Browsing by Author "Nguya, Nuru Rashid"

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The household food security coping strategies among the poorest of the poor in Mvomero District, Tanzania
(Sokoine University of Agriculture., 2006) Nguya, Nuru Rashid
The key elements to determine food security include availability of enough food for active and healthy life, the access and stability of food supply. Many studies have been done on food security coping strategies. The studies say little (if any) about the poorest of the poor (POP). This implies many studies still report on poor people coping strategies towards food security with little information on the strategies for the poorest. This study determines the household food security coping strategies among the POP in Mvomero district. Specifically the study sought to define the POP, determine amount of food produced and establish household socio-economic status. Other objectives of the study included, identifying types of food storage and determining level of utilization of improved agricultural technology. The study adopted multi-stage s ampling technique. Before q uantitative s urvey the POP were identified by using Participatory Rural Appraisal methods. The sample size included 180 respondents. Data from these respondents were analyzed by using quantitative and qualitative methods, using Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS) and structural function analysis respectively. The study revealed that farming was the main economic activity. However, the activity is not efficiently carried on due to lack of improved agricultural technology and lack of capital for buying agro-chemicals such as fertilizers. Inadequate education was also found to be constraints that affect the life of the poorest. To cope with food shortage the study came out with 10 strategies including purchasing food on credit and borrowing food from neighbour. The study concluded, the poorest live in miserable conditions, which are attributed to the low level of agricultural technology and inadequate education. Therefore, Government should provide subsides for agro-chemicals to the poorest of the poor. Also the community members should pay attention to welfare of the poorest in the village by bringing them together with other social group in the development interventions