Thesis(M.Sc. Agricultural Management (Horticulture)) -- University of Limpopo, 2021 / Amaranthus species, with their adaptability to grow under various agro-ecologies and soil types, have gained considerable attention in food security due to their high nutritional content. However, various Amaranthus species are host to the root-knot (Meloidogyne species) nematodes, with limited information on how the pest could affect the nutritional composition of the crop. In other crops, infestation with Meloidogyne species have deleterious effects on accumulation of certain essential mineral nutrient elements. However, the influence of Meloidogyne species on essential mineral nutrient elements had not been documented on Amaranthus. The objectives of the study, therefore, were to determine the influence of infestation by Meloidogyne species on growth and accumulation of selected malnutrition elements in four exotic Amaranthus relative to the local cultivar under both greenhouse and field conditions. In the greenhouse study, hardened-off seedlings were transplanted into 20-cm diameter plastic pots containing a steam-pasteurised growing mixture. The 5 × 2 factorial experiments were arranged in a randomised complete block design, with five replications. The first and second factors were five Amaranthus cultivars and two Meloidogyne species, namely, M. incognita and M. javanica. At 60 days after inoculation, plant growth and nematode variables were assessed using standard procedures. Roots of all five Amaranthus cultivars were heavily galled, with limited cultivar × nematode interactions on plant variables. Additionally, the common factor that influenced either plant or nutrient element variables was the cultivar type, whereas those of nematodes were highly variable, particularly on nutrient elements. Three best performing cultivars were further tested under field conditions under nematode infested and untreated control plots. An exotic cv. ′Tanzania′ had higher dry shoot mass, plant height and stem diameter, and accumulated higher Ca and K content than ′Candatus′ and ′Local 33′. Overall, the cultivar × nematode interaction reduced Na content in leaf tissues of Amaranthus cultivars under field conditions. / University of Venda, University of Limpopo and Agricultural Research Council

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The aim of this study was establish operational systems and viable size of community poultry projects versus number of beneficiaries to determine the capacity to sustain itself and serve its purpose as food security projects. Community poultry projects are expected to serve their purpose of securing food to beneficiaries and continue to run sustainably for longer time. The current study uses qualitative method to assess the performance of community poultry projects. The study used questionnaire to collect primary data by interviewing the accessible beneficiaries of existing poultry community. The results of the survey revealed that the majority of community poultry projects are not viable to fulfil purpose of their establishment which is to secure food for beneficiaries and to be self-sustainable. However, the average value of reward was equivalent to R3 a day from both broiler and layer projects. The study further revealed that the reward was paid once a year. The rewards in terms of product were expected to be consumed by household and transferred into cash to buy other types of food required. The food is mainly determined by the size of the household. However the question remains, R3 a day is sufficient to buy food for a family for four members. Based on the outcome of this study, researcher encourages further research into to all agricultural related community food security projects. Research studies may determine if these projects are really aimed at helping economic growth in rural communities or whether they have capacity to secure basic food for beneficiaries while sustaining them self. Agreed minimum value of reward per beneficiaries must be established to ensure a future perfect match on size on all agricultural projects versus number of beneficiaries. / Thesis (MBA) North-West University, Mafikeng Campus, 2011

South Africa is food secure at the national level; however widespread food insecurity persists at the household level. To understand the dynamics of micro-level food insecurity this dissertation investigates how two different aspects of 'food access' - diet quality and diet quantity - affect two outcomes of 'food utilisation' - hunger and nutrition. Diet quantity is captured by food expenditure in Wave 1 of the National Income Dynamics Study (NIDS). To capture diet quality I use dietary diversity, which is not directly available in NIDS. I build and test a food group dietary diversity score and a food variety dietary diversity score using NIDS Wave 1. Both dietary diversity indicators are found to usefully summarise information about food security in South Africa by using methods found in the dietary diversity literature. The dissertation then turns to testing whether the theoretical differences between diet quality and quantity play out empirically in the case of nutrition (adult BMI) and hunger (self-reported household hunger). The results reveal that food variety and food quantity are complementary in explaining the chance of household hunger, with food quantity having a slightly more important effect. The pathways to BMI differ by gender. Dietary diversity and food expenditure are substitutes in the case of male BMI; however, food variety and food expenditure are complementary to explaining female BMI when food expenditure enters into the model as a quadratic. Overall, food variety proved to be a stronger and more significant correlate of both outcomes than the food group dietary diversity score.

Objective: Refugees experience food challenges upon resettling in their host country. However, there is currently limited Canadian literature that reviews food security among refugees who resettle in Canada. This thesis will assess the barriers and facilitators to food security that influence the dietary changes of refugees who resettle in Hamilton, Ontario, from the perspective of the service providers as well as the refugees. Methods: A qualitative method was applied. Nine individual semi-structured interviews were carried out with service providers in Hamilton. Twelve refugees participated in one of three focus group interviews conducted in the languages of Arabic, Somali, or Spanish. Interviews were transcribed. The data was coded using a qualitative analysis software, NVivo 10. A social ecological model was used to analyse how facilitators and barriers at various levels of influence affect food security among refugees. Levels of influence included: intrapersonal, interpersonal, organizational, community, and public policy. Findings: While several diet-related health concerns were mentioned by refugees, it is difficult to attribute these to diet-related causes since the psychological stress of resettlement was also cited as a causal factor of refugees. While both service providers and refugees agree upon certain facilitators and barriers to food security among refugees at each level of influence in the social ecological model, there were also differences between the two perspectives identified. Different issues were also identified between refugee claimants and government assisted refugees (GARs) who came from refugee camps. Conclusion: The complex relationship between various factors identified at different levels of the social ecological model demonstrate a need for a collaborative, multi-level intervention approach to optimize changes required to improve food security among refugees living in Hamilton. / Thesis / Master of Science (MSc)

The purpose of this study was to better understand the relationship between elements of patient-centered care and patient/provider comfort with conversing about food insecurity and related social determinants of health. A mixed methods study was conducted. Patients and healthcare providers were surveyed on their experiences with patient-centered care and comfort discussing food insecurity and related social concerns. Telephone interviews were conducted to gain a richer understanding of the concepts under investigation. In the survey and telephone interviews, both samples were also asked about changes in communication during COVID-19 times. Quantitative findings show that patient involvement in care and cultural sensitivity are two important patient-centered variables that positively impact patient comfort being screened for food insecurity. Qualitative findings support this inference, and also denote the importance of other patient-centered care elements, such as empathy, trust, and effective communication. For healthcare providers, process-oriented variables, such as having food insecurity screenings built into the patient history assessment and sufficient training administering screenings were important factors that facilitated comfort screening patients for food insecurity and related concerns. Both populations stated several changes in communication resulting from COVID-19. For example, both samples noted an increase in communication through various channels. However, this increased communication did not necessarily reflect an increase in quality of communication. Patients described quicker and less personal interactions with healthcare providers. Providers observed increased difficulty in conveying empathy and support through nonverbal cues because of wearing masks and communicating through computer screens. The findings of this study provide important implications for healthcare practitioners and community organizations that aim to increase screenings for food insecurity in outpatient medical settings and highlight additional challenges that may be faced resulting from COVID-19.

Objective: Inuit in Canada identify food security as an Inuit-specific determinant of health. Historical and contemporary policies shape determinants of health. These policies vary among the four Inuit regions or Land Claim Areas in Canada that comprise Inuit Nunangat. This thesis focuses on one specific Inuit population, Labrador Inuit, located in Nunatsiavut, Canada, which is the southernmost Inuit Territory. Recognizing the variation and distinctness of each Inuit region, I pose the question: What is the role of policy in food security in Nunatsiavut, Labrador? To answer this question, I completed three studies. Study one is an analysis of the historical changes experienced by Labrador Inuit in governance, nutrition, and food security policies from the 1500s to 2005. In 2005, Labrador Inuit formed the first Inuit self-government in Canada, the Nunatsiavut Government. This study provides an understanding of the historical influences on the current context of Nunatsiavut and the policies that pertain to food security of Labrador Inuit. Study two is a scoping review that identifies current policies that pertain to food security and are implemented in Nunatsiavut. Finally, study three looks towards the future. In this study, policy actors were interviewed on policies that pertain to food security to understand their perspectives on current policies, including the opportunities for and barriers to improving food security in Nunatsiavut. Methods: Article one is a historical-critical narrative analysis of governance, nutrition studies and interventions and policies that pertain to food security. It uses a critical dietetics lens to examine the extrinsic causes of nutrition and food security issues that resulted from colonization, and describes the interventions implemented to address them. Each document included in this analysis was assessed by the criteria for historical research that includes provenance, purpose, context, veracity, and usefulness. Also, this study employs process tracing using an adapted timeline from the Royal Commission on Aboriginal Peoples four stages of colonization. Article two is a scoping review that follows the Joanna Briggs scoping review methodology to identify current policies that pertain to food security in Nunatsiavut. Article three is a qualitative study of key informant interviews conducted from July 2020–December 2020 with policy actors that spanned the Nunatsiavut Government (regional Inuit government), Government of Newfoundland and Labrador (provincial government), the Government of Canada (federal government), non-governmental organizations and private industry. Participants were asked about their role, policy gaps, and opportunities for improving policies that pertain to food security of Labrador Inuit in Nunatsiavut. It also included initial insights from emergency food security measures implemented during the first wave of COVID-19 in 2020. The results were reported as per the consolidated criteria for reporting qualitative studies (COREQ): 32-item checklist. Each of these studies contained a process for member checking and validating results with key informants, subject matter experts and/or Nunatsiavut Government Advisory Group members. Results: Article one describes the changes in governance, nutrition and food security of Labrador Inuit. The results show that country foods were a major contributor to overall Inuit health and protected Labrador Inuit from the nutrient deficiencies experienced by the Newfoundland population. However, colonialism that included settlement impacted Labrador Inuit’s relationship with the land and access to country foods. Moreover, policies such as income support and residential schools negatively impacted the food security status of Labrador Inuit. However, in 2005, when Nunatsiavut became a self-government several policies and programs were in place to address the growing awareness of a lack of food security. In Article two, scoping review results identify policies that pertain to food security for Labrador Inuit in Nunatsiavut. Results from this study show that 25 policies, spanning three levels of government, implicitly or explicitly addressed at least one dimension of food security. Accessibility was the most frequent food security dimension identified and stability was the least food security dimension identified. The Government of Canada developed 60% of the identified policies and the Nunatsiavut Government implemented 48% of identified policies. In article three, 15 key informant interviews were completed, and three participants provided written responses. Seven participants (39%) stated they developed policy, six participants (33%) stated they both developed and implemented policy, and five participants (28%) stated they implemented policy. Seven themes were identified from discussions with policy actors. Policy recommendations to improve food security included improving transportation, social policies, and policy coherence in policy implementation. Five separate themes were identified from discussions on implementing emergency food security measures during the first wave of COVID-19 in Nunatsiavut. These included inadequacies of social policies, hidden poverty among people living in Nunatsiavut, and future considerations for post-COVID-19 food security policies. Conclusion: The article results within this thesis show that historical and current inequities contribute to the current lack of food security of Labrador Inuit in Nunatsiavut. These inequities have persisted over time. During COVID-19, these inequities were further highlighted, demonstrating the importance of urgent action. The results of key informant interviews show that improving food security in Nunatsiavut is a matter of health equity. Findings from this thesis can inform actions to improve existing and future policies that pertain to food security of Labrador Inuit in Nunatsiavut.

It has been well documented that women and children in The Gambia are particularly vulnerable to malnutrition. The combination of heavy labor demands on women and a weaning diet low in calories takes its toll on women and children during the pre-harvest lean season. In 1995, the Small-Scale Sesame Oil Production project introduced an inexpensive, manual technology for edible oil extraction, called the ram press, to women in The Gambia. The overall aim of the project was to improve household nutritional security through the adoption of the ram press by women sesame growers. A 13-month study was conducted to evaluate the success of the Small-Scale Sesame Oil Production project. The study involved 120 rural households: 40 households with access to motorized expeller technology (Expeller group) for sesame oil extraction, 37 households with access to manual ram press technology (Press group), and 43 households with access to both technologies (Combination group). Twenty-four hour recalls, food frequency data, anthropometric measurements, and production data were obtained at the baseline and at the post-harvest, peak sesame oil-pressing, and pre-harvest lean seasons. At the baseline, women in the Expeller group had higher mean intakes of kilocalories than those in the Press and Combination groups. After introduction of the ram press, the Press and Combination women reported consistently higher intakes of kilocalories than the Expeller women at all seasons, with the largest differences at the peak oil-pressing and pre-harvest lean seasons. At the baseline, the consumption of kilocalories for Expeller children was greater than that of the Combination and Press children. After introduction of the ram press, this trend was reversed and the intake of kilocalories for Combination and Press children was greater than that of Expeller children at all other seasons. The Expeller children exhibited a marked increase in weight-for-height z-scores at the peak oil-pressing season that decreased to near baseline levels thereafter. The Combination and Press children exhibited a steady increase in weight-for-height z-scores across seasons except for the pre-harvest lean season when their scores leveled off. These results indicate that women and children in households with access to ram press technology experience much less of a seasonal fluctuation in food consumption than those without ram press technology. Findings of this study also indicate that when women are given choices as to which technology is best for them, they will maximize their benefits from the available technologies. / Master of Science

Approaches to projects and development have undergone considerable change in the last decade with significant policy shifts on governance, gender, poverty eradication, and environmental issues. Most recently this has led to the adoption and promotion of the sustainable livelihood (SL) approach. The adoption of the SL approach presents challenges to development interventions including: the future of projects and programmes, and sector wide approaches (SWAPs) and direct budgetary support. This paper `A livelihoods-grounded audit of the Magu District Livelihoods and Food Security Project¿ is the ninth in the series of project working papers. / Department for International Development

Decreased food security is a major issue which influences numerous individuals in developing countries such as South Africa. Literature suggests that although detailed information is not available about the exact amount of food insecure households in South Africa, food insecurity does exist. Multiple factors influence decreased food security and households in informal settlements often portray high risks to decreased food security due to a lack of adequate resources to ensure sustainable food security. However, to the authors‟ knowledge limited information is available regarding the specific state of household food security in informal settlements in South Africa. Information regarding the influences various factors have on food security in an informal settlement is also limited. Therefore this study aimed to explore household food security in an informal settlement including the factors that could possibly contribute to food insecurity. According to literature, the pillars of food security consist of food availability, accessibility and utilisation and can contribute to a decrease in household food security or the enhancement thereof. In addition, socio-demographical factors such as income, household size and level of education can influence household food security. Based on this information, the pillars of food security and socio-demographical aspects of a household were used as possible factors that influence food security and were included as part of the theoretical framework. Utilisation as part of the food security pillars was closely explored to determine if the knowledge and suggested implementation thereof was effective and contributing to household food security. The influence of knowledge of basic food related aspects on food security were therefore determined in this, combined with the relationships between various socio-demographics and food security. Furthermore, through these findings recommendations were made on how food security can be enhanced in the households of the identified informal settlement. A quantitative research approach was used in this study. As part of non-probability sampling interviewer administered questionnaires were presented to 103 respondents at Nutrifeeds production and distribution facility in the Viljoenskroon area. Existing questionnaires and surveys relevant to this study subject were consulted to develop the questionnaire which explored demographics, food production and knowledge of food handling, utilisation, storage practices, and food security. All questionnaires were completed and the data was analysed by Statistical Consultation Services at the North-West University, Potchefstroom, using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicated that the majority of respondents possessed knowledge regarding food handling practices. Knowledge of food related aspects were indicated to be implemented accordingly, by most respondents with regard to food utilisation (preparation, hygiene and storage). It was determined that the more than two thirds of the respondents and their households were at risk of food insecurity or food insecure suggesting that a need exists for food insecurity to be addressed in this informal settlement. According to the results that were obtained in this study, food insecurity in the Viljoenskroon area, Rammulotsi informal settlement can be acknowledged. Additionally, the findings enabled the researcher to make recommendations to local businesses, clinics and local authorities regarding the enhancement of household food security in the area. The recommendations include the enhancement of knowledge regarding food related aspects, food production opportunities, food access and utilisation in the community as a means to improve the status of household food security in this informal settlement. / M Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2014