Browsing by Author "Naidoo, Krishna Denver."

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Development of a framework for managing food security programme : an analysis of student food insecurity and the interventions at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa.
(2018) Sabi, Stella Chewe.; Kolanisi, Unathi.; Siwela, Muthulisi.; Naidoo, Krishna Denver.
Food insecurity is a critical challenge affecting many households in post-apartheid South Africa. The 2017 report by Statistics South Africa indicated that food poverty had increased by 2,8 million in headcount, from 11 million in 2011 to 13,8 million in 2015. The most vulnerable were low-income households. The literature indicates that, in response to high levels of food and nutrition insecurity among poor population groups that have persisted from the apartheid era, the post-Apartheid South African government has made great strides in addressing the problem. For example, the serious problem of food and nutrition insecurity among children of school-age is being addressed through the National School Nutritional Programme, which has resulted in the enhancement of the capacity of the children to learn actively and the reduction of learner absenteeism and dropping out of school. On the other hand, recent literature indicates that food insecurity is an emerging and alarming problem among students at Institutions of Higher Learning (IHLs) in South Africa. The problem affects particularly students from economically disadvantaged backgrounds. The University of KwaZulu-Natal (UKZN) is likely to be no exception to experiencing student food insecurity, given that nearly 50% of the students are from low-income households. The literature suggests that food insecurity and its impact on the health, well-being and academic performance is often underestimated in South African IHLs. This under-estimation seems to have resulted in the absence of a distinct government programme focussed on addressing food and nutrition insecurity among students at South African IHLs. In the current study, a preliminary review of the recent literature indicated that, due to failure or neglect by the government to address the problem and challenges of food and nutrition insecurity among students at South African IHLs, institutions like UKZN have resorted to developing and implementing a food security project and/or programme. The literature shows that UKZN has been running a Food Security Programme (FSP) since 2012 to address the problem of food and nutrition insecurity among the students. The form of assistance provided by the UKZN FSP includes meal vouchers and food hampers to students in need. Despite the implementation of the FSP at UKZN since 2012 as described above, pertinent data and information on student food security status are not available. While few studies have been conducted to analyse the food security status of students at South African IHLs (including UKZN), the studies were of limited in scope and in particular, the studies conducted at UKZN were not university-wide and therefore generated very limited data and information. In addition, it seems that no studies have been conducted to analyse: the perceptions of UKZN key stakeholders regarding student food insecurity; the awareness level of the key stakeholders (including students), regarding the existence of the FSP at their institution; and in examining the management of the FSP. The data and information that is lacking are essential, as they would guide decision-making with respect to policies and strategies aimed at developing and/or enhancing sustainable programmes and projects that address food insecurity among students at IHLs in South Africa. Thus, the objectives of this study were to: assess the prevalence of food insecurity among students; analyse the perceptions of UKZN key stakeholders (including students) regarding student food insecurity; assess the awareness level of the key stakeholders regarding the existence of the FSP at the institution; analyse the management of the FSP; and make recommendations, if necessary, for the improvement of programme management to achieve its objectives and impact on student academic potential. The study was conducted at UKZN’s five campuses, which are located in Durban, Pietermaritzburg and Pinetown in KwaZulu-Natal Province of South Africa. This empirical study used a mixed methods approach that lies in both the qualitative and quantitative paradigms. Quantitative data were collected through survey questionnaires that were delivered to the participants (N=500 students; N=100 academic staff). Qualitative data were collected through key informant face-to-face interviews and focus group discussions with various key stakeholders at UKZN. Data obtained from the surveys were analysed by IBM SPSS version 24 software, while most of the qualitative data were subjected to thematic content analysis. Results from the surveys suggest that food insecurity remains a serious challenge among university students. Some 53% of the students were vulnerable to the phenomenon, of whom 9% were highly vulnerable. The highest prevalence of food insecurity was in students relying on a financial aid scheme, undergraduates and males. It appears that students who suffer food insecurity will additionally experience psychological and emotional stress as a factor that can negatively affect their health, motivation and academic potential; some 67% of the students reported that hunger reduced their concentration and vigour such that, 28% of them had missed classes. Social stigma was linked to food insecurity as students preferred anonymity about their food insecurity status. Despite that the FSP had been implemented four years earlier, an overwhelming majority of the UKZN stakeholders among them 90% of the targeted beneficiaries, expressed ignorance regarding the existence of the programme at UKZN. In addition, 37% of the students showed reluctance to utilising or recommending the FSP to anyone. To evaluate the FSP at UKZN, a qualitative research using an explorative research design, generated data from key informants using face-to-face interviews. The study findings showed that as an institution, the UKZN lacked a sustainable blueprint for addressing the increasing prevalence of FI among students. The FSP currently run at UKZN was not formalised but introduced as a self-help initiative linked to a social responsibility of the University. ‘Ignorance’, and ‘denialism’ were the main identified descriptors for the lack of the programme prioritisation and mainstreaming, resulting in lack of resources including sustainable funding, personnel, and infrastructure. As perceived from the student views, social stigma was associated with negative attitude and beliefs about food aid. The study recommends that the FSP could overcome such negative connotations through programme awareness among the UKZN stakeholders. Further, managing of the FSP was compromised by lack of a monitoring and evaluation system in place, resulting in lack of publicity of the programme to the wider UKZN community. The study concludes by developing a framework as a toolkit for managing a FSP at an IHL like UKZN.
Evaluation of the microbial aspect of rural small-scale dairy farmers raw milk handling practices from production to utilisation.
(2019) Xulu, Nkosinathi Humphrey.; Naidoo, Krishna Denver.; Jamal-Ally, Sumaiya Faizal.
Milk is an essential source of nutrients for human beings and animals and can provide benefits socially and economically for poor households. Food security, nutrition, livelihoods, resilience and poverty alleviation for poor households are some of the benefits that can be derived from milk production. Although it is an expensive source of energy and the best source of high-quality protein and micronutrients that are essential for normal development and good health for children especially under the age of five. Rural milk producers can benefit from consuming and selling surplus milk to their rural communities at large. However, due to its high-water activity and nutritional value, it serves as an excellent medium for the growth of several kinds of microorganisms under inappropriate conditions which decreases its value and potential in the market. One aim was to analyse a microbial aspect of rural small-scale dairy farmer’s milk handling process from production to utilisation. Also, to optimise and develop an ongoing feedback strategy and workshops to rural small-scale dairy farmers and extension officers and disseminate project information to optimise their rural small-scale farming dairy hygiene management. This study was conducted to assess, isolate and characterise the total bacterial load of raw milk, especially common microorganisms that contaminate raw milk. In addition, assess various chemical adulterants in raw milk produced by rural small-scale dairy farmers; investigate whether the milk handling and practices of rural small-scale dairy farmers affected milk quality. Lastly, to examine the milk handling practices used by rural small-scale dairy farmers from production to consumption in Kwa-Hlabisa villages, KwaZulu-Natal, South Africa. A total of 53 rural small-scale dairy farmers were interviewed, but only 23 rural small-scale dairy farmers who still had lactating cattle were sampled for milk collection. Samples collected for laboratory analysis were 68 milk samples and 48 swabs samples respectively. The laboratory analysis included the assessment of bacterial load, isolation, and identification of bacteria, as well as the assessment of various chemical adulterants from the samples collected. Total plate count, biochemical identification tests and tests for raw milk adulteration samples were conducted. The bacteria in raw milk were also isolated and identified using standard methods. Results showed that the majority of rural small-scale dairy farmers were males, managing their cattle in unclean environments and pursuing extensive grazing systems in the communal pasture area. The mean aerobic mesophilic bacterial counts (AMBC) of raw milk samples analysed were 6.06 log cfu/ml (teats) and 6.91 log cfu/ml (milking container). According to South African standards of raw milk quality, the AMBC have values above the upper limits set. During this study, frequent bacteria isolated from raw milk samples taken from different critical points include Enterobacter aerogenes, Enterobacter gergoviae, Klebsiella oxytoca, Pseudomonas aeruginosa, Pseudomonas maltophilia, Pseudomonas mallei, Shigella dysentery, Shigella sonnei, Morganella morganii, Alkaligenes denitrificans, and Xanthomonas. Also, this study discovered adulterants like urea, hydrogen peroxide, alizarin, detergent, skimmed milk powder, sodium chloride, sugar, and glucose were detected in 34%, 32%, 29%, 29%, 15%, 12%, 6%, and 6% milk samples respectively. For formalin, starch and neutraliser adulteration, none of the milk samples was found positive. The study concluded that contamination resulted from incorrect handling practices, therefore, the optimisation of sanitary handling practices to reduce microbial contamination is crucial. An ongoing feedback strategy has been launched. Future work involves workshops with farmers to disseminate project information and improve hygiene management techniques. This will help increase rural and local producer market productivity and consumer confidence, reducing the need for imports. At the same time, this will increase nutritional needs for rural small-scale dairy farmers, villagers, and in turn, the industry will hopefully include these farmers as regular milk producers, thereby enhancing the sustainability of small-scale indigenous farmers.
Investigating the impact of the National Red Meat Development Programme in improving household food security and the perception of farmers on grass biodiversity in uMzimkhulu local municipality, KwaZulu-Natal.
(2022) Peacock, Sibongiseni.; Naidoo, Krishna Denver.; Dube, Sikhalazo.
The study aimed to investigate the role of the National Red Meat Development Programme on household food security and grass biodiversity in rural areas at uMzimkhulu. Self-administered questionnaires achieved this for all the 77 smallholder beef farmers under the St. Paul feedlot project between July and September 2021. Lived experiences of the farmers were identified, characterized, and presented into themes. This is a phenomenological study using a mixed research approach. Data analysis was conducted using the Household Food Insecurity Access scale (HFIAS) developed by the USAID to determine St. Paul feedlot beneficiaries' household food security status, and descriptive statistics were used to assess farmers' perception of grass biodiversity loss in the study area. The study findings reveal that the majority (80.50%) of the beneficiaries were food insecure while 19.50% were food secure. Food insecurity was mostly associated with farmers who were unable to sell their cattle or those whose cattle were not ready to be marketed when bureaucratic obstacles such as inadequately funding of the programme, lot of red tapes in policy implementation, Service Level Agreement (SLA) not signed on time and lack of integration of government departments supporting the programme. Farmers have indicated that feed challenges were the main constraints to the programme. The feedlot will spend most of the time without the feed, at some point there was not operational cash to purchase feed and treatment. Therefore, farmers lost opportunities to earn an income due to such challenges. Most of the farmers perceived that there was a grass biodiversity loss in the area. Chi-square results show a significant difference (p = 0.001) between gender and factors that threaten grass biodiversity. Most of the farmers report that climate change is a threat to biodiversity. The study indicates that farmers are aware of the grass biodiversity loss, and their perception is that livestock and rangeland burning is one of the main causes of this biodiversity loss. However, most of them indicated that they feel like they were not informed about biodiversity loss, but they can notice it. The programme to be effective in addressing food insecurity and grass biodiversity the SLAs must be signed on time and budget must be given a greater attention to prevent facilities to have shortages of feed and treatments. Efficient budgeting for the programme will allow it to be sustainable and be able reduce food insecurity and grass biodiversity loss. The marketing platform for the output in the programme need to be revisited because the classification system used in South Africa’s formal markets do not favour cattle from smallholder farmers. And there is a need of efficient capacity building for smallholder farmers for the management of cattle before it is sent to the feedlot and cattle breeds and age required. The government needs to intervene by reducing red tape in policy implementation and revise the tendering system used in procurement of agricultural products. Moreover, the programme needs to implement a policy that accepts younger animals in the custom feedlot. Keywords: biodiversity, communal area, food security, HFIAS, National Red Meat Development Programme
The role of rural youth in the smallholder farming sector: challenges and opportunities in Okhahlamba Local Municipality, South Africa.
(2018) Mukwedeya, Bright Takudzwa.; Naidoo, Krishna Denver.
Smallholder farming is seen as an important vehicle through which the goals of addressing poverty, food insecurity and unemployment can be achieved. However, factors such as adverse climatic conditions, shortage of labour and poor market access have affected agricultural production, threatening food security now and in the future. This calls for improvements in the smallholder farming sector in order to address these challenges. Integration of youth in smallholder farming is, therefore, an important factor towards the improvement and development of the sector. This is because of qualities such as higher levels of energy and education, openness to new technology and ideas associated with the youth. In spite of these qualities, most of the youth are losing interest in and leaving smallholder farming. This has resulted in a loss of the most productive and potentially innovative segment of the agricultural labour force, affecting agricultural production and food security now and in the future. The study, therefore, seeks to identify the roles, challenges and opportunities of youth participating in smallholder farming, and recommends ways to retain and stimulate interest among youths towards farming. Data were collected from randomly selected youths living in Okhahlamba Local Municipality (OLM), located in northern KwaZulu-Natal. A mixed method approach combined both qualitative and quantitative data and methods to answer the research questions. The data were analysed using a chi-square test, binary logistic analysis, descriptive and content-based thematic analysis. The results from the descriptive analysis reveal that 5.2 % of the youths had reached a primary level of education, while a large proportion (91.1%) had reached a secondary level of education and only 3.7% had reached a tertiary level of education. Planting and harvesting of crops were the main roles of youth taking part in farming. Lack of tools, capital and government support were some of the challenges facing youths in smallholder farming. The results show that the sex of the household head, household size and access to market information by household head influences the decision to participate in smallholder farm among youth in OLM. The findings of the study serve as a basis for decision making to the government and other actors with the agenda of promoting human, rural and agricultural development. The study recommends that youth should be provided with the necessary agricultural training, farming implements and also the government should focus on mechanising the smallholder farming sector. This can be done by introducing two-wheel tractors in the smallholder farming sector.
The exploration of livelihoods and food security in Limpopo province: insights from small-scale irrigation schemes users.
(2024) Naidoo, Krishna Denver.; Chitja , Joyce Magoshi.; Shimelis, Hussein.
Three-quarters of the global population living in poverty, particularly in sub-Saharan Africa, depend on small-scale agriculture for their income and food security. This thesis addresses the pivotal role of smallholder farmers in the fight against global poverty and hunger, specifically aiming to explore and gain insight into the role of small-scale irrigation schemes on livelihoods and household food security in Limpopo Province. Despite using traditional and unimproved farming techniques, these farmers occupy a significant portion of global farmland, producing the majority of the world's food. However, they often find themselves trapped in a cycle of poverty, rendering them less productive compared to large-scale counterparts. Access to water and land is fundamental to food security, defined as regular access to sufficient high-quality food for healthy living. Water scarcity can trigger famine and undernourishment, particularly in regions relying on local agriculture. Many of Africa's small-scale farmers are women who lack access to production resources. Despite African governments' commitment to allocate at least 10 percent of annual budgets to agriculture research and development, few have met this target. Collaboration with women farmers and their organizations is crucial to amplify their concerns globally as they often form the majority of farmers. This study adopts the Sustainable Livelihoods Framework and people-centred development approaches to examine the livelihoods and food security of women smallholder farmers in three selected irrigation schemes in Limpopo Province. Specific objectives include: (i) to identify and describe the livelihood assets of small-scale irrigation scheme women farmers; (ii) to determine the current household food security status of small-scale irrigation scheme women farmers; and (iii) to analyse the current policies’ impact on livelihoods and food security on smallholder irrigation scheme women farmers. A mixed-methods approach was employed, involving questionnaires, observations, and focus group discussions. Three irrigation schemes were chosen purposefully based on their relevance to the research criteria, long crop production histroy, and willingness to participate. Quantitative data was analyzed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS), while content analysis was applied to qualitative data. Logistic regression was employed to analyse determinants of household food security status. The study revealed that livelihoods were constructed from assets, influenced by knowledge of agriculture, water management and marketing strategies. Escalating water costs, competition for water resources, and inadequate water management emerged as significant challenges. Using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS), the food security assessment indicated that approximately one-third of the sampled farming households experienced food insecurity. The logistic regression model identified gender, age, education, income, and adult males as positive influences on household food security. The study underscores the crucial role of women farmers in these irrigation schemes and highlights the need for proactive political leadership. South Africa's water legislation aligns with the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) principles, emphasizing policy coherence and stakeholder engagement, but implementation issues persist, especially in transitioning responsibilities from national to catchment levels. Deteriorating monitoring systems and declining data quality control pose risks to local food security. Crosssectoral consultation is imperative to establish coordinated efforts and ensure long-term, multisectoral water resource management, safeguarding local livelihoods and food security. Keywords: Food Security, land use, water use, smallholder irrigation, gender, Limpopo Province