Shelembe Nomfundo, Hlatshwayo Simphiwe Innocentia, Modi Albert, Mabhaudhi Tafadzwanashe, Ngidi Mjabuliseni Simon Cloapas
Centre for Transformative Agricultural and Food Systems, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa.
African Centre for Food Security, School of Agricultural, Earth and Environmental Sciences, College of Agriculture, Engineering and Science, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Private Bag X01, Scottsville, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa.
Agriculture (Basel). 2024 Mar 4;14(3):415. doi: 10.3390/agriculture14030415.
Indigenous crops have been proposed as part of a solution for household food security and sustainable farming systems. However, they have been overlooked and underutilised by households and farmers despite their potential contribution to household food security. The objective of this paper was to determine the association of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with the household food security of farming households. About 260 farming households were selected using a simple random sampling procedure. The food security status was measured through the use of the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). The Chi-square test and extended ordered probit regression model assessed the relationship of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with household food security status. The results from the HFIAS showed that farming households were largely in the mildly and moderately food-insecure categories, with 34.2% and 36.2% of the sampled farmers found in these categories, respectively. The Chi-square test showed a statistically significant relationship between food security status and socio-economic factors. Young men and everyone were perceived to be the ones likely to consume indigenous crops. Consumption of indigenous crops was perceived to be associated with food security. The results also showed that farming experience is likely to positively contribute to the food security status of the farming households. Selling indigenous crops in a formal market is perceived to be associated with food security compared to selling in an informal market. This study concludes that consuming indigenous crops is likely associated with improved food security. Identifying an appropriate market for sales of indigenous crops is imperative. Government, extension officers, and nutritionists must conduct training workshops to encourage households to grow, market and buy indigenous crops. Government and policymakers need to include indigenous crops in the national food and nutrition security policy and create formal markets for indigenous crops.
本土作物已被提议作为解决家庭粮食安全和可持续农业系统的一部分方案。然而，尽管它们对家庭粮食安全有潜在贡献，但一直被家庭和农民忽视且未得到充分利用。本文的目的是确定社会经济因素和本土作物与农户家庭粮食安全之间的关联。通过简单随机抽样程序选取了约260户农户。粮食安全状况通过家庭粮食不安全获取量表（HFIAS）来衡量。卡方检验和扩展有序概率回归模型评估了社会经济因素和本土作物与家庭粮食安全状况之间的关系。HFIAS的结果显示，农户大多处于轻度和中度粮食不安全类别，分别有34.2%和36.2%的抽样农户属于这些类别。卡方检验表明粮食安全状况与社会经济因素之间存在统计学上的显著关系。年轻男性和所有人都被认为是可能食用本土作物的群体。食用本土作物被认为与粮食安全有关。结果还表明，务农经验可能对农户的粮食安全状况有积极贡献。与在非正式市场销售相比，在正规市场销售本土作物被认为与粮食安全有关。本研究得出结论，食用本土作物可能与改善粮食安全有关。为本土作物确定合适的销售市场至关重要。政府、推广人员和营养学家必须举办培训讲习班，鼓励家庭种植、销售和购买本土作物。政府和政策制定者需要将本土作物纳入国家粮食和营养安全政策，并为本土作物创建正规市场。
