Understanding the Dimensions of Resilience for Food and Nutrition Security Among Informal Traders During the COVID-19 Pandemic in Zimbabwe

The COVID-19 pandemic has resulted in some unprecedented economic and labour market shocks that have caused food and nutrition insecurity, particularly for the informal traders. Yet there is a dearth of scientific evidence on the dimensions of food and nutrition security resilience among the informal traders during the COVID-19 pandemic in Zimbabwe. This study applied ethnographic research among informal traders in purposively selected provinces of Harare and Masvingo in Zimbabwe in a period of 20 months since the beginning of COVID-19 in March 2020. In addition, documentary analysis and key informant interviews with policymakers, civil society organisations, academia, development partners, and the private sector were also conducted to supplement ethnographic research. The study found that COVID-19 disproportionately impacted on the income and livelihood strategies of most informal traders in Zimbabwe than the rest of the people, because of the hash implementation of the measures to reduce the spread of the pandemic. This paper recommends that it is crucial for the government to strengthen its social protection systems and build resilience capacities of the informal traders. These resilience capacities may be in the form of business rescue packages, infrastructure and other assets, social safety nets, and the enhancement of traders' networks with suppliers, service providers, and customers. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2023.

Reimagining Prosperity: Social and Economic Development in Post-COVID India

This book explores the second-order effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on social and economic development in India. The chapters in this volume provide theoretical perspectives and empirical insights from a range of disciplines including history, economics, water management, food and nutrition security, agriculture, rural management, public health, urbanization, gender studies and development of the marginalized. It discusses the pressing questions that have been raised by the disruption caused by the pandemic and proposes insights and interventions to build a more just, sustainable and united post-COVID India. © The Editor(s) (if applicable) and The Author(s), under exclusive license to Springer Nature Singapore Pte Ltd. 2023.

Mapas, fome e planejamento territorial

Este artigo objetiva analisar os mapeamentos na interface da segurança alimentar e nutricional e do planejamento territorial. Para isso, consideramos a fome como manifestação da questão social, o retorno do Brasil ao mapa da fome durante a Pandemia de Covid-19, a importância do Estado no planejamento de políticas públicas e a literatura. O exame da literatura demonstrou uma frágil relação entre os campos da cartografia temática, do planejamento e da alimentação. Como procedimento metodológico, realizamos a análise crítica de estudos selecionados, mobilizando definições de desertos alimentares, pântanos e ilhas de abundância. Concluímos que, para a efetivação do direito humano à alimentação adequada, é fundamental um planejamento que contemple a pluralidade da alimentação e relacione aos territórios e suas populações por meio de mapeamentos temáticos intersetoriais.Alternate :The purpose of this paper is to analyze the interface in mapping territorial planning and food and nutrition security. To achieve this, we consider hunger as a manifestation of the social issue, the return of Brazil to the hunger map during the COVID-19 pandemic period, the importance of the State in planning public policies, and also the literature. The literature examination demonstrates a fragile relationship between the fields of thematic cartography, territorial planning, and food. The method used was the critical analysis of selected studies, mobilizing the following definitions: food deserts, swamps, and islands of abundance. We conclude that, for the realization of the human right to adequate food, it is essential that planning relates the plurality of food to territories and their populations through intersectoral thematic mapping.

Inequalities in food perceptions during the Covid-19 pandemic. A comparative study in urban and rural contexts of Tucumán (Argentina)

This work describes food experiences during the Covid-19 pandemic, according to the urban or rural ecological configuration and the socioeconomic level (SES) in households in the province of Tucumán (Argentina). A digital field work was carried out in 1342 households classified as urban (942) or rural (400) according to the criteria of the Instituto Nacional de Estadísticas y Censos. Food experiences were assessed through primary data analysis applying the Latin American and Caribbean Scale for the measurement of Food Security and SES through the Family Affluence Scale. Likewise, secondary information sources were used to characterize the structural living conditions of the urban and rural population. The results showed a higher affectation in the experiences of the home in general, compared to the experiences of adults and children and adolescents, in particular. Rural households were the most affected, as were those with low SES. However, the experiences and practices in both environments had in common the care of feeding children and adolescents. © Editado por D. Demarchi

Association between eating behavior and levels of anxiety, stress and depression in students from private universities in Metropolitan Lima, 2021.

Background: The evidence suggests that the COVID-19 pandemic affected eating behavior due to the anxiety it generates in individuals, especially among the younger population;As a result, preferences in unhealthy foods are observed. The objective was to explore the association between eating behavior and levels of anxiety, stress and depression in the population of university students from two private universities in the city of Lima, Peru during the year 2021. Method(s): Cross-sectional study on a sample of 371 participants from two private universities in Peru between October and November 2021. The Healthy Eating Index Questionnaire (IAS) and the Depression, Anxiety and Stress Scales (DASS-21) were used. Result(s): 53.6% of the participants are women, the majority of university students belong to health sciences careers (21.3%). Women more predisposed to have more severe stress, depression and anxiety, compared to men. The IAS questionnaire score was significantly higher in those studying veterinary and health sciences. The categories of eating behavior: needs changes and unhealthy are risk factors for the presence of anxiety. There is a negative relationship between IAS and DASS-21. Conclusion(s): Eating behavior is associated with the presence of stress, depression and anxiety in students from two private universities in Metropolitan Lima in 2021.Copyright © 2022 Sociedad Espanola de Nutricion Comunitaria. All rights reserved.

Household Resilience to Food and Nutrition Insecurity during COVID-19 in Tanzania.

We examine food and nutrition security and the household's ability to respond adequately to shock and stressors during the COVID-19 pandemic. Specifically, we assess household resilience to food insecurity and its relation to future food security. We use two survey rounds collected during the pandemic - before and after the second wave of the pandemic-from the vulnerable population living in slums in Tanzania. The findings reveal that many households have low resilience to shock. We find that COVID-19 reduced access to food in 68% of the households and left about 30% without any food to eat. We also find that micronutrient consumption significantly declined among households who reported food insecurity following the second wave of COVID-19. We also find that the probability of experiencing food insecurity reduced with the initial resilience level. High resilient households have a higher likelihood of maintaining or diversifying more their diets even when are exposed to shock. The disruption of income-generating activities was found as a leading pathway through which COVID-19 affected household food security. The findings suggest that with persisting COVID-19 pandemic and the low level of micronutrients consumption, the nutrition of children and adult household members of the vulnerable population is at stake.

Improving household nutrition security and public health in the CARICOM, 2018-2022.

The Caribbean is experiencing a worsening epidemic of obesity and noncommunicable diseases (NCDs) and it has the worst rates of premature mortality from cardiovascular diseases in the region of the Americas. Creating enabling environments to improve dietary diversity would help reduce obesity and diet-related NCDs. The Improving Household Nutrition Security and Public Health in the CARICOM project aimed to increase dietary diversity in the Caribbean, and to determine and implement effective, gender-sensitive interventions to improve food sovereignty, household food security, and nutrition in CARICOM states. Primary quantitative and qualitative research, scoping reviews, stakeholder engagement, implementation of interventions and dissemination activities were undertaken. This paper describes the overall project design and implementation, discusses challenges and limitations, and presents core achievements to inform further work in Small Island Developing States throughout CARICOM to advance the nutrition agenda in the Caribbean. The results of the project's research activities are presented in other papers published in this special issue on nutrition security in CARICOM states.

El Caribe está registrando un empeoramiento de la epidemia de obesidad y enfermedades no transmisibles (ENT) y presenta las peores tasas de mortalidad prematura por enfermedades cardiovasculares de la Región de las Américas. La creación de entornos propicios para mejorar la diversidad alimentaria contribuiría a reducir la obesidad y las ENT relacionadas con la alimentación. El proyecto "Mejorar la seguridad nutricional de los hogares y la salud pública en CARICOM" tiene por objetivo ampliar la diversidad alimentaria en el Caribe y acordar y ejecutar intervenciones efectivas con perspectiva de género para mejorar la soberanía alimentaria, la seguridad alimentaria de los hogares y la nutrición en los Estados de CARICOM. Se llevaron a cabo investigaciones primarias cuantitativas y cualitativas, revisiones exploratorias, ejecución de intervenciones y actividades de difusión, y se impulsó la participación de las partes interesadas. En este artículo se describen el diseño y la ejecución del proyecto en general, se analizan sus desafíos y limitaciones, y se presentan sus logros básicos para que se tengan en cuenta en la labor adicional que realizan los pequeños Estados insulares en desarrollo de CARICOM con el fin de impulsar la agenda de nutrición en el Caribe. Los resultados de las actividades de investigación del proyecto se presentan en otros documentos publicados en este número especial sobre seguridad nutricional en los Estados de CARICOM.

O Caribe está passando por um agravamento da epidemia de obesidade e doenças não transmissíveis (DNTs) e tem as piores taxas de mortalidade prematura por doenças cardiovasculares na Região das Américas. A criação de ambientes favoráveis para melhorar a diversidade alimentar ajudaria a reduzir a obesidade e as DNTs relacionadas à alimentação. O projeto Improving Household Nutrition Security and Public Health in the CARICOM [Melhoria da segurança nutricional doméstica e da saúde pública na CARICOM] teve como objetivo aumentar a diversidade alimentar no Caribe e determinar e implementar intervenções eficazes e sensíveis ao gênero para melhorar a soberania alimentar, a segurança alimentar doméstica e a nutrição nos estados da CARICOM. Foram realizadas pesquisas quantitativas e qualitativas primárias, revisões de escopo, ações de envolvimento das partes interessadas, implementação de intervenções e atividades de divulgação. Este documento descreve a elaboração e a implementação geral do projeto, analisa seus desafios e limitações e apresenta as principais realizações para informar o trabalho futuro nos pequenos Estados insulares em desenvolvimento em toda a CARICOM, visando a avançar a agenda nutricional no Caribe. Os resultados das atividades de pesquisa do projeto são apresentados em outros artigos publicados neste número especial sobre segurança nutricional nos Estados da CARICOM.

COVID-19 Impacts on Self-Reported Food Safety Behaviors in Florida Youth

Measures to protect against the spread of COVID-19 include guidance on personal and environmental hygiene. Some guidelines related to COVID-19 directly align with or have similarity to evidence-based food safety practices (FSP) taught in nutrition education classes, including handwashing and washing produce before eating.To understand the impacts of the COVID-19 pandemic on youth handwashing and washing produce before eating behaviors.Data were collected from youth (N = 1,098) in grades 3-5 who participated in SNAP-Education (SNAP-Ed) and the Expanded Food and Nutrition Education Program (EFNEP) in Florida. Utilizing common self-report survey measures, baseline measures from 3 years prior to the pandemic and 3 months during the pandemic were compared for handwashing before eating and washing produce before eating. Due to incomplete data collection during the first 8 months of the pandemic, only behaviors from October 20-January 31 intervals (October 2018- January 2021) were compared to control for seasonal differences.Behavioral measures are based on a frequency scale from 1 to 4 (4 being the most frequent). An independent samples t test was used to compare baseline FSP scores from intervals before and during the pandemic.No significant difference was found in the frequency of handwashing before and during COVID-19 (3.16 vs 3.18, respectively, P = 0.76). A significant increase was found in the frequency of washing produce before eating before and during COVID-19 (3.14 vs 3.31, respectively, P = 0.008).This study did not find any significant changes in handwashing frequency during COVID-19, however, a significant increase in washing produce prior to eating was found. Handwashing prior to eating is a current CDC guideline for COVID-19 mitigation while washing produce prior to eating is not (CDC 2021). Changes in lifestyle and/or eating arrangements during the pandemic might explain these findings.

Implications of food and nutrition security on household food expenditure: the case of Malaysia.

Introduction: Food security is attracting more attention in Malaysia not only at the national level that concern toward the enhancement of food self-sufficiency but also at the individual level which concerns more on nutrition and health. The economic recession triggered by the COVID-19 pandemic has brought the food and nutrition security challenge to the higher priority. In this study, we assessed the feasibility of encouraging a healthy eating plan by taking into account two important elements, food cost and nutrient intake, to help tackle the food and nutrition insecurity challenges at the individual level. Method and materials: This study used a goal programming model with dietary intake data from Malaysian Adult Nutrition Survey reports to develop food plans that can improve nutrition quality without increasing food cost. Missing data, such as nutrient compositions and food prices, were collected separately from existing governmental and non-governmental sources. Benchmark nutrient intakes were derived from Malaysian Dietary Guidelines and Malaysian Recommended Nutrient Intakes reports, whereas benchmark costs were estimated by mapping food prices to dietary intake. The cost of healthier diets was also assessed to examine the acceptability of dietary changes for the low-income population. Results: The results showed that healthier diets following national dietary guidelines are achievable with reasonable food choices shift without changing the cost of meal plan. Greater intake of milk and vegetables (for more calcium) and smaller intake of seafood and egg products (for less protein) will contribute to raise diet quality and achieve more adequate nutrition. However, the cost attached to healthier food plan is still likely to be burdensome for the food-insecure and low-income population. Conclusions: Our results suggest that policymakers should implement income-relevant laws to cut poverty and improve the population's dietary intake. Income growth as a result of better skills and education is needed to ensure that the real incomes of Malaysian are well sustained, and increased to help low-income population make better and healthier food choices.

COVID-19 impacts on food systems in fisheries-dependent island communities

Policies designed to contain the COVID-19 pandemic have impacted food systems worldwide. How impacts played out in local food systems, and how these affected the lived experiences of different people is only just coming to light. We conducted a structured analysis of the impacts of COVID-19 containment policies on the food systems of small-scale fishing communities in Kenya, Papua New Guinea, and Saint Lucia, based on interviews with men and women fishers, fish traders, and community leaders. Participants reported that containment policies lead indirectly to reduced volumes of food, lower dietary diversity, increased consumption of traditional foods, and reduced access to fish for food and income. Although the initiating policy and food and nutrition security outcomes often appeared similar, we found that the underlying pathways and feedbacks causing these impacts were different based on local context. Incorporating knowledge of how context-specific factors shape food system outcomes may be key to tailoring strategies to mitigate the ongoing impacts of COVID-19 and designing timely, strategic interventions for future systemic shocks. © 2023, Resilience Alliance. All rights reserved.

Food insecurity and its determinants in a vulnerable area of Santiago, Chile

This study aims to identify the determinants associated to food insecurity in a group of households composed of schoolchildren and their mothers/caregivers, who lived in a low-to-medium community development index area of the city of Santiago, Chile with a high presence of migrant population. The non-probabilistic and convenience sample was made up of 646 people, who answered a series of surveys with the aim of characterizing this group in sociodemographic terms (sex, age, number of inhabitants in the household, place of food purchase, conditional or non-conditional state transfer program beneficiary status, persons in charge of purchasing food for the household, mothers/caregivers education level and basic knowledge of food and nutrition). To assess moderate-to-severe food insecurity and severe food insecurity, the Food Insecurity Experience Scale-FIES was applied between September and October 2021. Logistic regression analysis were used to carry out multivariate analyses, with the use of stepwise back-and-forward strategies for the selected variables and defining p < 0.05. These models were adjusted per number of inhabitants in the household. The results indicate that 25.4% of households presented moderate-to-severe food insecurity, and 6.4% severe food insecurity experience. The variables that presented significant odds of risk to food insecurity were being a migrant, low maternal education level, low performance on basic knowledge in nutrition and when the father was responsible for food purchases. Several public policies have been implemented in Chile during the most recent decades aimed at increasing access to healthier foods and the implementation of healthier food environments. Despite this, there are still social and economic health determinants that contribute to the risk of odds insecurity for the most vulnerable groups in the country, thus putting at risk the fulfillment of the human right to adequate food at risk.

The vulnerability of a centralized food system: An opportunity to improve food security in times of COVID-19-Peru perspective

COVID-19 has had a strong impact on the food supply chain (FSC) in many countries. The objective of this study was to determine the vulnerability of the FSC in a developing country, namely Peru. The main weakness of the FSC is its centralization, and COVID-19 aggravated this deficit in Peru. This prevents its stability on a large scale, especially in rural areas, which suffer from food and nutritional insecurity. In spite of this, the food system was stabilized due to agricultural, livestock and fishing potential of Peru. In addition, the efforts of local producers and informal vendors helped to maintain the availability of food throughout the country. Several examples of short (and decentralized) FSC were described, highlighting their importance for supplying the population in different areas of the country. In addition, they allow for rapid resolution of interruptions such as the current health crisis. Also mentioned are some suggestions for strengthening Peru's FSC such as the use of new technologies, self-production of food and the exploitation of non-conventional food sources. Emphasis is placed on the importance of environmental sustainability of the FSC and of implementing strategies to prevent illness among workers. This study aims to reflect on the importance of having a resilient and flexible FSC. Taking Peru as a model, the information provided is useful to understand how to improve the food system through the intervention of all the agents involved, such as government, academia, industry and the population. Copyright © 2022 Tirado-Kulieva, Miranda-Zamora, Hernández-Martínez, Choque-Rivera and Luque-Vilca.

Between guidelines and standards: brazilian booklets on food and nutrition in the context of the covid-19 pandemic

The pandemic caused by the new coronavirus has impacted social interactions and lifestyle habits, including changes in the context of food. To promote health education, several food and nutrition guides were developed for the population. This study, of qualitative approach, carried out a reflexive analysis of four food and nutrition guides made during the pandemic, by content analysis, and identified three thematic axes: (1) meal planning;(2) cleaning of purchases and food;and (3) healthy eating food choice. The analyzed guides provide guidance on practical aspects of food and nutrition in this period of uncertainty regarding health protection. However, the approach to themes encompassing the individual's integral health such as: food security and cultural, symbolic, and macrosocial aspects related to food choices, showed a gap. Copyright © 2022, Universidade de Sao Paulo. Museu de Zoologia. All rights reserved.

Modeling Inventory Cost Savings and Supply Chain Success Factors: A Hybrid Robust Compromise Multi-Criteria Approach

Determining success factors for managing supply chains is a relevant aspect for companies. Then, modeling the relationship between inventory cost savings and supply chain success factors is a route for stating such a determination. This is particularly important in pharmacies and food nutrition services (FNS), where the advances made on this topic are still scarce. In this article, we propose and formulate a robust compromise (RoCo) multi-criteria model based on non-linear programming and time-dependent demand. The novelty of our proposal is in defining a score that allows us to measure the mentioned success factors in a simple way, in meeting together all three elements (RoCo multi-criteria, non-linear programming, and time-dependent demand) to state a new model, and in applying it to pharmacies and FNS. This model relates inventory cost savings for pharmacy/FNS and success factors across their supply chains. Savings of inventory costs are predicted by lot sizes to be purchased and computed by comparing optimal and true inventory costs. We utilize a system that records the movements and costs of products to collect the data. Factors, such as purchasing organization, economies of scale, and synchronized supply, are assumed using the purchase system, with these factors ranked on a Likert scale. We consider multilevel relationships between savings obtained for 79 pharmacy/FNS products, and success factor scores according to these products. To deal with the endogeneity bias of the relationships proposed, internal instrumental variables are employed by utilizing generalized statistical moments. Among our main conclusions, we state that the greatest cost savings obtained from inventory models are directly associated with low-success supply chain factors. In this association, the success factors operate as endogenous variables, with respect to inventory cost savings, given the simultaneity of their relationship with cost savings when inventory decision-making.

Strengthening strategies food security and food sovereignty with the emergence of covid-19 in Colombia / Estrategias de fortalecimiento de la seguridad y soberanía alimentaria en medio del covid-19 en Colombia

In the midst of the health emergency caused by COVID-19 in Colombia, strategies have been generated to strengthen food security and sovereignty. Among the mechanisms adopted by urban and rural communities and local governments are alternative ways of obtaining food, one of which is trueque, which allows the exchange of food produced by peasants between territories. In Bogota, mercados campesinos have been strengthened, which have made it possible to bring food produced by peasants in Tolima, Meta and Boyacá to urban households, promoting short marketing circuits and fair payment to producers. In spite of these alternatives, the demonstrations to make visible the hunger of the households emerged the trapos rojos (red rags) in the houses, which have alerted about the situation of a good part of Colombians and have encouraged solidarity among neighbors. The position of academia has been avant-garde, directly involving peasants in processes to guarantee the right to food in Colombia.

En medio de la emergencia sanitaria producida por la COVID-19 en Colombia se han generado estrategias para el fortalecimiento de la seguridad y soberanía alimentaria. Dentro de los mecanismos adoptados por las comunidades urbanas y rurales y los gobiernos locales se encuentran formas alternativas en la obtención de alimentos, una de ellas es el trueque, el cual permite intercambiar alimentos producidos por las y los campesinos entre territorios. En Bogotá se han estado fortaleciendo los mercados campesinos, los que han permitido llevar a los hogares urbanos alimentos producidos por las y los campesinos en Tolima, Meta y Boyacá fomentando los circuitos cortos de comercialización y el pago justo a los productores. A pesar de estas alternativas, las manifestaciones para visibilizar el hambre de los hogares surgieron como trapos rojos en las puertas y ventanas de las casas, los que han alertado sobre la situación de buena parte de colombianos y han alentado la solidaridad entre vecinos. La posición de la academia ha sido vanguardista vinculando de manera directa a las y los campesinos en procesos por la garantía del derecho a la alimentación en Colombia.

Future grain crops

Climate change has had devastating effects on agriculture, industry, and food security. The recent outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic has exacerbated this situation as tons of crops have had to be destroyed due to the global closure of retail outlets. This raises questions on the world’s preparedness to deal with pandemics without ceasing food production and distribution. Most staple foods comprise grain crops;therefore, feeding the ever-increasing global population means increasing production of these crops. There is a need for drought, pest, and disease-resilient crops that are nutritionally superior and health-promoting. Future grain crops need to be produced in a cost-effective, sustainable, and environmentally conscious way. Therefore, some innovative farming methods need to be explored. The future of agriculture, therefore, conceivably lies in the use of artificial intelligence, less reliance on agricultural chemicals as well as carbon-emitting fuels, hydroponics, and short-season cultivars, among others. © 2022 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.

Analysis of food and nutrition security, The covid 19, western region of Honduras

This document analyzes some of the main topics and challenges that influence the causes of food and nutritional insecurity at the community level of the western region of Honduras, in the departments of Copan, Lempira and Ocotepeque, framed in health and environmental emergencies. of COVID-19 and Hurricane ETA and IOTA in Honduras, through the use of an applied survey, with the purpose of evaluating the impact and determining the needs of the population in terms of poverty, hunger and other basic needs, that this research serve to guide the policies and strategies of food and nutrition security, the development objectives are emphasized in the reconstruction of a vision of the country, which strengthens the different pillars of SAN, in the same way to provide through the findings a document that serves to find a methodology that establishes an input with the purpose of generating knowledge and at the same time with the results create awareness of the efficient conditions for increasing the coverage of interventions induced to the integration of continuous improvement strategies with respect to region 03 of the western part of the country in terms of topics such as health, education, productivity, safety, food sovereignty and pillars of food safety.

Pruthi Spices: self-reliant woman entrepreneur

Learning outcomes: The case study can be used in management for the course of Strategic Management and Entrepreneurship. It is suitable for the students at post-graduate level. Discussion would be the most appropriate method for teaching this case study. There is no prerequisite required to participate in the discussion. Participants will be able to engage in discussion regarding expansion strategies for micro-enterprises;targeting the right segment of the market;exploring the market opportunities;innovation for entrepreneurial growth;and sustaining an enterprise. After this case study, students will be able to understand the following theory and model: SWOT analysis;resource base theory;McKinsey ESG proposition;Porter’s generic strategy;Schumpeter’s innovation theory;Ansoff’s growth model;and diversification strategies. Case overview/synopsis: Being a micro-enterprise with heavy financial constraints, it was never easy to sustain the business at the time of pandemic. Mrs Jyoti Pruthi (owner of Pruthi Spices) made extraordinary efforts that would help her in survival of her business. She could not recover the business as it was before the pandemic. During such times, the loss of her husband was a setback. That incident broke Mrs Pruthi emotionally as well as financially. By taking some crucial managerial decisions, Mrs Pruthi strategized for the sustainability of her business. Now it was January 2022, after two years of the outbreak of the Covid-19 pandemic in the world. However, because of the market situation, her pressing dilemma was regarding business survival in such lean times. Complexity academic level: The case is meant for undergraduate and post-graduate students pursuing management with specializations in Entrepreneurship and Marketing. The case is bet fit for women entrepreneurship development capacity-building programs, especially in the Asian region. The case is also suitable for any short-term training program where manifestations of entrepreneurship are being taught. It can also be used for Executive and Management development program aiming at women or disadvantaged entrepreneurship. The case can also be used for general courses like “Strategic Management” and specialized courses like “Entrepreneurship Management”. Supplementary materials: Teaching notes are available for educators only. Subject code: CSS 3: Entrepreneurship. © 2022, Emerald Publishing Limited.

A REVIEW OF FOOD AND NUTRITION SECURITY IN NIGERIA

The food and nutrition security situation in Nigeria is alarming as several factors exacerbate food insecurity in Nigeria. Dubbed as the 'poverty capital of the world,' Nigeria's poverty rates are high. The country's population is over 200 million people, with more than half living below the poverty line. Poverty is closely associated with a lack of dietary diversity, malnutrition, and food insecurity. Volatility in food prices, fluctuations in the local currency's (naira's) value, and high inflation rates pose stress on domestic and imported food prices in Nigeria. Also, prolonged conflicts in Nigeria due to the Boko Haram insurgency and the Islamic State in West Africa Province (ISWAP) have continued to pose a danger and misery to millions of lives - exacerbating food vulnerabilities and social insecurity in the northeastern part of Nigeria. Similarly, farmers and herdsmen's conflicts limit agricultural production and yield. As a result of limited farm production, import bans intended to improve local farm production and favor the local economy have not achieved that purpose. Instead, it has driven up domestic market food prices. Using the UNICEF's framework of malnutrition, this paper discusses factors contributing to food insecurity in Nigeria. Some factors discussed include the continuous conflicts caused by insurgency in northeast Nigeria, high poverty rates, inadequate sanitation facilities, improper food transportation and handling facilities, malnutrition, and the recent burden caused by the COVID-19 pandemic. © 2022, African Journal of Food, Agriculture, Nutrition and Development. All Rights Reserved.

EFFECTS OF PREVENTIVE AND MANDATORY SOCIAL ISOLATION BY COVID-19 ON THE FOOD SAFETY OF ARGENTINE CHILDREN

In Argentina, the socioeconomic situation of households and the price of food leads to an increasingly serious food vulnerability, further exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic. This article seeks to establish the effects generated by the Preventive and Compulsory Social isolation (ASPO as indicated by its acronym in spanish) in the food insecurity of the girls, boys and adolescents of the Metropolitan Area of Buenos Aires (AMBA), and to determine if the social policies implemented by the government helped or not to avoid a deepening of the phenomenon. This research was approached through a longitudinal panel study on a sample of households with children from the AMBA, based on the Argentine Social Debt Survey (EDSA). The results show that the public policies of income transfers and direct food aid implemented have not been sufficient to guarantee the food security of these populations and have even been revealed insufficient to sustain the levels of incidence of food insecurity prior to COVID-19.