Thesis (M. Sc. Agriculture (Agricultural Economics)) -- University of Limpopo, 2020 / Food security is a broad concept especially as far as rural food security in countries is concerned. In essence, it is a phenomenon with the goal of ensuring that all individuals have at all times, an adequate level of food and which they will be able to utilize to meet their increasing consumption demand. Studies have shown that like other countries, South Africa is food secure at the national level but very food insecure at the household level. It is also shown that food insecurity is not fuelled by a lack of food but a lack of food insecurity tackling strategies. The aim of the study is to examine the determinants of food security among rural households in Magong, North West Province, South Africa where the main prevalent economic activity is farming supported with other formal and informal types of employment. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select the respondents that were interviewed. The first stage involved selecting districts and the second stage was the selection of municipalities. Farm and non-farming households were selected. Structured questionnaire were administered to 108 households. The third stage involved a selection Magong village using purposive sampling based on high concentration of both farming and non-farming activities were selected, which in our case is Magong. The fourth stage involved the selection of respondents based on simple random sampling proportionate to size. The study employed logit model for as data analysis. Of the variables modelled, only income and land size had a significant influence on food security. As far as age is concerned, it was evident that the youth participation in agriculture lacks. This is because most young people are still after white collar jobs. Some were still in the academic world awaiting their certificates which they hope to use a ticket to their first job. The participation in agriculture increases steadily between ages 31 and 50 which could be because the persons in this age brackets were looking for ways to store their wealth as they approach their retirement age. Some of the respondents have inherited the farms from family members and are therefore “forced” to keep the family business running for the sake of sustainability. With regards to the marital status, there is a high number of single/ never married respondents compared to the other groups. This could be people co-habiting and choosing not to marry as a result of the economic conditions making marriage costs unaffordable. Divorce was at its lowest amongst the respondents.v In terms of the gender of the respondents, there was a high participation of women in agriculture. This may be a result of women-based agricultural programmes implemented in the past in the study area. All the variables had a positive relationship with food security. Age had a positive effect of food security, with a positive parameter (β=0.013) which indicated that contrary to what other researchers found, an increase in age when all other factors are held constant, resulted in an increase in food security. The marital status of the household head also positively affected food security. This indicated that compared to their unmarried counterparts, married household heads were food secure (β=0.049). The findings also indicated that married couples and people living with partner had a higher chance of being food secure than those who were single, divorced or widowed. According to the results, male headship of households increases food security by 0.398. It was found that the larger the household size, the more food secure it is. This may be because as the number of members in the household increase, they find more ways of making money and combating food insecurity. A unit increase in household size increases food security by .093 while an increase in land size, increases food security by 0.394. This is expected because as the land size increases, there are chances that the productivity will also increase. From the results of the survey household income had a positive effect on food security. Income is very important as it determines the household’s affordability and its ability to meet its needs

The study was designed to assess the impact of irrigation schemes on livelihood strategies and food security status of smallholder maize farmers in North West Province of South Africa and covered three districts of the North West Province namely: Dr Ngaka Modiri Molema district, Bojanala district and Dr Ruth Segomotsi Mompati district. In this study, a descriptive survey design was used and a sample of farmers was interviewed from the list of farmers obtained from the extension workers. The targeted group was male farmers in irrigation farming and those who farm within the radius of the irrigation scheme. A questionnaire was designed as the primary tool for data collection and the process of collecting data involved face to face interviews and group discussions. Data collected were coded and entered into Microsoft Excel and then transferred to Statistical Package for Social Scientists (SPSS). To analyse data, descriptive and inferential statistics were used. The results of multiple regression analysis of relationship between irrigation farming and livelihood strategies showed that the independent variables were significantly related to livelihood strategies of the farmers with an F value of 8.067, p< 0.05 and R value of 0. 788 showed that there was strong correlation between the independent variable and the household livelihood strategies. Significant determinants were marital status (t= 2.43), number of household (t= 5.41), nonfarm activity (t=1.73) and income (t= 6.59). The probit model was used to determine the influence of the socio-economic variables on household food security status. The model has a good fit and significant with two explanatory' variables being significant while eleven variables were insignificant. The significant variables were income and Land. The results of Forster Greer Thorbecke showed that about (1.5%) of the respondents are living below the threshold of (R9.2) per day, while the per capital income of respondents that are below the poverty line needed to be increased by (0.5%) to meet the level of poverty line. The results also showed severity of (0.1%), this implied that the gap of respondents from the poverty line is very small. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Agric Economics) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2013

Food insecurity is a growing problem in Canada including Saskatoon. How gender is linked to household food insecurity is largely unexplored. Therefore, this study examined the relationship between gender and food insecurity based on the lived experience of 11 heterosexual couples seeking food assistance or living on social assistance in Saskatoon. This study assessed their perceptions, attitudes and beliefs about food security, household resource management, coping strategies, and food shopping and preparation practices. Data were collected by interviewing 11 couples and ten key informants and analyzed using Giorgi’s phenomenological approach. This study found food decision and grocery shopping were gendered. Female participants were involved more than their partners in decision-making about what food to buy and grocery shopping where. Male participants viewed their partners more knowledgeable about food and shopping as feminine activity. Female participants felt more challenged than their spouses in grocery shopping and food preparation. There were no gender differences in other activities of household food management. Spouses supported each other and shared other household resources to manage food related activities. They held similar views about their food household situation and often agreed with each other about their household resources and the price, quality and type of food to buy. They bought foods that were affordable and nutritious. The food preferences of their family were accommodated where possible. They worked to ensure household food security. Food or money received from the Food Bank, CHEP and family were important in dealing with food insecurity. All participants and key informants agreed that food availability was not an issue but for some participants, affordability, access and time constraints were. Key informants and the participants suggested increasing support for families including more opportunities for income generation, increases in government welfare benefits, more grocery stores, transport assistance, and nutrition knowledge and cooking skill. The findings suggest policies related to gender as well as programs to improve food security in Saskatoon.

South Africa is considered food secure yet, depending on the source used, it is estimated that food insecurity exists in 20-52% of households. Many factors, such as differing livelihood strategies, play significant roles in determining food security and this project attempted to explore these issues, using Cape Town as a case study. In particular, we compared two types of urban agricultural interventions:home and community gardening as facilitated by two urban agriculture NGO’s (Soil for Life and Abalimi, respectively). Semi-structured interviews were conducted amongst 91 participants living below the poverty line in two ‘townships’ in Cape Town: Langa and Khayelitsha. Twenty-five home-gardeners in Langa and 21 community-gardeners in Khayelitsha were interviewed and compared with equal numbers of non-gardeners in both areas. Data analysis showed that participants who cited community gardening as a food source were most food secure (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale [HFIAS] = 13.04), followed by Langa’s home gardeners (HFIAS = 18.88), Langa’s non-gardeners (HFIAS = 21.84) and finally non-gardeners in Khayelitsha (HFIAS = 22.25). Food Security for non-gardeners in Langa and Khayelitsha was correlated with income (r=0.78; 0.48, respectively), as compared to both gardening groups. The gardeners in Langa and Khayelitsha also showed more diversified diets and lower Months of Inadequate Household Food Provisioning Scores (MIHFP), indicating fewer months of inadequate food provisioning. These data suggest that food security may be positively affected by gardening practices as well as by increased diversity in food sourcing. Community gardening appeared to be more effective than home gardening, perhaps due to greater accessibility to inputs such as land space, manure and water, as facilitated directly by the associated NGO. / Thesis (Master, Environmental Studies) -- Queen's University, 2013-09-17 14:02:39.23

Food insecurity remains a major challenge affecting the rural poor households in South Africa. The consumption of green leafy vegetables is important to address micronutrients deficiency in rural communities and, at the same time, it contributes to fibre intake. This study investigated the people’s attitude towards the cultivation and utilisation of ILVs in rural communities. A cross-section survey study was conducted among 1 000 respondents in randomly selected households in communities. The majority of respondents were not willingly consuming ILVs. This is because most consumers were black and of the low-income group. ILVs that are consumed grow mainly in the wild. The regular consumption of these vegetables as indicated in this study is interesting, as this will help in mitigating micronutrient deficiency. Furthermore, these vegetables could be incorporated in formulated food to improve iron and zinc, especially in infant foods formulation. Based on the findings of this study it would be important to find ways of encouraging cultivation of ILVs for both nutrition and as income generating activities. / Business Management / M. Consumer Science

Current food production methods in the United States contribute to environmental degradation as well as food insecurity. Food production by means of community gardens has the potential to reduce the deleterious effects of current production methods. However, many community gardens face challenges that hinder their longevity, thereby reducing the likelihood of the support they might provide for environmentally sustainable food production and decreased food insecurity for community members. A behavioral systems science approach was combined with ethnographic research methods, matrix analysis, and a literature review regarding best practices for community gardens to study the cultural practices of three established community gardens in the southwest region of the US. The results of the analyses conducted are presented in terms of recommendations to support each target community garden's sustainability. Recommendations regarding future research include environmental manipulations to identify functional relations and potential outcome measures for improving the longevity of community gardens are provided.

Magister Artium (Development Studies) - MA(DVS) / This research investigates the impact of urban agriculture on food security through urban food garden projects in Kayamandi. Food insecurity is a major global challenge, 795 million people in the world suffer from hunger and malnutrition and 780 million of these are from developing countries. In South Africa, poverty, unemployment, and inequality play pivotal roles in the dynamics of food security. These indicators have shown that chronic poverty and food insecurity are mostly found in urban and peri-urban areas, affecting the most vulnerable groups such as women, children, and the elderly. In addition, food insecurity exists in Cape Town. In 2008, 80% of poor households in Khayelitsha, Philippi and Ocean View were either moderately or severely food insecure. Similarly, in Manenberg, a study revealed that 64% of the households were food insecure. Only 18% of poor households were food secure compared to the 74% and 94% for middle and high income households. Although there is numerous research on food insecurity in Cape Town, the contribution of urban agriculture to household food security in Kayamandi has not been addressed adequately. This study assessed the current state of food security in the Kayamandi settlement. The study also identified the impact of urban agriculture on food security in Kayamandi, as well as investigating the outcomes of an urban agriculture project in Kayamandi provided by the NGO, Love2Give. Qualitative research method was used to deeply understand the extent in which urban agriculture contributes to food security. In this process, 12 participants were purposively selected from the urban gardeners of the Love2Give organization including 2 key informant interviews. The Sustainable Livelihoods approach was applied to this study in order to understand the role Love2Give plays in building a sustainable community. As a theoretical framework, the Sustainable Livelihoods approach identified the mechanism Kayamandi gardeners use to secure their household food security. This is in alignment with the initial hypothesis, which is that Kayamandi households are food insecure. The majority of the participants in Kayamandi were either moderately (33.3%) or severely (33.3) food insecure whilst only four households were food secure (33.3). The high food insecurity in the area can be attributed to the high unemployment rate of 84% of the participants. Urban agriculture contributes to the household food security of participants. 75% of respondents engaged in urban farming for consumption purpose while the rest practice urban farming to generate income. Although participants generate little income from urban cultivating, it contributes significantly to their lives especially when they mix this with other livelihood diversification methods. Lack of water, land and enough farm equipment hinders the potential impact of urban agriculture. Therefore, there is a great need of intervention from multi-stakeholders such as NGOs, government and municipal authorities to intervene and promote urban agriculture as a means to reduce poverty and food insecurity.

Magister Artium - MA / Overindulgence is widely regarded as a serious social problem in South Africa leading to obesity and associated medical and psychological issues. This study investigated overindulgence from the perspective of Islamic Studies. In the Muslim tradition, overindulgence is regarded as a vice which is contrasted with the virtue of temperance in the Qur’an and the Hadith. There is a long tradition of Muslim virtue ethics that draws from Greek philosophy but also from medieval Arabic sources. This study required an overview of such literature in order to profile contemporary discourse on the virtue of temperance against this historical background. Even though the virtue of temperance is praised, and the vice of overindulgence is frowned upon in Muslim communities, this does preclude overindulgence amongst Muslims, not even in the holy month of Ramadan. This may be understood in terms of the classic problem of moral formation where it is recognised that virtue cannot be taught. Knowledge of the good does not suffice for the realisation of the good. In terms of this study, this begs the question what kind of considerations play a role in motivating some Muslims to overindulge despite Muslim teachings in this regard, even amidst contexts of food insecurity. In this study, I investigated the perceptions of such considerations found within Muslim households associated with the Rylands and Belhar mosques. This required a Qualitative Approach where Semi-structured Interviews were conducted with around 10 households associated with each of these mosques. The local Imam in each case was asked to select ten such households of good moral standing. These interviews were recorded and analysed in order to describe the perceptions amongst Muslims of good moral standing with regards to the considerations that play a role in habits of over-indulgence. The study found several determinants of overindulgence within the selected Muslim households associated with the Rylands and Belhar mosques namely, food insecurity, spiritual apathy, emotional eating, conspicuous and hedonistic consumption as well as social environmental cues. However, food insecurity was exclusive to the Muslim community of Belhar who are distinctive from the inhabitants of Rylands in terms of social-economic status as well as race. This community is largely of Malay origin and is disadvantaged economically compared to their counterparts who are predominantly of Indian descent and enjoy a high-income status. The study found in both communities that Ramadan; a month of restraint, self-reflection, devotion, and worship had been turned into a month of indulgence and unhealthy eating. It was perceived that most Muslims squeeze a five-course meal in the few hours they can eat. The research further revealed that such individuals to be very meticulous of what type of food they consume when breaking their fast and would prefer oily fried foods to healthy food. This causes weight gain, health complications and sluggishness which stands in the way of worship. It was concluded that the majority gain weight due to their lifestyles. With regards to the implementation of moral formation, the study revealed self-discipline, leading by example and parents, educators and leaders playing an active role to be key in the formation of good morals. Additionally, the study found good moral formation can be achieved through habituation. Finally, the study found that the major constraints to moderate and healthy eating to be lack of self-discipline, the absence of virtue ethical education in Islamic institutions and finally Muslim leaders have prioritized the ḥalãl aspect of food and in the interim have forgotten to preach the importance of wholesome pure foods. The explanations offered in this study indicated the importance of the virtue of temperance in the fight against obesity and in the attainment of physical and spiritual wellbeing. This virtue which is a mean between two vices, namely self-indulgence and insensibility help in the journey towards a higher lifestyle and helps release all the dynamic forces that spiritually weigh down those in affluent as well as food insecure communities.

Magister Legum - LLM / The unemployment rate in South Africa is alarmingly high. In the year 2018, the unemployment rate was recorded at 27.2%. Many people are forced to do desperate, and even dangerous things in order to sustain themselves. This includes people going into landfills to collect recyclable materials to sell and look for a meal. Collecting and retailing recyclable waste has become an informal source of income for thousands of people in South Africa. Waste pickers are individuals whose survival largely depends on collecting, sorting and selling recyclable waste. Waste pickers are defined as people who “collect, sort and sell reusable and recyclable materials”. They embark on waste picking as a means of survival. Given the fact that informal waste management is not regulated by the government, waste pickers are left vulnerable to exploitation and hazardous working environments. Waste pickers are denied access to landfills by either private companies, where municipalities have outsourced this function, or by municipalities themselves. Depending on the management of the landfill, waste pickers could also potentially be faced with crime on landfills with gangsters robbing them of their recyclables and/or hard earned money.

Magister Artium - MA / Overindulgence is widely regarded as a serious social problem in South Africa leading to obesity and associated medical and psychological issues. This study investigated overindulgence from the perspective of Islamic Studies. In the Muslim tradition, overindulgence is regarded as a vice which is contrasted with the virtue of temperance in the Qur’an and the Hadith. There is a long tradition of Muslim virtue ethics that draws from Greek philosophy but also from medieval Arabic sources. This study required an overview of such literature in order to profile contemporary discourse on the virtue of temperance against this historical background. Even though the virtue of temperance is praised, and the vice of overindulgence is frowned upon in Muslim communities, this does preclude overindulgence amongst Muslims, not even in the holy month of Ramadan. This may be understood in terms of the classic problem of moral formation where it is recognised that virtue cannot be taught. Knowledge of the good does not suffice for the realisation of the good. In terms of this study, this begs the question what kind of considerations play a role in motivating some Muslims to overindulge despite Muslim teachings in this regard, even amidst contexts of food insecurity. In this study, I investigated the perceptions of such considerations found within Muslim households associated with the Rylands and Belhar mosques. This required a Qualitative Approach where Semi-structured Interviews were conducted with around 10 households associated with each of these mosques. The local Imam in each case was asked to select ten such households of good moral standing. These interviews were recorded and analysed in order to describe the perceptions amongst Muslims of good moral standing with regards to the considerations that play a role in habits of over-indulgence. The study found several determinants of overindulgence within the selected Muslim households associated with the Rylands and Belhar mosques namely, food insecurity, spiritual apathy, emotional eating, conspicuous and hedonistic consumption as well as social environmental cues. However, food insecurity was exclusive to the Muslim community of Belhar who are distinctive from the inhabitants of Rylands in terms of social-economic status as well as race. This community is largely of Malay origin and is disadvantaged economically compared to their counterparts who are predominantly of Indian descent and enjoy a high-income status. The study found in both communities that Ramadan; a month of restraint, self-reflection, devotion, and worship had been turned into a month of indulgence and unhealthy eating. It was perceived that most Muslims squeeze a five-course meal in the few hours they can eat. The research further revealed that such individuals to be very meticulous of what type of food they consume when breaking their fast and would prefer oily fried foods to healthy food. This causes weight gain, health complications and sluggishness which stands in the way of worship. It was concluded that the majority gain weight due to their lifestyles. With regards to the implementation of moral formation, the study revealed self-discipline, leading by example and parents, educators and leaders playing an active role to be key in the formation of good morals. Additionally, the study found good moral formation can be achieved through habituation. Finally, the study found that the major constraints to moderate and healthy eating to be lack of self-discipline, the absence of virtue ethical education in Islamic institutions and finally Muslim leaders have prioritized the ḥalãl aspect of food and in the interim have forgotten to preach the importance of wholesome pure foods. The explanations offered in this study indicated the importance of the virtue of temperance in the fight against obesity and in the attainment of physical and spiritual wellbeing. This virtue which is a mean between two vices, namely self-indulgence and insensibility help in the journey towards a higher lifestyle and helps release all the dynamic forces that spiritually weigh down those in affluent as well as food insecure communities.