Global Advanced Research Journal of Agricultural Science (GARJAS) ISSN: 2315-5094
November 2017 Vol. 6(11): pp. 387-402
Copyright © 2017 Global Advanced Research Journals

 

Full Length Research Paper

Assessment of Food and Nutrition Security/Insecurity in Sudan Using Frequency and Severity of the Coping Strategies

Samar Abdalla*, Eltighani Elamin and Abdelmoneim Taha

 

Agricultural Research Corporation (ARC)- Agricultural Economics and Policy Research Centre (AEPRC)-Shambat, Sudan

Email: samar.abdalla77@gmail.com

Accepted 17 April, 2017

 

Abstract

Sudan experienced food and nutrition insecurity problem with huge variation among its federal states. Often, Khartoum State with greater than eight million people is considered food and nutrition insecure. Therefore, the main goal of this paper is to measure and classify the food and nutrition security situation based on the frequency and severity of the coping strategies adopted by the households. Accordingly, stratified random sampling cluster technique was applied to collect the data from 320 households using general structured questionnaire and focus group discussion during 2015. The data analyzed using Coping Strategies Index (CSI) and descriptive statistics technique. The outcomes show 63.1% of the selected households have encountered food deficit due to many reasons. Alternatively, 77.8% of the households have adopted the coping strategies due to lack of money to buy food. Individuals in the selected localities give different severity levels to the coping strategies. The mean values of CSI in Bahari and Umbada localities are 42.61 and 38.82, respectively indicating the higher level of food and nutrition insecurity relative to Khartoum locality (34.56). Generally, 37.2% and 25.6% of the households are classified as less and moderate food and nutrition insecure, respectively. Whereas, 7.5%, 12% and 3.8% of the households in Bahari, Umbada and Khartoum localities are classified as severe food and nutrition insecure. Moreover, food and nutrition insecure/secure levels are statistically significant between the selected localities (χ²=16.59). The study recommends support access to food by using several policies that recuperate the food and nutrition insecurity. Eventually, monitoring and evaluating CSI is required during different times within the year.

Keywords:  food and nutrition, lack of money, coping strategies index (CSI), households, Khartoum State.

 

 

Download Full Text - PDF