Food security in rural areas of Limpopo Province, South Africa
Date
2013-02
Authors
De Cock, N.
D Haese, M.
Vink, N.
Van Rooyen, C. J.
Staelens, L.
Schonfeldt, H. C.
D Haese, L.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Springer
Abstract
Although South Africa is food secure as a nation,
many households remain food insecure. The government
has recognized several key food security challenges in the
Integrated Food Security Strategy (IFSS). However, South
Africa still lacks specific and accepted methods to measure
food security and currently has no regulated way of monitoring
the food security status of its population. This article
reports on an investigation into the food security situation of
rural households in the Limpopo Province. Qualitative and
quantitative data were gathered across five districts in the
province. The study sample eventually involved 599 households
in the rural areas of Limpopo. This allowed a thorough
description of household characteristics and livelihoods and
an assessment of the food security and poverty levels in the
area. The findings showed that 53 % of the sampled rural
households declared themselves to be severely food insecure.
Multivariate analyses were used to identify the main
food security status. These determinants were mainly human
capital (education, household size and dependency ratio),
household income and district in which the households were
situated. The findings indicated that policy priorities should
be focused on the promotion of rural education and creating
an enabling environment for the rural labour market.
Description
Publication of this article was funded by the Stellenbosch University Open Access Fund.
The original publication is available at http://link.springer.com/journal/12571
The original publication is available at http://link.springer.com/journal/12571
Keywords
Food security -- South Africa -- Limpopo, Rural poverty -- South Africa -- Limpopo
Citation
De Cock, N. et al. 2013. Food security in the rural areas of the Limpopo province. Food Security, 5(2): 269-282, doi:10.1007/s12571-013-0247-y.