Effect of market participation on the food and nutrition security status of the rural smallholder farmers: the case of Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces, South Africa.

Introduction: Hunger and malnutrition remain serious issues in developing countries, particularly in rural regions. Increased market participation of smallholder farmers can result in improved livelihood and nutrition outcomes. However, smallholder farmers encounter several obstacles that hinder their ability to participate in the market.

The Association of Socio-Economic Factors and Indigenous Crops on the Food Security Status of Farming Households in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Indigenous crops have been proposed as part of a solution for household food security and sustainable farming systems. However, they have been overlooked and underutilised by households and farmers despite their potential contribution to household food security. The objective of this paper was to determine the association of socio-economic factors and indigenous crops with the household food security of farming households.

The impact of credit accessibility and information communication technology on the income of small-scale sugarcane farmers in Ndwedwe Local Municipality, KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Introduction: Access to credit and information and communication technology (ICT) plays a pivotal role in enhancing the practices of small-scale sugarcane farmers, impacting their financial, social, and economic wellbeing. However, many small-scale farmers need help accessing these resources, thereby affecting their ability to generate sustainable income. This study aimed to assess the factors influencing the adoption of ICT and access to credit and their subsequent impact on small-scale farmers' income.

'Is there value for us in agriculture?' A case study of youth participation in agricultural value chains in KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.

Developing countries in Africa face an unemployment crisis, with many unemployed youth. Agriculture has been identified as a strategic sector for employment creation targeted at youth, including those who may not have agriculture-related qualifications. However, various challenges limit the effectiveness of youth participation in the agriculture value chain.

Relationship between Village Chicken Availability and Dietary Diversity along a Rural-Urban Gradient.

Dietary diversity is one of the fundamental factors of nutritional security and a proxy used to measure diet quality. The objective of this study was to investigate the relationship between village chicken availability and the dietary diversity of households along a rural-urban gradient. Face-to-face interviews were conducted using a structured questionnaire in rural ( = 100), peri-urban ( = 100), and urban ( = 100) areas of Pietermaritzburg uMgungundlovu District, KwaZulu-Natal, in South Africa.

Lactating mothers' perceptions and sensory acceptability of a provitamin A carotenoid-iron-rich composite dish prepared from iron-biofortified common bean and orange-fleshed sweet potato in rural western Uganda.

Uganda's lactating mothers are vulnerable to deficiencies of vitamin A and iron because they consume plant-based conventional foods such as white-fleshed sweet potato (WFSP) and non-iron biofortified common bean (NIBCB) that are low in provitamin A (PVA) and iron, respectively. A PVA carotenoid-iron-rich dish was prepared from a combination of orange-fleshed sweet potato (OFSP) and iron-biofortified common bean (IBCB). This study evaluated the perceptions and sensory acceptability of OFSP+IBCB (test food) against WFSP+NIBCB (control food) among lactating mothers in rural Uganda.

The Role of Traditional Leafy Vegetables on Household Food Security in Umdoni Municipality of the KwaZulu Natal Province, South Africa.

This study assessed the effect of traditional leafy vegetables (TLVs) on the level of food security in the rural area of Dlangezwa, in the KwaZulu-Natal province of South Africa. A total of 100 respondents were selected using a simple random sampling method. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure the food security status.

Factors Influencing the Uptake of Agroforestry Practices among Rural Households: Empirical Evidence from the KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa.

Agroforestry is recognized as a significant element in climate-smart agriculture due to its high potential for addressing food insecurity, climate change challenges, and ecosystem management. However, despite the potential benefits of agroforestry practices, the adoption by rural households in Sub-Saharan Africa is low. Adopting agroforestry practices requires understanding rural households' socio-economic and socio-psychological factors.

Contribution of Village Chickens in Sustainable and Healthy Food Systems for Children along a Rural-Urban Gradient: A Systematic Review.

Achieving sustainable and healthy food systems in support of human and planetary health is a global challenge. We systematically reviewed papers ( = 2322) showing how village chicken products (meat, eggs, and offal) contribute to sustainable and healthy food systems for children along a rural-urban gradient. A total of 72 articles, representing all different sections covered in this review, were finally included.

Effect of Preharvest Ethephon Application on Selected Biochemical Components and Polyphenol Oxidase Activity in Macadamia Nuts.

Ethephon is a plant growth regulator that triggers diverse responses in plants, such as fruit ripening, leaf senescence, hull senescence, stem elongation, and nut abscission. This study examined how the preharvest application of ethephon 480 SL® affects selected biochemical components and polyphenol oxidase (PPO) activity in two macadamia nut cultivars: '788' and 'Beaumont'. Ethephon was applied to the trees via a Cima mist blower at rates of 13.

Impact of Preharvest Ethephon Foliar Spray on the Postharvest Fatty Acid Profile and Dietary Indicators of Macadamia Nuts.

The use of ethephon, designed to stimulate nut detachment, initiates the release of ethylene, a well-established regulator of postharvest shelf-life in various agricultural products. This study aimed to assess the impact of ethephon application on individual fatty acids and dietary indicators in two macadamia nut cultivars, namely '788' and 'Beaumont,' during postharvest storage. Nuts that naturally abscised and those detached through ethephon treatment were divided into two groups: the ethylene-treated group (ED) and the control group (CD).

The determinants of crop productivity and its effect on food and nutrition security in rural communities of South Africa.

Introduction: High crop productivity has the potential to improve the food and nutrition security status of not only smallholder farmers but also households in general. However, smallholder farmers operate in a dynamic environment whereby their crop production is affected by various factors that hinder it from lessening food insecurity and malnutrition in rural areas. The study investigated the determinants of crop productivity and its effect on household food and nutrition security status in South Africa.

Policy gaps and food systems optimization: a review of agriculture, environment, and health policies in South Africa.

South Africa faces the triple burden of malnutrition, high poverty levels, unemployment, and inequality. "Wicked problems" such as these require innovative and transdisciplinary responses, multi-stakeholder coordination and collaboration, managing complex synergies and trade-offs, and achieving sustainable outcomes. Through qualitative content analysis of national and provincial sector-based policies, we explored the interlinkages between the agriculture, environment, and health sectors in South Africa in the context of sustainable food and nutrition security and the extent to which these interlinkages are integrated into policy and planning.

The Role of Smallholder Farming on Rural Household Dietary Diversity.

The importance of smallholder farming is increasingly recognized in rural areas where increased crop productivity and market participation can effectively improve their dietary diversity and nutrition quality. However, rural households are still faced with severe food insecurity and malnutrition. The study sought to assess the role of smallholder farming in crop productivity and market access on rural household dietary diversity.

Contribution of Fruits and Vegetables to the Household Food Security Situation of Rural Households in Limpopo.

Food insecurity continues to be a burden for many South Africans. The production and consumption of fruits and vegetables have a potential role in improving household food security and are considered one of the critical pathways for reducing food insecurity and malnutrition levels in the country. This paper set out to determine the effect of fruits and vegetables on the food security status of rural households in the Limpopo province.

An Analysis of the Prevalence and Factors Influencing Food Insecurity among University Students Participating in Alcohol Consumption in KwaZulu-Natal Province.

Food insecurity among the student population is a prominent issue in South African university institutions. However, personal experiences and the myriad of underlying factors contributing to the issue remain poorly documented. Among other factors, these universities are characterized by the admission of a majority of their student population from poor backgrounds with limited financial capabilities, and this affects their food security status.

The Contribution of Trees and Green Spaces to Household Food Security in eThekwini Metro, KwaZulu-Natal.

One of the most significant issues faced by many low- and middle-income nations, including South Africa, is ensuring access to healthy, affordable, and sustainable food. South Africa is renowned worldwide for its rich biodiversity and a vast body of traditional knowledge among those who consume forest foods. However, despite ecological diversity, frequent barriers remain to getting diversified household diets.

Effect of Consumers' Acceptance of Indigenous Leafy Vegetables and Their Contribution to Household Food Security.

In the past decades, indigenous leafy vegetables (ILVs) have played a significant role in household food security, especially in poor rural households. However, ILVs have been replaced by exotic cash crops in the contemporary world. This study was conducted to assess the consumption of indigenous leafy vegetables and their contribution to household food security of households in Limpopo and Mpumalanga provinces.

The Determinants of Adoption and Intensity of Climate-Smart Agricultural Practices among Smallholder Maize Farmers.

Smallholder farmers' maize production is highly susceptible to climate change. Higher temperatures may result in reduced yields while encouraging weed, pest, and disease infestation. The impacts of climate change on agriculture are projected to be negative, threatening global food security; therefore, this is an important area of empirical research.

Impact of Market Participation of Indigenous Crops on Household Food Security of Smallholder Farmers of South Africa.

Market participation by smallholder indigenous crop farmers holds significant potential for the alleviation of food insecurity and poverty amongst rural households. Smallholder farmers generally play a vital role in the production and marketing of indigenous crops in South Africa. However, smallholder farmers continue to remain among the food-insecure populations.

The complex challenge of governing food systems: The case of South African food policy.

International experience reveals that food policy development often occurs in silos and offers few tangible mechanisms to address the interlinked, systemic issues underpinning food and nutrition insecurity. This paper investigated what South African government policies cover in terms of different aspects of the food system, who is responsible for them, and how coordinated they are. Policy objectives were categorized into seven policy domains relevant to food systems: agriculture, environment, social protection, health, land, education, economic development, and rural development.

The Determinants of Market Participation and Its Effect on Food Security of the Rural Smallholder Farmers in Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces, South Africa.

Addressing the disproportionate burden of food insecurity in South Africa requires targeted efforts to help smallholder farmers to access markets. The purpose of this study was to assess determinants of market participation and its contribution to household food security. The secondary data used in this study were collected from 1520 respondents; however, 389 smallholder farmers participated in the market.

The Dynamics of Youth Employment and Empowerment in Agriculture and Rural Development in South Africa: A Scoping Review.

Over the years, South Africa has made significant investments aimed at transforming the agricultural sector to deliver on rural economic development and job creation. These investments have had varying levels of success; still, what is worrying is the high youth unemployment rate which is amongst the highest globally. We conducted a scoping review using the PRISMA-P guidelines to identify the challenges youth face in accessing sustainable employment in the agriculture sector.

Factors Influencing the Extent of the Commercialization of Indigenous Crops Among Smallholder Farmers in the Limpopo and Mpumalanga Provinces of South Africa.

Smallholder farmers encounter countless challenges that not only restrict them from maximizing market opportunities but also limit their access to the markets. This paper aims to achieve a thorough understanding of the factors that influence the market participation of indigenous crops by smallholder farmers while also analyzing the extent of market participation in South Africa. An analyzable sample size of 1,520 was used for the study.