Food Security
Volume 6, Issue 5, October 2014
http://link.springer.com/journal/12571/6/5/page/1

Resource use and food self-sufficiency at farm scale within two agro-ecological zones of Rwanda
Charles Bucagu, Bernard Vanlauwe, Mark T. Van Wijk, Ken E. Giller
Abstract
Resource use and management are major determinants of the food self-sufficiency of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa. A study was conducted in Rwanda in two contrasting agro-ecological zones (Central plateau and Buberuka) to characterise farms, quantify their resource flows, and evaluate the effect of resource management on food self-sufficiency. The Simbi and Kageyo sectors were selected as the representatives of agro-ecological zones and two villages were selected within each sector. Wealth ranking, focus group discussions and formal survey techniques were used. Farms were classified into resource groups (RGs) that differed with regards to socio-economic and food self-sufficiency status. Soils were more fertile in Kageyo (Buberuka) than in Simbi (Central plateau). In both sites 67 % or more of the households were classified in the poorest category who cultivated less than 0.2 ha and experienced 4–5 months of food deficit each year. The partial N balance was more negative in Kageyo (−35.87 kg N ha−1 year−1) while the P balance was negative in close fields and outfields but positive in homefields (0.43 kg P ha−1 year−1). Calorie and protein availability were insufficient in RG1 (poor resource group) and RG2 (moderate resource group) farms in Simbi and RG1 (poor resource group) in Kageyo. Boundary line analysis indicated that poor soil C contents led to 0.6–0.8 t ha−1 less yield with respect to the attainable yield in better fields in RG 2. Closing the maize yield gap would result in doubling the energy and protein intake in Simbi. In such complex agricultural systems, there is a need to apply an integrated and multi-dimensional approach to understand differences among farms, identify limitations to food production and explore realistic options to ensure sustainable agricultural production and food self-sufficiency.

Food (In)security and its drivers: insights from trends and opportunities in rural Mozambique
Athur Mabiso, Benedito Cunguara, Rui Benfica
Abstract
We used multiple rounds of nationally representative agricultural survey data to analyze the trends and drivers of food insecurity in rural Mozambique. Reduced-form Probit models were estimated to explain the observed trends as a function of underlying drivers and factors related to agricultural policy interventions. Despite rapid macroeconomic growth, food insecurity in the rural areas had increased from 42.9 % in 2002 to 47.8 % in 2008. Significant inequalities were also observed in the distribution of food insecurity with a substantial disadvantage to the bottom quintile households and rural households located in the Northern provinces. Limited progress on several drivers of agricultural production and food access as well as geographic disparities appear to explain a significant part of the food insecurity trends and distribution. Whether the indicator was use of improved farm inputs and technology, receipt of agricultural extension services, farm production, or cash income, progress did not occur. This implies that to achieve broad-based food security in rural Mozambique, interventions may need to focus on addressing these drivers to increase agricultural productivity while enhancing resilience to price and weather shocks. Interventions must also be spatially targeted and tailored to each segment of the population.

Nutrition-sensitive agriculture in Bangladesh: a review
K. M. M. Rahman, M. A. Islam
Abstract
This paper reviews the programs and related research on nutrition sensitive agriculture in Bangladesh using available literature. The government has undertaken several policies, including a National Food and Nutrition Policy, in order to make agriculture into a dynamic food-based activity, leading to nutritional security. Among the under-five children in Bangladesh, 41 % are stunted, 16 % are wasted and 36 % are underweight. Land use patterns by farmers have made the country self-sufficient in rice, potato and vegetable production. Milk producers have been playing an important role in fulfilling the nutritional needs of some regions. Non-government organisation’s (NGO’s) activities are strongly applauded in terms of rural poverty alleviation, employment generation, empowerment of women and food security. The Adivasi Fisheries Project (AFP) is such a project, aimed at upscaling the nutritional status of the poor and ultra-poor in the north-western and northern regions. Women in rural areas are engaged in a vast array of farm and non-farm activities ranging from livestock rearing to household work. The “One-house-one-farm” project, launched by the government, is a successful programme producing diversified fruits and vegetables at homesteads in order to reduce malnutrition of farm families. Finally, this study makes some policy recommendations which will be helpful in further shaping the ongoing efforts to ensure food security.