The contribution of subsistence farming to food security among the people of Longfield, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Agricultural growth is crucial for generating the money needed to guarantee food security, particularly in the poorest economies. In Zimbabwe there is limited research on the contribution of subsistence farming to food security and whether this type of farming enables or limits food security among the households who practise it. The research problem in this study focused on the contribution of subsistence farming to food security in the Longfield area in Zimbabwe. The objectives of the study were to present the application of the Theory of Access in subsistence farming and food security; to understand subsistence farming as a mode of production, with reference to the elements, challenges, processes, advantages, environmental impact and sustainability of subsistence farming to investigate the relationship between food security and subsistence farming; and to determine the extent to which subsistence farming contributes to food security in Longfield. A qualitative and exploratory research approach was adopted for the study. This type of research is relatively subjective and relies on the experiences and opinions of participants. A questionnaire for semi-structured face-to-face interviews was designed and used to obtain respondents’ opinions on subsistence farming and food security. The findings revealed a definite view among respondents that subsistence farming positively impacts food security. The results revealed that, among all the factors, subsistence farming positively contributes to the development of food security. The findings also revealed that the relationship between subsistence farming and food security provides nutritional and food security. Small-scale farmers’ role in guaranteeing food security, healthy security, and sustainable rural growth is becoming more fundamental. The results showed that there is a need for agricultural systems to deliver nutritionally balanced food, as well as a need for guaranteed food security for the most underprivileged. Furthermore, the findings showed that a strong link between subsistence farming and food security leads to gross domestic product (GDP) development and that the country can provide food for its people through GDP growth.

Ukukhula kwezolimo kubalulekile ekukhiqizeni imali edingekayo ukuze kuqinisekiswe ukutholakala kokudla, ikakhulukazi emazweni ampofu kakhulu kwezomnotho. EZimbabwe kunocwaningo olulinganiselwe mayelana negalelo ukulimela ukuziphilisa okunalo ekutholakaleni kokudla nokuthi ngabe lolu hlobo lwezolimo luyakuvumela noma luyakuvimbela yini ukutholakala kokudla emindenini elimela ukuziphilisa. Inkinga ebhekwa yilolu cwaningo imaqondana negalelo ukulimela ukuziphilisa okunalo ekutholakaleni kokudla endaweni yaseLongfield eZimbabwe. Izinjongo zocwaningo kwakungukwethula ukusetshenziswa kweNkolelombono Enquma Ukuthi Kufinyeleleka Kanjani ekulimeleni ukuziphilisa kanye nasekutholakaleni kokudla; ukuqonda ukulimela ukuziphilisa njengendlela yokukhiqiza, ngokubhekisela ezintweni eziqondene nako, izinselelo, izinqubo, izinzuzo, umthelela emvelweni kanye nokusimama kokulimela ukuziphilisa ukuze kuphenywe ubudlelwano phakathi kokutholakala kokudla kanye nokulimela ukuziphilisa; nokunquma ukuthi ukulimela ukuziphilisa kunegalelo elingakanani ekutholakaleni kokudla eLongfield. Kwasetshenziswa indlela yocwaningo ebheka amaqiniso (ikhwalithethivu) neyokuhlola ocwaningweni. Lolu hlobo locwaningo luncike emibonweni ngokwesilinganiso esithile kanye nakulokho okwenzeke ezimpilweni zababambiqhaza nemibono yabo. Iphepha lemibuzo esangahlelwa kabusha elisetshenziswe ezingxoxweni ezihlelelwe ubuso nobuso laklanyelwa futhi lasetshenziselwa ukuthola imibono yabaphendulayo ngokulimela ukuziphilisa nokutholakala kokudla. Okutholakele kuveze umbono oqondile phakathi kwabaphendulile wokuthi ukulimela ukuziphilisa kunomthelela omuhle ekutholakaleni kokudla. Imiphumela yaveza ukuthi, phakathi kwazo zonke izinto ezikhona, ukulimela ukuziphilisa kunomthelela omuhle ekuthuthukiseni ukutholakala kokudla. Okutholakele kuphinde kwaveza ukuthi ubudlelwano phakathi kokulimela ukuziphilisa nokutholakala kokudla benza kutholakale izondlamzimba nokudla. Indima yabalimi abancane ekuqinisekiseni ukutholakala kokudla, ukutholakala kwempilo, nokukhula okusimeme emaphandleni kuba yisisekelo ngokwengeziwe. Imiphumela iveze ukuthi kunesidingo sezinhlelo zezolimo ekuletheni ukudla okondla umzimba, kanye nesidingo sesiqiniseko sokutholakala kokudla kwabaswele kakhulu. Ngaphezu kwalokho, okutholakele kuveze ukuthi ubuhlobo obuqinile phakathi kokulimela ukuziphilisa nokutholakala kokudla kuholela ekuthuthukeni kwesamba esiphelele somkhiqizo wonyaka (i-GDP) futhi izwe lingahlinzeka abantu balo ngokudla ngokukhula kwe-GDP.

Landboukundige groei is uiters noodsaaklik om die geld te genereer wat nodig is om voedselsekerheid, veral in die armste ekonomieë, te verseker. In Zimbabwe is beperkte navorsing tot dusver gedoen oor die bydrae wat bestaansboerdery tot voedselsekerheid lewer en of hierdie tipe boerdery voedselsekerheid bevorder of beperk in die huishoudings wat dit toepas. Die navorsingsprobleem in hierdie studie het gefokus op die bydrae wat bestaansboerdery tot voedselsekerheid in die Longfield-area in Zimbabwe lewer. Die doelwitte van die studie was om die toepassing van die Teorie van Toegang in bestaansboerdery en voedselsekerheid te demonstreer; om bestaansboerdery as ’n produksiemiddel te verstaan, met verwysing na die elemente, uitdagings, prosesse, voordele, omgewingsimpak en volhoubaarheid van bestaansboerdery; om die verwantskap tussen voedselsekerheid en bestaansboerdery te ondersoek; en om die mate waartoe bestaansboerdery tot voedselsekerheid in Longfield bydra, vas te stel. ’n Kwalitatiewe en verkennende navorsingsbenadering is vir die studie gevolg. Hierdie tipe navorsing is betreklik subjektief en steun op die ervarings en menings van deelnemers. ’n Vraelys vir gebruik in halfgestruktureerde persoonlike onderhoude is opgestel. Die vraelys is vervolgens gebruik om respondente se menings oor bestaansboerdery en voedselsekerheid in te win. Die bevindings het ’n besliste siening onder respondente dat bestaansboerdery ’n positiewe uitwerking op voedselsekerheid het, aan die lig gebring. Die resultate het aangetoon dat, onder al die faktore, bestaansboerdery positief tot die ontwikkeling van voedselsekerheid bydra. Die bevindings het ook daarop gedui dat die verwantskap tussen bestaansboerdery en voedselsekerheid voeding- en voedselsekerheid bewerkstellig. Kleinskaalboere speel ’n toenemend fundamentele rol om voedselsekerheid, gesondheidsekuriteit en volhoubare landelike groei te verseker. Die resultate het gedui op ’n behoefte aan landboustelsels wat voedsel lewer wat voedingsgewys gebalanseerd is, sowel as ’n behoefte aan gewaarborgde voedselsekerheid vir diegene wat uiters minderbevoorreg is. Die bevindings het voorts aangetoon dat ’n sterk verwantskap tussen bestaansboerdery en voedselsekerheid tot die ontwikkeling van die bruto binnelandse produk (BBP) lei en dat die land sy inwoners deur middel van BBP-groei van voedsel kan voorsien.