Vulnerability to and coping strategies against food insecurity in Chamwino district, Tanzania
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Date
2018
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Abstract
Vulnerability to food insecurity persists in Chamwino District in spite
of presence of various strategies to fight against it. The research on which
this paper is based aimed at determining vulnerability to and coping
strategies against food insecurity in the district. Specifically, the paper
assesses the extent of vulnerability to food insecurity, determines coping
strategies against vulnerability to food insecurity, analyses determinants
of vulnerability to food insecurity and compares vulnerability to food
insecurity among households with different coping strategies. A cross-
sectional research design was used to collect data from 400 households
which were randomly selected. A household food insecurity access scale
was used to measure vulnerability to food insecurity. Using multiple
linear regression total annual household income per adult equivalent,
non-farm income generating activities, reducing meal size and food
stored significantly influenced (p < 0.05) surveyed households’ vulner-
ability to food insecurity. Most households relied on less preferred foods
as a food insecurity coping strategy. Households were vulnerable to food
insecurity with 75% of households experiencing mildly to severe vulnerability to food insecurity. One-way ANOVA showed that vulnerability to
food insecurity differed significantly (p < 0.001) among households with
different coping strategies. The paper concludes that coping strategies
used against vulnerability to food insecurity had short-term effects, and
vulnerability to food insecurity differed significantly based on coping
strategies. Improving non-farm income generating activities, total house-
hold income and increasing food stored in the household can help more
reduce vulnerability to food insecurity than any other factors can do. Ac-
cordingly, these factors should be given high importance, among others.
Description
Book Chapter
Keywords
Food insecurity, Tanzania, Vulnerability, Coping strategies, Chamwino