‘A creeping phenomenon’: the association between rainfall and household food insecurity in the district of iLembe, KwaZulu-Natal

ABSTRACT

The effects of rainfall variability and droughts on food production are well established. However, in South Africa, the association between rainfall, droughts and household food insecurity is not well known. The aim of this paper was to measure and compare household food insecurity during and after a drought, and to assess the association between rainfall and food insecurity. Using a comparative study design, two cross-sectional household surveys took place in November 2016 and November 2017. Food insecurity was measured using the Coping Strategies Index. Data was analysed using descriptive statistics and multiple linear regression. The study found a positive association between increasing rainfall and food insecurity, the strength of which decreased during Round 2 of data collection. The proportion of households facing no food insecurity increased, as did those facing high or severe food insecurity. Households in Round 2 appeared to have better diet diversity, although there was an increase in the frequency of some coping strategies, including those relying on less expensive foods on a daily basis. The study highlights the delayed and prolonged effects of a drought and recommends research be carried out to investigate the socio-economic factors associated with increasing food insecurity in the iLembe district of KwaZulu-Natal.

KEYWORDS:

• South Africa
• food security
• rainfall
• drought
• climate

Acknowledgements

The researchers would like to thank the communities in iLembe and the participants of the FGDs for their time and willingness to participate in the study. The researchers would also like to thank the iLembe municipality for allowing the study to go ahead.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Notes on contributors

Dr Roisin Drysdale is a Postdoctoral Fellow within the DSI-NRF Centre of Excellence in Human Development at the University of the Witwatersrand. She holds a doctoral degree (PhD) in Public Health from the University of KwaZulu-Natal. Her research background includes Geography, Development Studies and Public Health. Her research focuses around food security, child health and nutrition.

Prof. Mosa Moshabela is the Dean and Head of School for the School of Nursing and Public Health at the University of KwaZulu-Natal. He is a medical doctor (MBChB), specializing in Family Medicine and Primary Health Care (MFamMed) and holds a doctoral degree (PhD) in Public Health in the area of health systems and policy research with particular relevance to rural and resource-poor settings. He also has a Diploma in HIV/AIDS management (Dip HIV [SA]). He is a clinician-researcher, recognized and rated by the National Research Foundation (NRF) in South Africa.

Prof. Urmilla Bob is a Professor in the School of Geography at the University of KwaZulu-Natal, Dean of Research and Chair of the UZKN Research Committee. She conducts research on a range of developmental and environmental issues, including socio-economic impact assessments of developmental projects relating to conservation, ecotourism and sustainable livelihoods in both rural and urban contexts. She has published in these fields in both nationally and internationally recognized academic books and journals.

Data availability statement

The data that support the findings of this study are available from the corresponding author, upon reasonable request.