The Influence Of Food Security

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INTRODUCTION.

What is food security?
Food security is a term that can be defined as the state whereby people have physical and economic access to adequate amounts of nutritious, safe and culturally appropriate foods.

However, this food has to be produced in an environmentally sustainable and socially just manner in which people are able to make informed decisions about their food choices.

Food security as well implies that the people who produce the food are able to earn a decent living . It is also dependent on a healthy and sustainable food system.

However according a research that has been carried out and it has been discovered …show more content…

Maize is actually the Main staple food that is grown on 70% of total arable areas and it has contributed to the countrie`s food security(FAO , 2014).

However,since 2005,food inadequecy has been declining due to the persistent growth of maize. Mulnutrition remains a major challenge.About 50% of the children under the age of 5years are stunted and 72.8% are under-weight due to the nutrition imbalances which lack protein ,vitamins and other nutrients.This is because most people rely on maize as their main food(FAO , 2014).
There are two broad groups of producers in Malawi; Small holders who cultivate on customary land and estates which cultivate leae hold and freehold land.

Malawi faces a number of food security issues:
Poor weather conditions and crop disease which has led to the declining per capita production and there have been shortfall in democratic food production in the recent …show more content…

South Africa plays a major role in food security especially in the stability of Southern Africa. It has been evident that South Africa has been a contributor of food security in the regional level, the 196000 tons brought in by the World Food Program(WFP) was from South Africa (Earl, 2014).

It is food secure in the national level since it produces the main staple food and exports surplus food(Earl, 2014).according to the south African constitution, every citizen has a right to access sufficient food and water . The government has increased its spending on social programs; Free health services to children up to the age of six years and pregnant women, feeding schemes , Provincial public works programs and community food garden initiatives were all introduced as ways of improving household food security(Earl, 2014).

CHALLENGES.
There are some key challenges in achieving food security in south Africa which are:
Ensuring enough food is available presently and in the future

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