Determinants of Food Insecurity in Rural Areas in Mali

Abstract

The objective of this study is to identify the determinants of households’ food insecurity in rural areas in Mali, ranked among the most exposed to this phenomenon. The study used data from the national food security and nutritional survey in March 2016. The estimation of the econometric logit model by the maximum likelihood method revealed that regional location, age of household head, household size, level of education of the household head, welfare index and incomes’ diversification sources are the main determinants of households’ food insecurity in a rural area in Mali. The analysis shows that age of household head, size of household and practical of recession cropping affect positively food insecurity while the educational level of household head, welfare index and incomes ’diversification sources affect negatively food insecurity. These determinants are pillars on which policy maker might rely to reduce food insecurity. Therefore, it is desirable for government to orientate more the food insecurity fight programs towards the most affected regions, to prioritize households head with advanced age and those whose size is high, and promote recession cropping during the food insecurity fight plan, improve household education level, promote the household’s welfare and sensitize the households to diversify the sources of their income.

Hanehalkı Gıda Güvensizliği ve Öngörücüleri: Nijerya Gombe Metropolü'nden Kanıtlar

“…The implication of this is that the larger the household, especially one with more unproductive members, the more probable for the household to be food insecure. The findings of this study is in line with those of Diallo and Toah (2019) in Mali; Phami et al (2019) in Laos; Aboaba, Fadiji, and Hussayn, (2020) in Nigeria; Cordero-Ahiman et al (2020) in Ecuador; Diallo et al (2021) in Mali; Eshetu and Guye (2021) in Southern Ethiopia, etc.. Therefore, in line with the above findings the following recommendations were given:  Given that household income is an important predictor of food insecurity in the study area, the government should create more job opportunities that will enhance the income level of people.…”

“…Age of the household head remains another determinant of households' food insecurity. Studies such as Bogale and Shimeli (2009) in Eastern Ethiopia; Gebre (2012) in Ethiopia; Sisayi and Edriss (2012) in Ethiopia; Diallo and Toah (2019) in Mali; Dunga (2020) in South Africa; Aboaba, Fadiji, and Hussayn, (2020) in Nigeria; Shahzad et al, (2021) in Pakistan; Diallo et al (2021) in Mali; Butcher (2021) in Australia, observe that the age is negatively related to household food insecurity. They argue that food insecurity is less likely to prevail in a household with relatively more productive members than in the household with more unproductive members.…”

“…Studies carried out by Dastigiri et. al (2006) in Saudi Arabia; Sisayi and Edriss (2012) in Ethiopia; Aido, Mensah and Tuffour (2013) in Romania; Akarue and Bakporhe, (2013) in Delta State Nigeria; Ndobo (2013) in South Africa; Phami et al (2019) in Laos; Bulawayo, Ndulu and Sichone (2019) in Zambia; Dunga, (2020) in South Africa; Eshetu and Guye (2021) in Southern Ethiopia; Diallo et al (2021) in Mali; Ibukun and Adebayo (2021); Babatunde et al (2021); Butcher (2021) in Australia posit that households' level of income is inversely associated with food insecurity. This implies that the greater the income of the household, the lower the probability of food insecurity.…”

Food Insecurity and its Determinants: A Gender Perspective

“…in Eastern Ethiopia;Gebre (2012) in Ethiopia;Sisayi & Edriss (2012) in Ethiopia;Ahmed et al (2015) in Nigeria;Diallo & Toah (2019) in Mali;Dunga (2020) in South Africa; Zhou et al (2019) in Pakistan;Aboaba et al (2020) in Nigeria;Shahzad et al (2021) in Pakistan;Diallo et al (2021) in Mali;Butcher (2021) in Australia, found a negative relationship between age and household food insecurity. They argue that in a household where productive age groups are higher than non-productive age groups, the probability of household to be in shortage of food would be less.…”