Philosophiae Doctor - PhD / Food security is the ability to secure an adequate daily supply of food that is affordable, hygienic and nutritious and it has become a chronic development problem in most urban areas of the global South. This thesis contributes to the urban food security debate by exploring the connection between drought and food security in urban Swaziland. Specifically, the study examines the effects of the 2015/16 drought on access to food in the informal settlement of kaKhoza in the city of Manzini. The study used climate change and food security conceptual framework to interrogate the connection between drought and food security in the urban context. The framework shows how climate change variables like extreme weather events (e.g. drought) impact food security drivers such as agricultural management, demographic, cultural and socio-economic variables, and how these drivers impact the four components of food security (food availability, access, utilization and stability of access). The study drew from both the positivistic and interpretivistic paradigms and adopted a case study approach based on the mixed methods research design. Data was collected from the informal settlement of kaKhoza using a three step procedure involving a questionnaire survey, in-depth interviews, key informant interviews and focus group discussions. A questionnaire was administered to 145 heads of households using systematic sampling technique. Purposive sampling was employed to select 30 and 8 respondents for in-depth and key informant interviews, respectively. The researcher also engaged the observation method approach to capture additional information about effects of drought as observed in the study site. The researcher adhered to all legal and ethical procedures during the data collection and research writing processes. As such, participation in the research was strictly voluntary without any form of coercion, whatsoever. The results reveal that drought contributes to food insecurity in low income urban spaces by reducing the quantity and frequency of free or low priced rural-urban food transfers. As a result, low income households have had to rely more on food purchases, thereby making them increasingly food insecure. The problem is compounded by reverse food flows from urban to rural areas. The drought induced food price hike, compelled many low-income households to be less dependent on the supermarket as the main source of their food, and to buy increased amounts of food from the vegetable markets and tuck shops. Residents employ different coping mechanisms to deal with drought induced food shortage, some of which are too risky and further expose them to food insecurity. These coping strategies include: skipping meals, begging, use of informal credit, over reliance on informal markets and selling of sexual favours, which expose respondents to HIV and AIDS infection.

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O feijoeiro-comum (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) é uma planta leguminosa que se destaca por ser uma das principais culturas agrícolas do mundo, com forte expressão cultural e econômica na agricultura brasileira. Com base na relevância do feijão no contexto mundial, é importante considerar as projeções futuras de produção dessa leguminosa dentro do debate internacional de mudanças climáticas e previsão do aumento populacional global, de 2 bilhões de habitantes, até o ano de 2050. Levando em consideração que o setor agrícola poderá ser um dos mais afetados com os efeitos das mudanças climáticas previstas para o decorrer do século XXI, o presente trabalho teve como objetivo simular a produção brasileira de feijão-comum para locais que representem, ao mínimo, 80% da quantidade produzida deste grão. Para isso, o modelo DSSAT/CROPGRO-Drybean foi calibrado para dois grupos comerciais representativos (\"Carioca\" e \"Preto\"). Esta tarefa foi caracterizada pelo ajuste do modelo através da análise comparativa com dados observados, coletados a partir de experimentos conduzidos em Piracicaba-SP e Santo Antônio de Goiás-GO. As projeções climáticas foram obtidas por meio da metodologia recomendada pelo projeto internacional AgMiP (Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project), do qual foram considerados os dados climatológicos estimados por 20 modelos de circulação global (GCM), para os cenários futuros de concentração atmosférica de CO2 RCP 4.5 e RCP 8.5, em 24 zonas homogêneas que representam as características edafoclimáticas dos principais locais de produção no Brasil. Por fim, combinando-se as informações ambientais com o modelo de culturas, foi possível simular para o período de 2040 a 2070, a produtividade futura para cultura do feijão-comum. Observou-se que as mudanças climáticas acarretarão em aumento da produção nacional para a maioria das regiões produtoras, entretanto haverá aumento do risco de se produzir abaixo da média esperada em regiões de grande importância para a produção nacional, como os cultivos de 1ª safra de feijão \"Preto\" no Sul do Brasil, e para cultivos de 3ª safra (grupo comercial \"Carioca\") presentes no Centro-Oeste. / Common beans (Phaseolus vulgaris L.) are leguminous plants which represents one of the main world crops, with strong cultural and economical expression in Brazil\'s agriculture. Based on the common beans world relevance, it\'s important to consider the future projections for this crop production inside the international subject of climate change and the global population increase, predicted to 2 billion inhabitants, until 2050. Being aware that the agricultural sector would be severely affected by the effects of the predicted climate changes in 21st century, the main goal of this work was simulate the Brazilian production of common beans for locals which represents at least 80% of the grain produced quantity. For that, the model DSSAT/CROPGRO-Drybean was calibrated for two representative commercial groups (\"Carioca\" and \"Black\"). This task was caracterized by the adjustment of the model through the comparatively analyse of observed data, collected on field experiments performed in Piracicaba/SP and Santo Antônio de Goiás/GO. The climate projections were obtained through a methodology proposed by the international AgMiP project (Agricultural Model Intercomparison and Improvement Project), which were considered the climatological data estimated by 20 global circulation models (GCM), for scenarios of representative atmospheric CO2 concentration pathways RCP 4.5 and RCP 8.5, in 24 homogenic zones representing the edafoclimatic profiles of main producers in Brazil. Lastly, combining all environmental data with the crop model, was possible to simulate for the period of 2040 to 2070, the future productivity for nacional common bean crops. Was observed that climate changes would accomplish a increase in the mean production for most of the regions, by the other hand, it will also increase the risk of productions above the expected average on key regions, as such the 1st crops of \"Black\" beans in the south, and 3rd crops (commercial group \"Carioca) at the Middle-West.

Magister Artium - MA / Hunger is more than just a feeling, it is the lack of access to safe nutritious food, which in turn may result in anger towards government, low performance, sadness and a limited will to survive. Urban agriculture has been identified as a source of livelihood for many urban residents and could fundamentally change food insecure cities like Cape Town. The Philippi Horticultural Area (PHA) is one such place with an enormous amount of potential to assist the City of Cape Town (CCT) to overcome food insecurity challenges. The PHA is the focus of this thesis that aims to determine the impacts that housing and industrial developments in the PHA have had, and might have in the future, on food security in the Greater Cape Town Area (GCTA). The specific objectives of the study are as follows: (1) To investigate the urban agricultural distribution of the PHA; (2) to investigate agricultural facilitation, people empowerment and the use of land for agricultural purposes; (3) To determine the level of access to food for people within and around the PHA; and (4) To examine the links between the urban agricultural food sector and food production. Mixed method research was employed, hinging on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach (SLA) as the conceptual framework. Snowball sampling was used to select 68 participants who were interviewed. One key finding of the study showed that the PHA had a significant value to the participants, many of whom called the place ‘home’. Another finding is that urban agriculture provides fresh food produce to many local residents. In-depth discussions with officials and farmers, both commercial and small-scale farmers in the PHA, revealed that the PHA is a valuable portion of farmland, and contributes significantly towards food security in and around the PHA. With the use of the SLA as the conceptual framework, the study contributes towards other livelihood outcomes dependant on urban agriculture to improve access, availability and stability of food security within the PHA. Although urban agriculture is a minimal contributor to food security in the PHA, there are other benefits enjoyed by low-income communities such as food aid given by farmers to assist low-income housing communities, educational opportunities to enhance small growers in the PHA, small-scale community garden outreach and employment.

Food insecurity is a condition of insufficient access to quality nutritious food; it is often rooted in shocks that interrupt the food production/distribution system in an area. Amidst the capabilities of Nigeria's agricultural system, the number of households across Nigeria experiencing food shortages has increased rapidly. The main reason for this increase were price shocks. This incident highlighted a huge vulnerability in Nigeria's food system, the vulnerability to price shocks. Incidences such as poverty and conflicts magnify the frequency of food insecurity. The ability to reduce vulnerabilities while addressing existing issues in food production and supply depends on a stable economy and innovative policy. As a major oil exporter, Nigeria's economy is affected by oil price fluctuations. This paper analyses the extent of the effect and how such volatility could increase vulnerability in the food system. The analysis in this treatise examines economic and agricultural factors to identify trends that negatively affect Nigeria's current food system.. Oil prices were significant in explaining variation in food price shocks and Gross Domestic Product (GDP). Food price shocks are one of the symptoms of economic downturns. Agricultural innovation, and economic policies need to be formulated to prevent such shocks in the future. Given the dependency of economic performance on oil prices, a major move would be to diversify the Nigerian economy; with adequate attention being paid to agriculture.

International Relations Masters Research Thesis, 2015 University of Witwatersrand / The G8 New Alliance on Food Security and Nutrition (NAFN) is a new, under-researched and rapidly spreading partnership initiative. As the latest attempt to target hunger in Africa by developed countries, it deserves a certain level of scrutiny to decipher the intended development trajectory for African food systems and the possible implications for smallholder farmers, since these smallholders produce more than ninety percent of the continent’s food supply. Food sovereignty provides the ideal lens through which to analyse the New Alliance, being a political economy critique of agro-industrial food systems, as well as a constitutive approach to rights and the building of a grassroots movement and alternative. This research seeks to ascertain how the New Alliance may globalise African agriculture and undermine food sovereignty. An exploratory research design was used, first historicising African globalised agriculture, then decoding the main objectives of the New Alliance, and finally using the African Food Sovereignty Alliance as a case study to critique its translation into African countries’ commitments. The first few predictions of the hypothesis were strongly validated with findings that the New Alliance will result in large-scale investment of land, the commercialisation of the seed industry and an increased use of agro-chemicals and GMOs, increased foreign investment, and monopolisation of agribusiness by MNCs. To a lesser degree, the prediction that it would decrease barriers to trade and increase imports and exports was confirmed; however, there was little evidence that it intends to cut domestic support measures like some previous development programmes. The New Alliance is beyond reform, built on flawed neoliberal assumptions about development. This and further research could contribute to a movement to abolish the New Alliance before it induces negative long term effects, and to warn off other African countries contemplating this initiative.

This research report serves to explore how women living in Tembisa, the second largest township in Johannesburg, South Africa, create and maintain highly flexible and mobile personal networks, to maximize their access to financial and social capital in order to improve individual and household resilience to food insecurity. What are the strategies that are adopted, created and manipulated in the daily lives of the food insecure in an attempt to attain a semblance of food security for themselves, their households and their communities?

A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Science, University of the Witwatersrand, Johannesburg, in fulfilment of requirements for the degree of Master of Science. Johannesburg, 2016. / After several years of political and economic successes made since 1994, South Africa continues to experience major challenges in water availability, increased poverty, high levels of unemployment and more recently, steep increases in food and fuel prices. The Eastern Cape Province of South Africa is one of the regions that have been negatively affected by changes in climate variability, thereby, increasing the vulnerability and subjecting a significant number of households to increased poverty; water scarcity and food insecurity. The situation continues and there is a need to address this. This study sought to understand how the local households in the Eastern Cape Province in Nqgeleni location adapt to the extreme drought which impacts on their livelihood by exploring the different adaptive measures or systems that are implemented to cope with the climatic conditions in uplifting and providing food and nutrition security for sustainable growth and development. The primary aim of this research was thus to investigate how water scarcity influences food and nutritional security on rural household in Nqgeleni location. To achieve this aim, three secondary objectives were formulated. Firstly, to establish the relationship between water scarcity on food and nutritional security of rural households in Nqgeleni location. Secondly, to identify the drivers of water scarcity in the area. Lastly, to create an inventory of coping mechanism employed by rural households with water scarcity, food and nutritional security. An extensive literature review was undertaken to integrate prior findings and theories on water scarcity, food and nutritional security. The literature study revealed that water scarcity has a significant impact on food security. In addition, several factors such as demographic profile variables (population growth) and structural inefficiencies (infrastructure and management) were identified as potential drivers of water scarcity. In order to address the objectives set for this study, a number of items were sourced from the literature and a structured questionnaire administered to respondents who were selected by means of a simple random sampling technique. Data was collected from 111 usable questionnaires. The mixed method approach was employed as a core research methodology. The responses obtained were subjected to statistical analyses. Cronbach-alpha coefficients were calculated to confirm the internal consistency of the measuring instrument. The findings from this study are thus as follows. There was a significant relationship between water scarcity, food and nutritional security. Food security also has an impact on nutritional security. In addition, the drivers of water scarcity found in this study includes population growth, lack of infrastructure and poor management of water related issues by the municipality; all of which confirm findings in other studies. Furthermore, a number of respondents profile variables were identified as contributing factors to poverty, vulnerability, water scarcity, food and nutritional security in the Nqgeleni location. This includes lack of education, size of the household, and income level of the household. Based on the above findings, an inventory of coping mechanism was recommended to assist the rural households deal with water scarcity, food and nutritional security. This study has added to the empirical body of water scarcity, food and nutritional security in South Africa and the world at large. KEYWORDS: Water scarcity; Food security; Nutritional security; Eastern Cape; Nqgeleni location; South Africa / LG2017

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Thesis (M.M. (Public Policy))--University of the Witwatersrand, Faculty of Commerce, Law and Management, Graduate School of Public and Development Management, 2013. / This research set out to explore the feasibility of developing Urban and Peri-urban Agriculture (UPA) collaborative policy networks in South African metros. The study explored related challenges and barriers, and investigated the role of the state (national, provincial and local/metro) and other sectoral development stakeholders (private sector, research institutions, non-governmental-organisations, development partners, donors, and farmers) in the substantive UPA policy management process in South Africa. The research was conducted against the backdrop of institutional/procedural policy and collaborative policy networks’ theory was used as framework. The research goal was to contribute to and generate new information and knowledge to enhance UPA collaborative governance and procedural policy. This was done through the application of collaborative policy networks as a contemporary procedural policy arrangement framework. Collaborative policy networks in this research are patterned relationships between state and society. These networks link a variety of actors (in the public and private sector) in a set of relatively stable relationships, that are non-hierarchical and interdependent, that share similar policy interests and exchange resources. The purpose is to collaboratively pursue specific policy goals as outlined by Börzel (1997:1). This research applies institutional/procedural theory as formal and legal aspects of government structure and particularly focuses on the way governments are arranged, their legal powers, and their rules and procedures in policy management (Kraft and Furlong, 2004). South Africa’s metros have continuously demonstrated an appreciation of the developmental role of UPA through small and concrete initiatives, including the development and implementation of urban and peri-urban agriculture (UPA) development policies. In line with Mougeot (1994:1), this research however notes that the focus on UPA development in South Africa overemphasises agricultural production as the major component of the UPA definition. According to Dr Jane Battersby-Lennard, Head of the Urban Food Security programme of the African Centre for Cities at the University of Cape Town, the overemphasis on agricultural production can mainly be attributed to the peri-urban agriculture vi (UPA) terminology, which accentuates agriculture – even in metros where agricultural production is not feasible. As a result, this research recommends that the UPA terminology in South Africa be rephrased as ‘Urban Food-security Systems’ (UFS). In this context UFS is defined as a systems approach to develop sustainable and equitable urban food value chains while incorporating a strong focus on elements of urban land-use planning, access to production resources (land and water), food production, safe supply of production inputs, value adding and processing, market development and access. Such an approach also develops responsive institutional/procedural and substantive policy management instruments. The emerging trend noted through this research is that South African metros have not made much progress on the ground in terms of UPS substantive policy management. This also applies to UPA institutional policy in South Africa, which in its current form offers limited opportunities to UFS development in South African metros. This type of development still faces a number of barriers and challenges that relate to institutional ad substantive policy issues. Even with the metros’ demonstrated interest in advancing the sector, UPA policy management capacity and resources (human, social, physical, economic and environmental capital) remain limited. UPA suffers overall limited state attention and commitment and consequently restrictive legislation, bureaucratic red tape and limited institutional, technical and financial support. The research argues that UPA development initiatives could benefit from government’s commitment and prioritisation at all spheres (metro, provincial and national). The research gathers that UPA governance could be enhanced through institutional policy improvements that emphasise wider stakeholder participation through collaborative policy networks. The researcher argues that there is a strong need for state sanctioned interventions that initially focus on developing strategic institutional policy networks as a development foundation for comprehensive, accelerated, equitable and sustainable UFS interventions rather than just agricultural production. This calls for the engagement of multiple stakeholders from social, economic and environmental vii development sectors (including agriculture, food security, natural resources management, social development, political management, climate change, environment and health, etc.) as active UFS development partners in South Africa. This research emphasises collaborative policy networks as an appropriate form of UPA institutional/procedural policy arrangements to help ensure trust, transparency, participation, reciprocity and a good balance of vertical and horizontal power/governance structure (as also defined by Deleon and Varda, 2009:67-71). Here the researcher argues that institutional policy networks articulate very well with the desired objectives of achieving collaborative UPA governance, and that these objectives are key to efficient UPA substantive policy management for South Africa. As a justification for policy networks, the study found that UFS development as a multi-stakeholder and multi-sectoral public policy issue could benefit not only from the distributed intelligence presented as a benefit of policy networks, but also from the distributed human, social, physical, financial, and political capital/resources that can be accessed and utilised collaboratively to pursue overarching and specific substantive UFS policy goals at national, provincial and local levels. The study recommends the establishment of a national level UFS policy network that could be led by the Department of Agriculture, Forestry and Fisheries (DAFF) in partnership with the metros and other strategic state and non-state actors. The research recommends that a national UFS Secretariat be established at part of DAFF, to deal with national UFS policy issues (substantive and institutional) and to provide strategic programming and technical support to metros. The research also notes that developing efficient UFSs would require engaging numerous specialised skills and capacity sources that thus calls for the establishment of smaller specific substantive policy networks within the national UFS policy network. This could be led and constituted by specialist institutions with the required capacity and skills. Potential smaller specific substantive policy networks could include: agricultural production, trade, food/nutrition security and research; trade and marketing and research; environmental management and research; and spatial development and land-use planning and research. The research recommends that such policy networks be institutionalised at national, provincial and local/metro levels and that viii these policy networks are referred to as the Urban Food-security Systems – Community of Practice (UFS-COP). The research also notes that although there is a strong appreciation of the characteristic benefits of policy networks for managing multi-dimensional policy issues such as UFS, it must be noted however, that policy networks are not a panacea and that they do exhibit a hind-side of major challenges (for collaborative governance) that must be continuously addressed in search of efficient collaborative policy governance structures that emphasis the active engagement of multi-sectorial and multi-level policy management stakeholders for collective action.