ibrahim Kasirye, Vernatta Barungi.
Economic Policy Research Centre (EPRC)
Plot 51 PoolRoadMakerereUniversity, P.O.BOX 7841, Kampala, Uganda
Telephone 256-41-540141 (ext 121), Fax: 256-41-541022
Mobile phone 256-77538532 Email: or
The objective of this case study was characterize changes in food insecurity among Ugandan households during the 1999-2002 period. In particular, the study sought to: (a) examine changes in consumption of staple foods (b) determine the major source of food acquisition (c) estimate the prevalence of food insecurity (d) investigate how changes in food diversity relate to household food insecurity. Two cross-sectional national household surveys are used to characterize changes in food insecurity based on daily caloric and protein intakes. A qualitative food diversity score is used to examine changes in a variety of foods consumed. The results indicate despite an increase in food variety, household food insecurity increased between 1999 and 2002. Also the chronic or extreme food insecurity increased during the two periods. This increase in food insecurity can be attributed to reduce food production given that about two-thirds of households acquire the major foods from own production. Consequently, policies that improve agricultural productivity will go along way in addressing declining nutritional inadequacies.
Review of 2002/03 Drought Preparedness and Response in Tanzania
Dennis C. Rweyemamu
Economic and Social Research Foundation, PO Box 31226, Dar es SalaamTanzania
Tel: 255-22-2760260 Fax: 255-22-2760062, 0741-324508 Cell: 0744-611167
drweyemamu@esrf or tz,
The overall objective of the study was to critically review the 2003/04 - food security preparedness and response systems in Tanzania and recommend concrete and feasible measures to improve the systems on a sustainable basis. To achieve this objective, the review looked into the following key issues: relevance and appropriateness of institutional arrangements that are in place in relation to food security preparedness and response; effectiveness of the existing early warning systems in terms of data gathering, analysis, quality of information, dissemination and usage; effectiveness of existing needs assessment procedures and the role of stakeholders in influencing the outcome; effectiveness of the existing system of planning and response, and its performance; targeting mechanisms that are in place and their effectiveness in reaching the most vulnerable communities; effectiveness of existing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms; effectiveness of coordination among the stakeholders at all levels; the role and effectiveness of the Strategic Grain Reserve in mitigating food insecurity, including capacity, location and decision-making; and effectiveness of existing resource-mobilization and disbursement mechanisms, including the process of seeking internal and external resources, timelines, decision-making and disbursement mechanisms.