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Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security

A special issue of Sustainability (ISSN 2071-1050). This special issue belongs to the section "Sustainable Food".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: closed (22 September 2023) | Viewed by 34198

Special Issue Editor

Prof. Dr. Marian Rizov

E-Mail Website
Guest Editor
Lincoln International Business School, University of Lincoln, Brayford Wharf East, Lincoln LN5 7AT, UK
Interests: food economics; food security; consumer choice and wellbeing
Special Issues, Collections and Topics in MDPI journals

Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

We need sustainable solutions for our global food security without compromising the environment, food safety, and wellbeing of the population to achieve the United Nations sustainable development goals (SDG) including eradication of hunger and poverty, clean water, sustainable land use, responsible production and consumption, mitigating climate change, and sustainable life on land and water.

Sustainable food security will require: (a) availability of food or sufficient food production, (b) access to food and ability to purchase food, (c) sufficiency in terms of nutrition including energy, proteins and micronutrients as well as safety, and (d) the stability and foreseeability of these conditions. The tools and strategies used to achieve sustainability in food security must align with environment protection, food safety, and public health and wellbeing of the population.

This Special Issue explores and discusses the pathways and challenges of achieving sustainable food security and the tradeoffs between sustainability, food security and wellbeing by utilising economics frameworks, while being receptive to interdisciplinary approaches.

Prof. Dr. Marian Rizov
Guest Editor

Manuscript Submission Information

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Submitted manuscripts should not have been published previously, nor be under consideration for publication elsewhere (except conference proceedings papers). All manuscripts are thoroughly refereed through a single-blind peer-review process. A guide for authors and other relevant information for submission of manuscripts is available on the Instructions for Authors page. Sustainability is an international peer-reviewed open access semimonthly journal published by MDPI.

Please visit the Instructions for Authors page before submitting a manuscript. The Article Processing Charge (APC) for publication in this open access journal is 2400 CHF (Swiss Francs). Submitted papers should be well formatted and use good English. Authors may use MDPI's English editing service prior to publication or during author revisions.

Keywords

  • sustainability
  • food security
  • farming
  • production
  • supply chain
  • demand
  • consumption
  • food safety
  • well-being
  • health

Published Papers (15 papers)

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Research

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29 pages, 1956 KiB  
Article
Assessing Food and Livelihood Security in Sea Salt Community: A GIAHS Study in Ban Laem, Phetchaburi, Thailand
by Roengchai Tansuchat and Sittichok Plaiphum
Sustainability 2023, 15(21), 15229; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su152115229 - 24 Oct 2023
Viewed by 1119
Abstract
This study investigates food and livelihood security in Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi, a unique sea salt community recognized under the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). We assess the current status of food and livelihood security, utilizing the entropy weight method. Our findings [...] Read more.
This study investigates food and livelihood security in Ban Laem District, Phetchaburi, a unique sea salt community recognized under the Globally Important Agricultural Heritage Systems (GIAHS). We assess the current status of food and livelihood security, utilizing the entropy weight method. Our findings reveal a composite evaluation score of 2.724, comprising an average food security rating of 1.476 and a livelihood security score of 1.248. Agricultural diversity emerges as pivotal for food security, while financial support, indigenous knowledge preservation, and climate adaptation strategies are crucial for livelihood security. Our recommendations include fostering awareness, collaboration, diversified farming, financial accessibility, and cultural conservation initiatives. This research provides valuable insights into coastal community security and informs transformative policies for sustainable development. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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13 pages, 278 KiB  
Article
Enhancing Food Security and Nutrition through Social Safety Nets: A Pathway to Sustainable Development
by Younas Khan, Umar Daraz and Štefan Bojnec
Sustainability 2023, 15(19), 14347; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su151914347 - 28 Sep 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1151
Abstract
In this cross-sectional study, an investigation was conducted by collecting primary data from 379 household heads to examine the impact of social safety nets on household-level food security in the Torghar district of Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The comprehensive analysis encompassed the univariate, [...] Read more.
In this cross-sectional study, an investigation was conducted by collecting primary data from 379 household heads to examine the impact of social safety nets on household-level food security in the Torghar district of Northern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan. The comprehensive analysis encompassed the univariate, bivariate, and multivariate levels. The bivariate analysis revealed issues and shortcomings related to access to social safety nets, particularly within the Zakat system. These issues included corruption and nepotism, which hindered poverty alleviation strategies and the well-being of vulnerable households. Additionally, complex bureaucratic procedures and regulations impeded social interventions, and political factors posed a substantial obstacle. At the multivariate level, the study identified the specific factors contributing to food insecurity. Respondents from extended family systems, individuals aged between 46 and 55 years, and those with religious education were found to be more vulnerable to food insecurity. While social safety nets held promise for addressing food sustenance challenges among local low-income citizens, the negative impacts of political involvement, favoritism, and nepotism were evident and required urgent attention. These findings emphasize the need for coordinated efforts among the government, social safety net officials, and community to identify and rectify these existing issues. Fostering a sense of ownership and responsibility regarding the role and implementation of social safety nets towards achieving food security is crucial to enhancing their viability and effectiveness, ensuring continuous support for those in need. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
17 pages, 2590 KiB  
Article
Spatio-Temporal Differentiations and Influence Factors in China’s Grain Supply Chain Resilience
by Jinrui Chang and Huiming Jiang
Sustainability 2023, 15(10), 8074; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15108074 - 16 May 2023
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1211
Abstract
Based on Chinese provincial panel data (2011–2020), the CRITIC-EWM, kernel density estimation, Dagum Gini coefficient and a spatial Dubin model were used for analyzing endogenous and exogenous factors to enhance grain supply chain resilience. The results illustrated the following: (1) Ensuring the resilience [...] Read more.
Based on Chinese provincial panel data (2011–2020), the CRITIC-EWM, kernel density estimation, Dagum Gini coefficient and a spatial Dubin model were used for analyzing endogenous and exogenous factors to enhance grain supply chain resilience. The results illustrated the following: (1) Ensuring the resilience of the grain supply chain’s ability to digest, recover and learn was fundamental to internal system robustness. (2) Overall, China’s grain supply chain resilience increased year over year, but the growth rate was low and showed an attenuation trend of east-middle-west. (3) There was a significant spatial positive correlation among provinces and grain supply chain resilience, however, the large gap and slow development led to the formation of polarization with high-high and low-low clusters. (4) The exogenous drivers were all significant and had a significant positive spillover effect on the grain supply chain resilience. (5) Subregional regressions reflected the heterogeneity of the influence factors, which highlighted the implementation of targeted strategies as the key to achieving synergy. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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25 pages, 1513 KiB  
Article
Casual Wage Labour, Food Security, and Sustainable Rural Livelihoods in Malawi
by Hiroko Gono, Tsutomu Takane and Dickson Mazibuko
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5633; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15075633 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1470
Abstract
Casual wage labour (known as ganyu in Malawi) is a widely adopted strategy to cope with insufficient income and food production in rural households. Although previous studies have discussed the magnitude of the contribution of ganyu to rural livelihoods, the actual conditions of [...] Read more.
Casual wage labour (known as ganyu in Malawi) is a widely adopted strategy to cope with insufficient income and food production in rural households. Although previous studies have discussed the magnitude of the contribution of ganyu to rural livelihoods, the actual conditions of individual rural households have not been studied in detail. The current research conducted a detailed village-level case study to analyse the relationship between ganyu and rural livelihoods in Malawi. The characteristics of three categories of households were examined: those that engaged in ganyu, those that employed ganyu, and those that engaged in and employed ganyu. The study found that: (1) income from ganyu and its contribution to household food security differed considerably based on age, gender, household circumstances, and local conditions; (2) households that employed ganyu were not necessarily wealthy or achieved self-sufficiency in maize production; and (3) contradictory behaviour of a household to engage in and employ ganyu was a result of the context-specific needs of that household. Rather than viewing ganyu as poorly paid agricultural wage labour, the study propose acknowledging that each household has its own rationale for engaging in or employing ganyu. Such an understanding from a household-level perspective would better inform poverty and food security policies. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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20 pages, 360 KiB  
Article
Consumer Behaviour in Sourcing Meals during COVID-19: Implications for Business and Marketing
by Yanfei Pan and Marian Rizov
Sustainability 2022, 14(21), 13837; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142113837 - 25 Oct 2022
Viewed by 1701
Abstract
The subject of this study is consumer behaviour in sourcing meals and the manifestation of different behavioural patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The natural experiment, which COVID-19 represents, provides fertile ground for studying consumer behaviour and identifying important factors influencing consumer [...] Read more.
The subject of this study is consumer behaviour in sourcing meals and the manifestation of different behavioural patterns before and during the COVID-19 pandemic. The natural experiment, which COVID-19 represents, provides fertile ground for studying consumer behaviour and identifying important factors influencing consumer attitudes in sourcing meals and accessing food. To achieve its aim, this study draws from theories of social psychology and economics as a background for understanding the factors and processes affecting attitudes. Using survey data and qualitative and quantitative analysis the study established that the attitudes of sourcing meals remained quite stable since the COVID-19 pandemic began. Contemporary consumer experiences are primarily associated with health and safety concerns and are conditional on financial affordability. Nevertheless, advertisements and marketing campaigns remain an important factor during COVID-19. Social media platforms have grown in importance as a channel through which consumers can be reached for their food access behaviours. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
19 pages, 1452 KiB  
Article
The Watershed Communal Land Management and Livelihood of Rural Households in Kilte Awlaelo Woreda, Tigray Region, Ethiopia
by Haftu Etsay, Shunji Oniki, Melaku Berhe and Teklay Negash
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 13676; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142013676 - 21 Oct 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1281
Abstract
While the degradation of natural resources has a substantial impact on the livelihood of farmers in rural areas, there is scant empirical evidence about livelihood status and benefits from communal resources, especially whether the benefits are equally distributed among local farmers. This study [...] Read more.
While the degradation of natural resources has a substantial impact on the livelihood of farmers in rural areas, there is scant empirical evidence about livelihood status and benefits from communal resources, especially whether the benefits are equally distributed among local farmers. This study examines how the conservation of communal lands affects the food security status and the livelihood of the poor people in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. This paper employed both descriptive statistics and econometric analyses using the ordinary least square regression and quantile regression models. The food security status of rural households was found to be negatively associated with the direct use of natural resources generated on conserved communal lands. The study further affirms that households in the lower quantile harness more of the direct use of common property resources. However, households in the median and the upper quantiles tend to engage in the indirect use of resources generated on communal lands. These findings pose a critical policy implication regarding how to reconcile the trade-offs between the consequence of heavy dependence of the poor on the direct use of communal land-based resources and ensuring sustainable livelihood by allowing the poor to collect benefits from the conserved lands. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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26 pages, 1624 KiB  
Article
Features of Agrarian Sector Deregulation in the Context of Martial Law: Shocks in Food Security
by Oleksii Mohylnyi, Nataliia Patyka, Anatolii Kucher, Vitaliy Krupin, Agnieszka Siedlecka and Marcin Wysokiński
Sustainability 2022, 14(20), 12979; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su142012979 - 11 Oct 2022
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 1565
Abstract
The purpose of this article is to reveal the peculiarities of the agrarian sector deregulation mechanisms in the conditions of the legal regime of martial law and the reasons for the vulnerability of the food security of the country and the world. The [...] Read more.
The purpose of this article is to reveal the peculiarities of the agrarian sector deregulation mechanisms in the conditions of the legal regime of martial law and the reasons for the vulnerability of the food security of the country and the world. The process of the agrarian sector deregulation in the period of the legal regime of martial law is clarified with regard to: (a) land matters; (b) taxation; (c) crediting; (d) material and technical support; (e) social and labor relations; and (f) state order. The elements of scientific novelty consist in the introduction of a systematic approach to the generalization of the extraordinary approaches to the process of agrarian sector deregulation during the legal regime of martial law. It is proposed to review the previously adopted documents of a strategic nature regarding the sustainable development of the agrarian sector of Ukraine and to change the mechanisms of the global food crisis fight radically by specially authorized international organizations. The experience of agrarian sector deregulation in the conditions of the legal regime of martial law can be taken into account by the state institutions when reviewing previously adopted documents and during the development of strategic plans for the restoration of the work of commodity producers, guaranteeing the food security of the population and taking into account the internal threats and the long-term external aggression of Russia against Ukraine. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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18 pages, 3310 KiB  
Article
Household Food Security as a Complex System—Contributions to the Social Sciences from the Cuban Perspective during a Pandemic
by Yinet Domínguez Ruiz, Osmanys Soler Nariño, José Manuel Jurado Almonte and Juan Antonio Márquez Domínguez
Sustainability 2022, 14(18), 11783; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su141811783 - 19 Sep 2022
Cited by 2 | Viewed by 1687
Abstract
The food crisis caused by the rise in grocery prices affects many countries. Added to this complex panorama is the current health situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its impact on the productive sector will be detrimental to many household incomes and food [...] Read more.
The food crisis caused by the rise in grocery prices affects many countries. Added to this complex panorama is the current health situation generated by the COVID-19 pandemic. Its impact on the productive sector will be detrimental to many household incomes and food practices. The social sciences need to adopt a complex understanding of household food security (HFS) as a dynamic process of building collective nutritional knowledge and eating habits. In the case of Cuba, the burden on the agrifood system is the result of external and internal factors that affect household food sustainability. This paper, therefore, seeks to assess the social construction of HFS as a complex system in the current pandemic scenario using the municipality of Santiago de Cuba as a case study. Qualitative and quantitative methods were used. The main results obtained focus on the role played by women in food use and distribution, and the effect of food vulnerability on HFS. These results provide an analytical model for the study of the new and diverse household-food-security configurations that are emerging. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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14 pages, 1251 KiB  
Article
Assessing the Nutritional Impact of an Increase in Orphan Crops in the Kenyan Diet: The Case of Millet
by Cesar Revoredo-Giha, Hasibi Zavala-Nacul and Luiza Toma
Sustainability 2022, 14(5), 2704; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su14052704 - 25 Feb 2022
Cited by 1 | Viewed by 1329
Abstract
Orphan crops are those crops that did not receive the same attention of the research community as in the case of staples such as wheat, maize, or rice despite their regional and nutritional importance. A relatively recent trend has been promoting their research [...] Read more.
Orphan crops are those crops that did not receive the same attention of the research community as in the case of staples such as wheat, maize, or rice despite their regional and nutritional importance. A relatively recent trend has been promoting their research to improve their productivity and resilience to environmental shocks. However, their impact on consumers’ nutrition has been analysed only considering the crops individually and not in the context of the diet. This is important because an increase in the consumption of one product may trigger changes in the other products that conform to the diet. The purpose of this paper is to assess the potential impact, in terms of food choices and nutrition, of increasing the consumption of orphan crops (represented by millet) in the Kenyan diet. This is carried out using a microeconomic-based methodology, which augments the original consumer problem with a constraint regarding the amount of the orphan crop on the diet. To compute the required elasticities for the method, three demand systems—i.e., for rural, less affluent urban, more affluent urban households—were estimated using the 2015–16 Kenyan Integrated Household Survey and the two-step approach to address the zero consumption for some food categories; the second step was modelled using the Linquad demand model. The results indicate that although the orphan crops have the capacity to improve some of the nutrients (e.g., vitamins and minerals), in net terms, as measured by the aggregated nutritional indicator the improvement is somewhat limited, the improvements occur in the rural and the less affluent population. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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19 pages, 2058 KiB  
Article
Food Insecurity, Population Growth, Urbanization and Water Availability: The Role of Government Stability
by Shazia Kousar, Farhan Ahmed, Amber Pervaiz and Štefan Bojnec
Sustainability 2021, 13(22), 12336; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su132212336 - 09 Nov 2021
Cited by 18 | Viewed by 6790
Abstract
To examine the impact of population growth, urbanization and water availability on food insecurity, this study utilized time series data for the period of 1990–2019, from World Development Indicators (WDI), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Bank. The study applied an Auto-regressive [...] Read more.
To examine the impact of population growth, urbanization and water availability on food insecurity, this study utilized time series data for the period of 1990–2019, from World Development Indicators (WDI), Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), and World Bank. The study applied an Auto-regressive distributive lag (ARDL) co-integration approach to test the hypothesized relationships among modeled variables. The study found a negative and significant association of water resources and agriculture research with food insecurity while urbanization and population growth has a significant and positive impact on food insecurity in the short-run as well as in the long-run period. Moreover, the study found that political stability has a negative and significant association with food insecurity in the short-run and long-run periods. Results also indicated that political stability significantly strengthens the relationship of water resources, and agriculture research with food insecurity while political stability weakens the relationship of urbanization and food insecurity significantly. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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18 pages, 537 KiB  
Article
Household Vulnerability to Food Insecurity and the Regional Food Insecurity Gap in Kenya
by Lilian Korir, Marian Rizov, Eric Ruto and Patrick Paul Walsh
Sustainability 2021, 13(16), 9022; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13169022 - 12 Aug 2021
Cited by 10 | Viewed by 3709
Abstract
Food insecurity remains a vital concern in Kenya. Vulnerable members of the population, such as children, the elderly, marginalised ethnic minorities, and low-income households, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. Following the pioneering work of Sen, which examined exposure to food insecurity at [...] Read more.
Food insecurity remains a vital concern in Kenya. Vulnerable members of the population, such as children, the elderly, marginalised ethnic minorities, and low-income households, are disproportionately affected by food insecurity. Following the pioneering work of Sen, which examined exposure to food insecurity at a household level using his “entitlement approach”, this paper estimates households’ vulnerability to food insecurity. In turn, the outcome variable is decomposed in order to explain the food insecurity gap between households classified as “marginalised” and “non-marginalised”. We applied the Oaxaca-Blinder decomposition method to examine vulnerability to food insecurity and, in particular, contributions of observed differences in socio-demographic characteristics (endowments) or differences in the returns to these characteristics, which, in our context, is associated with poor public services and infrastructure in the vicinity of the household. The results indicated that differences in vulnerability to food insecurity were mainly attributable to observed differences in socio-demographic characteristics such as education, age, and household income. Therefore, policies seeking to attain equity by investment into targeted household characteristics in terms of access to food and other productive resources could effectively combat food insecurity. For example, policymakers could develop programs for household inclusiveness using education and social protection programs, including insurance schemes against risk of endowment loss. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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10 pages, 828 KiB  
Article
Linking Food and Resource Access to Medical Care Access in Maputo, Mozambique
by Cameron McCordic, Bruce Frayne and Naomi Sunu
Sustainability 2021, 13(15), 8174; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13158174 - 21 Jul 2021
Viewed by 1497
Abstract
Background: Rapid urbanization coupled with evolving threats from both communicable and non-communicable diseases underscore the vulnerability of urban healthcare systems. Building resilient healthcare systems and increasing access to socioeconomic resources is key for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). The city of Maputo (Mozambique) [...] Read more.
Background: Rapid urbanization coupled with evolving threats from both communicable and non-communicable diseases underscore the vulnerability of urban healthcare systems. Building resilient healthcare systems and increasing access to socioeconomic resources is key for achieving sustainable development goals (SDGs). The city of Maputo (Mozambique) provides a helpful case study for the analysis of this situation. Methods: This investigation analyzes household survey data to determine the predictors of consistent household medical care access (SDG 3) in Maputo. Using those identified predictors, the study identifies key segments of households in Maputo that are vulnerable to disease given their inconsistent access to medical care. Results: The results indicate that households with inconsistent medical care access (SDG 3) also suffer from severe food insecurity (SDG 2) and inconsistent access to a cash income (SDG 8), water (SDG 6), and electricity (SDG 7). Conclusions: This study identifies challenges to the achievement of SDG 3 in Maputo, where households that are likely to need medical care under the strain of impoverished living conditions are also the least likely to have consistent access to needed medical care. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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14 pages, 239 KiB  
Article
Smallholder Farms in Bulgaria and Their Contributions to Food and Social Security
by Lena Fredriksson, Marian Rizov, Sophia Davidova and Alastair Bailey
Sustainability 2021, 13(14), 7635; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13147635 - 08 Jul 2021
Cited by 4 | Viewed by 1759
Abstract
Bulgaria has a long tradition of smallholder farming, predominantly producing for self-consumption. As a result of land reform and farm restructuring, many rural households received agricultural land. Some developed commercial farms but most households stayed as subsistence farmers and used their small pieces [...] Read more.
Bulgaria has a long tradition of smallholder farming, predominantly producing for self-consumption. As a result of land reform and farm restructuring, many rural households received agricultural land. Some developed commercial farms but most households stayed as subsistence farmers and used their small pieces of land to produce for self-consumption and market the excess output to top up their non-farm incomes or meagre pensions. They had little capital and insecure access to markets. The paper employs semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 10 smallholders for obtaining detailed information about individuals’ behaviour and exploring issues in greater detail. In particular, the study looks at the drivers of the diverse strategies pursued by smallholder farms, their importance for household food security and incomes, and the prospects of smallholder farms in the future, especially the possibilities for productivity increases. The Bulgarian study on contemporary smallholder farms shows that subsistence production constitutes a valuable safety net for households with low incomes, and therefore, it acts as an extension of the limited social security system of the country. Despite all the challenges faced by smallholders, half of the interviewed households succeeded to commercialise and increase marketable surplus. Policies for increased commercialisation of smallholder farms and a structural change in agriculture should address, besides market factors, the socioeconomic aspects which contribute to the persistence of subsistence farming. Furthermore, when prioritising different policies, the chosen livelihood strategies of the households should be taken into account. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
16 pages, 2673 KiB  
Article
Farm Household Income Diversification as a Survival Strategy
by Štefan Bojnec and Kristina Knific
Sustainability 2021, 13(11), 6341; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su13116341 - 03 Jun 2021
Cited by 17 | Viewed by 3266
Abstract
The analyses focus on the structural change in agriculture and farm households for the selected hilly and mountainous areas in Slovenia before and after the accession to the European Union, with an emphasis on empirical analysis of a sample of income diversification of [...] Read more.
The analyses focus on the structural change in agriculture and farm households for the selected hilly and mountainous areas in Slovenia before and after the accession to the European Union, with an emphasis on empirical analysis of a sample of income diversification of rural households in the census years, and the importance of self-employment for farm households’ well-being and food security. A t-test was applied to investigate the differences of arithmetic means between the two municipalities and between the two census years, and an F-test with analysis of variance was used for the differences of arithmetic means between four socioeconomic types of agricultural households (AHs). The number of farm households has declined with heterogeneous patterns according to their socioeconomic type and their location areas according to the level of economic development and natural farming conditions. Farm exits do not necessarily mean discontinuation of other nonfarming activities at a household. While the number of farm households leaving farming has increased, there has also been an increase in farm households engaged in other gainful activity such as supplementary farm activities and in off-farm employment and off-farm incomes. Income from farming for most households is not sufficient for survival, and therefore, diversification of income for households is imminent. Diversification of income from self-employment is important for more than one-third of households that maintain agri-food production for the market. Income from self-employment is an important source of income for household well-being and for investment in agricultural production to improve incomes from farming activities. Expansion of self-employment impacts the lack of time, business risks, and lack of interest of households to expand the business by renting external sources. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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35 pages, 3753 KiB  
Review
The Inter-Relationship between Climate Change, Inequality, Poverty and Food Security in Africa: A Bibliometric Review and Content Analysis Approach
by Phemelo Tamasiga, Helen Onyeaka, Adenike Akinsemolu and Malebogo Bakwena
Sustainability 2023, 15(7), 5628; https://0-doi-org.brum.beds.ac.uk/10.3390/su15075628 - 23 Mar 2023
Cited by 6 | Viewed by 2638
Abstract
Despite the persistent income inequality and climate change shocks in Africa, there is limited research on their effects on food security. Hence, this study adopted a mixed-methods approach including a bibliometric analysis and content analysis to examine emerging themes in the literature on [...] Read more.
Despite the persistent income inequality and climate change shocks in Africa, there is limited research on their effects on food security. Hence, this study adopted a mixed-methods approach including a bibliometric analysis and content analysis to examine emerging themes in the literature on climate change, inequality and poverty, and food insecurity in Africa. The bibliometric data used were retrieved from the Scopus database for the period 2000–2022. The exercise revealed an increasing trend in the number of publications in the field, as well as strong collaboration between African countries. Specifically, most of the leading research was published by Kenyan, USA, and UK institutes. From the analysis, seven themes emerged; namely; (1) the impact of governance and policy on poverty alleviation, nutrition status, and food security; (2) the role of innovation and sustainable agriculture in mitigating climate change in developing countries; (3) integrating gender in evaluations of the impact of climate change on food security and livelihoods in Africa; (4) climate change adaptation among smallholders in building resilience for nutrition; (5) the role of institutions in assisting smallholders mitigate and adapt to climate shocks; (6) inequality, food unavailability, and agricultural production; and (7) gendered impacts of climate-smart agriculture in climate adaptation and mitigation. We also found out that there was a dearth of longitudinal studies on these seven themes. Another key element revealed by the study was the lack of policies that address the gender-differentiated impacts of climate change; hence, there is limited research on the agricultural gender productivity gap. Policies based on the tenants of socio-economic inclusion need to guide the distribution of wealth and economic participation in order to reduce inequality and improve food security and nutrition outcomes. Full article
(This article belongs to the Special Issue Economics Perspectives on Sustainable Food Security)
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