Household Food Security and Coping Strategies: Vulnerabilities and Capacities in Rural Communities

Type Journal Article - International Journal o f Scientific and Research Publications
Title Household Food Security and Coping Strategies: Vulnerabilities and Capacities in Rural Communities
Author(s)
Volume 4
Issue 9
Publication (Day/Month/Year) 2014
URL http://www.ijsrp.org/research-paper-0914/ijsrp-p3331.pdf
Abstract
Food security is significant issue for dev elopment programming given this is a basic need that impacts survival, growth and development of human being.. As 49% of the households in Nepal are food insecure (National Demographic and Health Survey: NDSH, 2011), it is very important to explore how hou seholds in the rural communities are coping with food insecurity situation and discuss about the way out. Disasters, climate change effects on production, exploitative economic systems, growing distraction of youth from agriculture are some significant iss ues that are likely to intensify the risks for food security in future. Food insecurity further puts households and communities vulnerable to disasters and weakens their capacity to restore to the normal life. The objective of the study is to assess (a) ho usehold food security situation in the rural communities and (b) various coping strategies being adopted with regards to their capacities and vulnerabilities to cope with food insecurity due to disasters or adversities. The researcher used the data from m ulti - sector baseline surveys of three areas and special study on coping strategies of one area, carried out by World Vision International - Nepal (WVIN) in 2013, which were led by the researcher himself. This paper reveals the household food security situat ion of those areas; existing practice of adaptive and non - adaptive coping strategies; and causes of the household food insecurity. The findings can be helpful to policy makers and actors in development to devise appropriate programming.

Related studies

»