Assessing the contribution of household food production to food security and sovereignty at Nkomazi Local Municipality, Mpumalanga Province in South Africa
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Date
2024
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University of Zululand
Abstract
Nationally South Africa is assumed to be food secured, whilst many people at household level still face hunger and poverty daily. This has been exacerbated by population growth and food prices that continue to increase, household therefore need to find means to survive. Hence the study aims to assess how household food production may contribute to food security and sovereignty at Nkomazi local municipality. The study is providing a conceptual framework which has four theoretical underpinnings, post growth theory, Sens entitlement theory, relative culturalism, and sustainable livelihood theory. The study adopted mixed-method research approach namely convergent parallel research design approach to collect both qualitative and quantitative data. Complementary, two research designs were employed, namely phenomenology and a descriptive correlational design non-experimental design). The study sampled 383 respondents which are household and 7 informants from the local municipality and Department of Agriculture. The study examined the correlation between indigenous food production, food security and sovereignty and the results show that there is a relationship between the variables as the null hypothesis was rejected which means households who produce indigenous foods are found to be food secure and have sovereignty over the food they produce. Therefore, the study recommends the incorporation of indigenous and pioneering knowledge systems on food production practices to ensure further development. Whilst acknowledging the impact of globalization in the new worldview, the study also recommends further research on food sovereignty, which is intertwined with food rights and control as it evidently impacts food production. Finaly, what is novel about the study is that I propose a new combined food security and sovereignty model that clearly demonstrate the importance of household food production.
Description
A dissertation submitted to the Faculty of Humanities and Social Sciences in fulfilment of the requirements for the Degree of Doctor of Philosophy in Development Studies in the Department of Anthropology and Development Studies at the University of Zululand, South Africa [2024].