Poverty, Food Security and the Environment

Are poor people forced to degrade their environment in order to cope with food insecurity?

When hard times threaten poor people’s food security, they employ coping strategies to meet their immediate food needs, increase their disposable income, and preserve their asset portfolios. Some of these strategies are: over harvesting wild foods (leaves, roots and game meat); cutting trees to make charcoal for sale; clearing forests for cultivation; draining swamps and encroaching on other marginal areas; and over grazing. These activities have detrimental effects on the environment, particularly causing soil erosion and degradation. These problems are worsened by population pressure.

Are the poor people unaware of the consequences of their actions on the environment? They are most likely aware but often have no better alternative. For example a poor person who has to choose between selling his livestock and cutting trees to make charcoal will choose the latter. To the poor person, meeting an immediate need takes preference over a longer-term one.

Is it possible to create a sustainable food secure environment without undermining or destabilising the natural environment and resource base? Are the tradeoffs between food security and the environment reconcilable? Can environmental protection be achieved without destabilising the livelihoods of the poor people who depend on the environment for their survival?

Effect of food price hikes on HIV

Whereas it is probably true that HIV occurs primarily among the poor, it is also possible that poverty plays a big role in the spread of the epidemic. Poor households affected by HIV are characterised by food insecurity and poor standards of living. Already faced with multiple social and economic shocks, the additional stress of high food prices renders it impossible for these households to cope with the threat of HIV.

A key explanation for the big impact of price hikes on HIV lies in the fundamental role that food plays in the survival of HIV patients. Nutrition is important because of the following reasons. Firstly, the infection-illness period, which on average is about eight years, can be extended by a good diet among other things. People infected by the virus require up to 50% more energy requirements (100% for children) than the uninfected. Secondly, good nutrition both in quality and quantity is actively vital in the prevention of opportunistic infections which occur because of reduced body immunity. A sound diet may therefore prolong life; more especially delay the progression of HIV to AIDS. Thirdly, adequate nutrition is of utmost importance to the patients on Anti Retroviral Therapy. Some drugs must be taken with food, and most are not effective if the patients are malnourished.

Given the dominant importance of nutrition in the life of HIV patients, high food prices constrain the ability of affected households to access good nutrition. This occurs largely because purchasing power as well as disposable income is reduced. The poor, in attempt to cope with the rising food prices reduce their dietary intake, both in quality and quantity-a hindrance to effective treatment of the disease, and prolongation of life.

Similarly, in response to the increased household expenses due to rising food prices, people tend to migrate in search of food and work. Migration is often from the rural to the urban areas. While in Urban areas, the immigrants may engage in commercial sex, or may have multiple sex partners thus increasing the risk of infection. In Africa, highest prevalence has been recorded at trading centers, border posts, and at major transport routes.

A number of households cope with food insecurity caused by rising food prices by withdrawing children from school either to reallocate resources away to food purchases or so that the children may work for food or cash. Out of school, Children are exposed to the risk of HIV infection and are denied the much needed education that would create awareness to prevent future infection.

The price hikes, and consequently food insecurity not only affect people’s standards of living but also expose them to higher risk of HIV infection and AIDS. A common trend among price hikes, food insecurity and HIV/AIDS is that they are all an echo of what has been and somewhat a prediction of what is to come. What is important now is to draw lessons from the past, and make decisions in the present that will influence a better future. A feasible all encompassing resolution, that is already active in many countries, is to create/strengthen synergies between the different sectors of the economy such as agriculture, health, education, social welfare, finance, gender, local governments, civil society, NGOs and communities that will improve support systems, promote education and HIV sensitization, build household resilience to shocks, promote livelihoods, and mitigate coping strategies that push HIV infection or deter HIV treatment.

Link to full article in the NEPAD newsletter