Exploring household food security in the Vaalharts area

Master of Consumer Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2015Food security is essential amongst households as it enables consumers to live a healthy and productive life. Determining factors for households to be classified as food secure is the availability, accessibility and utilisation of food in a sustainable manner as food availability and accessibility alone are not enough for households to be food secure. The food utilisation aspect of food security, which includes the type of food consumed, food knowledge and food handling practices, should therefore also be considered as it determines the quantity, quality and safety of food. High percentages of the population in the Northern Cape province of South Africa has inadequate access to food, is unemployed, poorly educated, and living below the poverty line. All these aspects contribute to food insecure households. A specific community within the Northern Cape was chosen to do research regarding households‟ food security status, namely the employees of the Vaalharts Irrigation Scheme (VIS). The VIS was approached as consumers at the Vaalharts region indicated a need to improve their awareness regarding hygiene and the consumption of adequate and a variety of food. Objective: The aim of the study was to explore employees of the VIS‟ food security status. The focus of the study was therefore on consumers who earn a stable income. As food access and utilisation are fundamental aspects in determining household food security, self-production activities, food knowledge, and consumption were investigated. Methodology: A quantitative method was used to explore the study population‟s food security status with the use of a purposive sample and interviewer-administered questionnaires (n=162). The study was conducted at the premises of VIS over a period of three weeks. Data analysis was performed by Statistical Consultation Services of the North-West University using the Statistical Program for Social Sciences. Results: Nearly one third (29.6%) of respondents‟ households were classified as food secure while almost half (48.8%) of households were at risk of being food insecure and 21.6% were food insecure. Only a few respondents were engaged in self-production activities with limited space being the main problem. Good basic food knowledge was identified amongst respondents and food secure respondents had better food knowledge than food insecure respondents. Food insecure respondents mainly consumed monotonous diets consisting of maize meal, chicken and milk. There was a tendency that at risk respondents consumed a larger variety of food high in protein which is also more expensive. Overall food secure respondents consumed a larger variety of food groups. There was an additional problem identified. Respondents at risk as well as food insecure respondents either do not use their income effectively or do not use resources bought, such as food optimally. Conclusions: Although all of the respondents were employed, and earned an income, only a small percentage were food secure. According to the findings, basic food knowledge, food consumption practices and income have an influence on respondents‟ food security status. These aspects which had an influence on respondents‟ food security status should be addressed especially amongst at risk and food insecure respondents through food related healthcare information. Food related healthcare information should be made available to the community via several sources (schools, clinics, churches) to improve consumers‟ awareness regarding aspects which negatively influence their food security status as well as how to improve it.Master