Prevalence of household food insecurity in wetland adjacent areas of Uganda
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Date
2017
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Agriculture & food security
Abstract
Food insecurity is a critical problem affecting about 6.3% of the households in Uganda, with about
21% of the remaining households on the brink of becoming food insecure due to poverty, inequality and droughtrelated
extreme weather events. Until recently, studies have shown that the semi-arid areas of Uganda experience
food insecurity more than other parts of the country. Although wetlands significantly contribute to food security, over
80% of the households inhabiting wetland adjacent areas in Uganda are perceived to be food insecure. The purpose
of this study was therefore to determine the prevalence of food insecurity in the wetland adjacent areas of Uganda
and the socio-economic and demographic factors that influence household food insecurity in these areas.
Methods: A cross-sectional survey of 520 households was conducted in areas adjacent to wetlands in Uganda. Oneway
analysis of variance and Chi-square test of independence were conducted to determine the association between
the socio-economic and demographic characteristics of households and household food security status.
Results: The study revealed that about 93% of the households in the wetland areas of Uganda were food insecure.
Household food insecurity in these areas was significantly associated with the wetland systems, living in a permanent
house, group membership and off-farm employment of the household head. Households with fewer adult members
were significantly food secure compared with those with more adults. In addition, households headed by educated
people were significantly food secure compared with those headed by less educated people.
Conclusions: Households in the wetland areas in Uganda are generally food insecure, the primary reasons being
poverty, low labour productivity (and/or unemployment), and low levels of education. Unless government and civil
society promote food and nutrition education, income generating activities, drought resistant crop varieties and
water conservation to farmers, food insecurity in wetland areas in Uganda could further drive wetland degradation,
malnutrition and public health challenges.
Description
Keywords
Household, Food security, Food insecurity, Wetland areas, Uganda
Citation
Yikii, F., Turyahabwe, N., & Bashaasha, B. (2017). Prevalence of household food insecurity in wetland adjacent areas of Uganda. Agriculture & food security, 6(1), 1-12. DOI 10.1186/s40066-017-0147-z