NDLI: Household food security among Hadza hunter-gatherers in Mkalama district, Tanzania

Content Provider	Springer Nature : BioMed Central
Author	Safari, John Godfrey Nkua, Aron Joseph Masanyiwa, Zacharia Samwel
Abstract	Background Food insecurity is a widespread public health concern in many communities of sub-Saharan Africa. This study involved the Hadza hunter-gatherers of Tanzania, the only ethnic group in the country that has traditionally subsisted on hunting and gathering. In recent years, however, these communities have adopted mixed foraging economies. Information on how this change affects household food security is rather limited. The aim of this study was to assess the status of food security and the factors influencing household food security in the Hadza hunter-gatherer communities. Methods A cross-sectional study of 200 households was conducted in Mkalama district, Tanzania. Sampled householders represented individuals whose livelihood is mainly dependent on foraging (n = 129), beekeeping (n = 30) and farming (n = 41). Food security was measured by assessing food availability (Months of Adequate Food Provisioning (MAHFP)), food access (Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS)) and food utilization (Dietary Diversity Scores (DDS)). Results Mean MAHFP was lower (p = 0.000) in predominantly foraging households (8.4 ± 1.1) compared with those involved in beekeeping (8.7 ± 1.6) or farming (9.6 ± 1.9). Based on HFIAS indicator, the prevalence of food insecurity varied with the household’s main activity (83.0% foraging, 46.7% beekeeping and 26.8% farming). Further, regression analyses show that the farming households were more likely to be food secure than the foraging households (OR = 10.7, p = 0.01). Dietary diversity scores also varied significantly with household’s main activity. About 65% of households (86% foraging, 63.3% beekeeping and 2.4% farming) consumed diets below the critical value of ≤ 4 food groups 24 h prior to survey. Social demographic characteristics and livelihood options are strong predictors of household food security. Conclusion All indicators used to assess food security point to high level of food insecurity in households mainly subsisting on foraging compared with beekeeping and farming. The primary dependence on foraging is associated with a longer period of food shortage, high prevalence of food insecurity conditions and low consumption of food varieties. Livelihood diversification coupled with provision of agricultural support services is necessary for the development of a secure future of the Hadza communities.
Related Links	https://agricultureandfoodsecurity.biomedcentral.com/counter/pdf/10.1186/s40066-021-00293-x.pdf
Ending Page	12
Page Count	12
Starting Page	1
File Format	HTM / HTML
ISSN	20487010
DOI	10.1186/s40066-021-00293-x
Journal	Agriculture & Food Security
Issue Number	1
Volume Number	10
Language	English
Publisher	BioMed Central
Publisher Date	2021-07-12
Access Restriction	Open
Subject Keyword	Agriculture Biotechnology Plant Sciences Ecology Agricultural Economics Epidemiology Hadza Hunter-gatherers Food availability Food access Food utilization
Content Type	Text
Resource Type	Article
Subject	Agronomy and Crop Science Food Science Ecology

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1	Ministry of Education (GoI), Department of Higher Education	Sanctioning Authority	https://www.education.gov.in/ict-initiatives
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