Abstract
A decline in subsistence agriculture across sub-Saharan Africa has meant an increased role for the private sector in food security strategies, but this role remains a relatively blind spot in food policy. We address this gap by analyzing retailers and consumers in a rural region of South Africa. Our results show that purchasing food is an important food security strategy for the rural poor, but is constrained by a lack of access to income. Furthermore, a reliance on specific non-perishable foodstuffs impacts the micronutrients that the poorest can access if they are unable to grow their own fresh produce. Adaptive food policy thus requires a holistic appreciation of the food system - emphasizing production as well as building livelihoods outside of agriculture.
Original language | English (US) |
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Pages (from-to) | 339-357 |
Number of pages | 19 |
Journal | Food Security |
Volume | 6 |
Issue number | 3 |
DOIs | |
State | Published - May 2014 |
Externally published | Yes |
Keywords
- Deagrarianization
- Food security
- Retail sector
- South Africa
- Sustainable rural livelihoods
ASJC Scopus subject areas
- Food Science
- Development
- Agronomy and Crop Science