HIV/AIDS and the Agricultural Sector in Eastern and Southern Africa: Anticipating the Consequences

Abstract

Background There is now widespread recognition that HIV/AIDS is not simply a health issue. Effectively combating the pandemic will require a coordinated multisectoral approach. Although many in the agricultural sector embrace the idea of playing a role in combating HIV/AIDS, there has been very little analysis by agricultural policy analysts to guide them. Despite the fact that the pandemic is now in its third decade in Africa, available analysis to date provides a very murky picture of how HIV/AIDS is affecting the agricultural sector: its structure, cropping systems, relative costs of inputs and factors of production, technological and institutional changes, and supply and demand for agricultural products. Until these issues are clarified, policymakers will be inadequately prepared to forecast anticipated changes to the agricultural sector and respond proactively. This chapter is intended to respond to the need to better understand the implications of the AIDS pandemic for the agricultural sectors in the hardest-hit countries of eastern and southern Africa. The six countries of the world with estimated HIV prevalence rates exceeding 20 percent 1 are all in

The better the worse: risk factors for HIV infection among women in Kenya and Uganda – Demographic and Health Survey

“…In East Africa, HIV/AIDS affects the economically active age group resulting in loss of income, worsening poverty and reversed decades of gains in life expectancy (Buve´, Bishikwabo-Nsarhaza, & Mutangadura, 2002;Jayne, Villarreal, Pingali, & Hemrich, 2005;Piot, Bartos, Ghys, Walker, & Schwartla¨nder, 2001;UAC, 2006).…”

Empirical Analysis of Interactions of Agricultural Sector and HIV/AIDS Pandemic in Africa

“…The decline is caused by the illness and deaths of people living with AIDS and the time spent by household members in caring for sick relatives. In Tanzania, a study found that a woman whose husband was sick spent 45 per cent less time on agricultural tasks than a woman whose husband was healthy [35]. In Ethiopia an HIV/AIDS epidemic has caused shifts of production from cash crops to food crops in AIDS-affected households.…”

Interactions between Health and Farm-Labor Productivity

“…Other strategies focus on increasing the stock and the health of animal assets within the small-scale farm sector, as well as the stock of equipment such as plows and harrows. Enhancing farmers' incentives and ability to acquire draft animals and equipment can also help alleviate the crucial labor burden of land preparation (Jayne et al 2005).…”