The effects of infrastructural and institutional services on food security in Ntambanana rural area

• Main Author: Masuku, Mandla Mfundo
• Other Authors: Selepe, B.M.
• Format: Others
• Language: en
• Published: University of Zululand 2014
• Subjects: Food security
• Online Access: http://hdl.handle.net/10530/1342

Dissertation submitted in the fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters of Arts in Development Studies in the Faculty of Arts at the University of Zululand, South Africa, 2013. === The aim of this study was to explore how food security at household level is affected by lack of infrastructural and institutional services. This study particularly looks at how these constraints affect access to food and assess the availability institutional services such as the availability of extension services in Ntambanana. The study recommends that improved rural infrastructure and support services sustains food security as well as contributes to the improvement in the living conditions of rural households. The availability of infrastructure and institutional support in rural areas regarded as means of rural development which eliminate problems of access to food and other services. The study concluded that lack of infrastructural services such as poor storage facilities, roads, irrigation system and transport facilities that creates food insecurity in Ntambanana. The general findings of the study reveal that assessment and evaluation of policies that are based on rural development and food security is very important. These include improving communication amongst various stakeholders, creating an enabling environment for local businesses, ensuring the availability of facilities such as storage, communication and transport facilities. This study concludes that the cost effective ways to improve access to food is to assist local small scale businesses to earn cash through creating market for them and invest in infrastructure that lead to improving food security. The results reflect that socio – economic conditions play an important role in accessing food by looking the level of purchasing power in the community.