Paper short abstract:

The Namibian government promotes the commercialization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) to combat poverty and increase food security. This paper examines how the !Xun and Khwe San harvesters' livelihoods are complemented by the trade of NTFPs integrated into regional and global value chains.

Paper long abstract:

The Namibian government has been promoting the commercialization of non-timber forest products (NTFPs) since the 1990s in an effort to combat poverty and increase food security by ensuring sustainable livelihoods. This paper examines the extent to which the vulnerable !Xun and Khwe San harvesters' rural livelihoods are complemented by the trade of indigenous foods and medicinal products, particularly those integrated into regional and global value chains. As a result, the working conditions, employment prospects, and upgrading opportunities of the globally traded Devil's Claw were compared to those of regionally traded products, such as Natal Oranges. A mixed-method approach was applied to collect data in Okongo Constituency and Bwabwata National Park. Findings revealed that NTFPs contribute to the harvesters’ income generation, but this is not enough to sustain their livelihoods. Contrary to popular belief, neither regional nor global value chain integration led to improved livelihoods for the two indigenous San communities.

Keywords: Indigenous plant products, global value chains; regional value chains; vulnerable communities; sustainable livelihoods; food security

Paper short abstract:

The paper maintains that in the pre-colonial period, communities in Kenya relied on diverse indigenous knowledge systems of food production and nutrition. The paper recommends that, if indigenous knowledge systems on food can be invigorated, it can help in achieving the elusive food security.

Paper long abstract:

Environmental and climate change impacts food security in most parts of the world especially Africa. In Kenya, for example, over 80 percent of the population relies on rainfed agriculture. This means that the effects of climate change, such as unpredictable rainfall patterns, temperature increases, and prolonged drought negatively impacts food security. Currently, Kenya is facing severe hunger due to prolonged drought conditions, especially in arid and semi-arid areas. This paper argues that the revitalisation of indigenous knowledge is vital in promoting food sovereignty and food security. Part of the primary data for this paper is drawn from Twitter, a digital space configured as the field site network that incorporates physical, virtual, and imagined spaces. Secondary sources of data are based on published reports and articles. The paper's contribution is in line with Sustainable Development Goal 2(SDGs), which seeks to achieve Zero Hunger, achieve food security, improved nutrition, and promotion of sustainable agriculture. It maintains that in the pre-colonial period, Kenyans relied on diverse indigenous knowledge systems of food production and nutrition. These indigenous knowledge systems have declined due to colonialism, modernity, and commodification of nature and food systems. The paper recommends that, if indigenous knowledge systems on food can be invigorated, it can help in achieving the elusive food security.

Keywords: Food security, climate change, indigenous knowledge, food sovereignty.

Paper short abstract:

This paper presents a study on the effects of the increasing commercialization of African indigenous vegetables in Kenya. We analyze commercialization’s effects of former subsistence crops grown by women on gender relations in labor and decision-making power and highlight women’s agency.

Paper long abstract:

This study investigates the increased commercialization of African indigenous vegetables (AIV)—former subsistence crops grown by women—from a feminist economics perspective. We analyze commercialization’s effects on gender relations in labor and decision-making power and also highlight women’s agency.

Analyzing household-level panel data and qualitative focus groups from Kenya, we observe an economic empowerment of women that we relate to women’s individual and collective strategies as well as their retention of control over AIV selling and profits. Yet AIV commercialization does not contribute to a redistribution of land rights or labor; instead, it increases women’s labor burden. The results indicate that more attention should be paid not only to which tasks are redistributed among men and women but also to those tasks’ inherent characteristics, including working conditions, their effects on health, and control over income and land use. To conclude, while we see the economic empowerment of women through commercialization—how they broaden their scope of action and are empowered by generating revenue—that process does not contribute to a redistribution of labor or land rights, which are key for gender equality. In contrast, women’s labor burden has increased. Moreover, with the commodification of subsistence work and previously subsistence crops as common goods, social practices (selling instead of gifting or sharing, for example) may be entirely replaced by market-based forms of interaction.

Paper short abstract:

This paper explores strategies adopted by urbanites to cope with food insecurity amidst high urban poverty in Epworth, Harare. These strategies include dependence on rural-urban linkages for food remittances, urban farming, working on farms and reliance on the informal sector food value chain.

Paper long abstract:

For the past two decades, Zimbabwe has been experiencing food crises. The crisis is primarily a result of an economic downturn, underlain by persistent political disagreements in the country. Furthermore, low food production from an under-capacitated farming sector, combined with high inflation, foreign currency shortages and inadequate national food stocks have increased food prices and aggravated the plight of consumers. In rural areas, high levels of poverty continue to trigger migrations to urban areas. Most migrants to the city are, however, met with acute deprivation, especially in peri-urban areas where the majority of the migrants initially settle. How then, do poor urbanites feed themselves amidst high urban poverty levels? To answer this question, this study uses data collected from different surveys in Epworth, a peri-urban area outside Harare, Zimbabwe to explore major strategies adopted by urban households to cope with food insecurity. These strategies include dependence on rural food (and monetary) remittances as well as utilizing employment opportunities available in surrounding farming lands. Other urban households use their rural farming experiences to grow food in the city. In addition to these strategies, most urban poor access food from the informal sector whose value chain is integral to giving food access to a significant proportion of the urban poor. Combined, these strategies play an important role in increasing household food security and creating more resilient peri-urban food systems.

Paper short abstract:

Nucleus-outgrower schemes (NOSs) are supposed to be effective private-sector mechanism to support smallholder farmers and contribute towards mitigating the problematic aspects of pure large-scale agricultural investment. We anlayse some agro-ecological and socio-economic impacts of NOSs in Zambia.

Paper long abstract:

Nucleus-outgrower schemes (NOSs) are supposed to be a particularly effective private-sector mechanism to support smallholder farmers and contribute towards mitigating the problematic aspects of pure large-scale agricultural investments. The study uses panel household survey data collected in two rounds in Zambia to analyse some agro-ecological and socio-economic impacts of the outgrower programme of one of the largest agricultural investments in Zambia: Amatheon Agri Zambia (AAZ) Limited. Our empirical results suggest the following key findings. First, although the overall impact of the AAZ outgrower programme on the uptake of conservation agriculture practices is robust and promising, impacts on the adoption of other agricultural technologies is less obvious and the effect depends on the type of support provided. Second, the initially less productive farmers seem to benefit slightly more than already better performing ones. Third, although the impact on overall household food security was insignificant, there is some suggestive evidence that the programme has a positive effect on improving women’s uptake of micronutrients. Overall, the results suggest that NOSs, with all their risks, can play a role in the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices, improving farm-level agricultural technologies, providing input credit, and thereby improving productivity and smallholder food and nutrition security. However, this is not automatically the case, as it crucially depends on the design and management of the project; the availability of good policies and institutions governing the rules of operation; the types of crops promoted; the duration of the project; and the political commitment of host countries, among others.

Paper short abstract:

Reimagining the greater Muizenberg community kitchen as a case study to debate discussion on food security which highlights the role of new development pathways to use food as a connector to different diversities of rural-urban people in the regional food systems through innovative solutions.

Paper long abstract:

There is much research that has contributed to an improved understanding of the future of food security, especially during the COVID-19 pandemic. A new pathway was developed by using a local community kitchen in Muizenberg in western cape province region, cape town, South Africa as a case study to map out the future of food security in times of crisis.

This kitchen aims to provide nutritious, affordable, plant-based meals to our community. it is also place of diverse learning, sharing, empowering the volunteers and growth to support the local economy and future resilience by sustaining our community kitchen for the community.

This document contains an overview of the story of the community kitchen on how we create self-sustainability as a new pathway development to sustain the community and reduce Zero hunger in the regional food system. This paper describes the key elements of how we respond to covid-19 pandemic by sharing food parcels and creating 13 soup kitchens across the community to tackle the immediate response to covid-19 pandemic and agricultural systems by growing home food gardening in different homes, also having a consciousness Dry goods store to reduce Zero waste and a local currency as an innovation to reduce food crisis.

Insights gained from our article and outreach and their value in how we create adaptation, transformation and sustainability as a new development pathway to solve any future problem crisis in the food security system in our society.

Paper short abstract:

This study analyzes the relationship between food-sharing behavior and residents' values in urban Senegal, and to clarify the motivations behind eating together with non-household members. Food-sharing also plays a role in strengthening social cohesion through the sharing meals.

Paper long abstract:

In urban Senegal, many households practice food-sharing with people outside the family, as part of food consumption behavior. Traditionally, food-sharing has been common in rural areas of Africa. However, even though it is practiced by many residents in urban areas, the motivations behind this practice are not known. The purpose of this study is to analyze the food-sharing behavior of residents in urban Senegal, where the population is currently rapidly expanding, and to clarify the psychological factors that motivate people to engage in food-sharing.

In this study, we conducted a dietary and value survey of urban households in Saint-Louis, a local city in Senegal. First, we collected data of food-sharing behaviors among diverse urban residents based on their actual dietary records. At the same time, we investigated household members’ values based on Schwartz's theory of values. The survey results revealed that many female-headed households and households with elderly members showed a tendency to participate in food-sharing. Furthermore, the background of the food-sharing behavior was influenced by values that emphasize the importance of being socially correct and a preference for a challenge and taking risks in life. These values may be a factor in encouraging food-sharing behavior. It is assumed that the food-sharing behavior of urban residents plays a significant role in improving food security for people who do not have sufficient access to food and nutrients in African cities, where being urbanized.

Paper short abstract:

This paper examines how urban food gardens attempt to counter the neoliberal food system in Cape Town through a qualitative approach. The findings demonstrate the conscious efforts of urban food gardens to promote food justice through the conscientization of local communities on food rights.

Paper long abstract:

The literature on urban agriculture argues that urban food gardens have the potential to promote food justice through the provision of alternative food and food decommodification. Nonetheless, most of such studies have focused on global-North cities with little literature on other regions like Africa where food insecurity is rife. This paper examines how urban food gardens attempt to counter the neoliberal food system in Cape Town through a qualitative approach. The findings demonstrate the conscious efforts of urban food gardens to promote food justice through the decommodification of vegetables, improved access to healthy vegetables, and the conscientization of local communities on food rights. Nevertheless, the impact of such efforts remains curtailed because of the unsustainability of community gardens and the limited coordination of activities. The paper argues that more coordination is required to create an effective movement that could have a more impactful and sustained role within these distressed communities