Food Security Strategies of the People Living in Haor Areas: Status

137 Pages·2010·1.2 MB·English

Final Report PR #3/08

Food Security Strategies of The

People Living in Haor Areas: Status

and Prospects

By

Mohammad Mizanul Haque Kazal, Principal Investigator

Charles C Villinueva, Co-Investigator

American International University-Bangladesh

and

Md. Zakir Hossain, Co-Investigator
Tulshi Kumar Das, Co-Investigator

Department of Economics

Shahjalal University of Science and Technology

This study was carried out with the support of the

National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme

October 2010
This study was financed under the Research Grants Scheme (RGS) of the National Food
Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme (NFPCSP). The purpose of the RGS was to
assist in improving research and dialogue within civil society so as to inform and enrich
the implementation of the National Food Policy. The NFPCSP is being implemented by
the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO) and the Food
Planning and Monitoring Unit (FPMU), Ministry of Food and Disaster Management with
the financial support of EU and USAID.

The designation and presentation of material in this publication do not imply the
expression of any opinion whatsoever on the part of FAO nor of the NFPCSP,
Government of Bangladesh, EU or USAID and reflects the sole opinions and views of the
authors who are fully responsible for the contents, findings and recommendations of this
report.

ii
CONTENTS

Pages
LIST OF TABLES v
LIST OF FIGURES viii
ABBREVIATIONS AND ACRONYMS ix
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT xi
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY xii
CHAPTER I INTRODUCTION 1-12
1.1 Rationale of the research 2
1.2 Literature Review 3
1.3 Conceptual Framework of the study 11
1.4 Objectives of the Research 12
CHAPTER II METHODOLOGY 13-18
2.1 Research Methods 13
2.2 Sampling Design 13
2.3 Data collection 14
2.4 Analytical Techniques 15
2.4.1 Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) Method 15
2.4.2 Direct Calorie Intake (DCI) Method 16
2.4.3 Poverty Gap and Squared Poverty Gap 17
2.4.4 Logistic Regression Model 17
CHAPTER III SOCIO-DEMOGRAPHIC AND ECONOMIC PROFILE OF THE
19-43
HOUSEHOLDS
3.1 Socio-demographic Characteristics 19
3.1.1 Characteristics of Household Members 19
3.1.2 Profile of the Household Heads 22
3.1.3 Landholdings of the Households 23
3.1.4 Housing Condition, Sanitation Facilities and Household Assets
25
3.1.5 Proximity of Different Service Stations from the Clusters 28
3.1.6 Women Empowerment Status 28
3.2 Production and Income 29
3.2.1 Crop Production System in Haor Areas 30
3.2.2 Cropping Pattern and Income from Major Crops 30
3.2.3 Income from Labour Selling and Non-farm Activities 32
3.2.4 Overall Income from Various Sources 33
3.2.5 Decile Distribution of Income 35
3.2.6 Inequality of Income Distribution: Lorenz Curve 35
3.3 Consumption and Expenditure 36
3.3.1 Pattern of monthly food consumption and Expenditure 37
3.3.2 Expenditure on Agricultural Inputs 38
3.3.3 Expenditure on Clothes 39
iii
3.3.4 Other Annual Expenditure of the Household 39
3.3.5 Households’ Overall Consumption and Investment Expenditures 39
3.3.6 Borrowing, Lending and Savings Pattern 40
CHAPTER IV HOUSEHOLDS’ FOOD INTAKE BEHAVIOUR AND POVERTY
43-56
LEVEL
4.1 Food Intake Behaviour and Nutritional Status 43
4.1.1 Sources of Main Food Items 43
4.1.2 Frequency of Meal with Combination of Food Items 44
4.1.3 Frequency of Food for Vulnerable Members and Pattern of Change in the
47
Lean Season
4.1.4 Nutritional Intake of the Households according to Selected Characteristics 47
4.2 Poverty Level of the Households 49
4.2.1 Poverty Estimation using Costs of Basic Needs (CBN) Method 50
4.2.2 Poverty Estimation using Direct Calorie Intake (DCI) Method 51
4.2.3 Self-ranking of Household’s Socio-economic Status 52
4.2.4 Differentials of Poverty by selected Background Characteristics 53
4.2.5 Poverty Gap and Squared Poverty Gap 55
CHAPTER V HOUSEHOLD FOOD INSECURITY: STATUS AND COPING
57-77
STRATEGY
5.1 Status of Food Insecurity 57
5.1.1 Extent and intensity of food insecurity 57
5.1.2 Causes of Food Insecurity 59
5.2 Coping Strategies and necessary measures including Safety Nets and
60
IGAs
5.2.1 Immediate Measures for Overcoming the Food Insecurity Situation
60
5.2.2 General (Long-run) Coping Strategies for Food Insecurity Situation 61
5.2.3 Necessary Measures for Household Food Security 61
5.2.4 Pattern of Safety Nets and IGAs 62
5.3 Determinants of food insecurity and Consequences of Coping
68
Strategies
5.3.1 Predictors of Household Food Insecurity 69
5.3.2 Food Insecurity-related Problems 74
5.3.3 Consequences of the Adopted Coping Strategies for Food Insecurity 76
5.3.4 Identification of Common Components for Food Security 77
CHAPTER VI CONCLUSIONS AND RECOMMENDATIONS 78-82
REFERENCES 83-87
Annex - I Appendix Tables 88-112
Annex -II Report of the FGDs/PRAs 113-116
Annex-III Persons Involved in the Study 117

iv
List of Tables
Number Title Page
Table 3.1 Landholding Pattern of the Study Households 24
Table 3.2 Pattern of Income from Labor Selling and Non-farm activities 32
Table 3.3 Household Overall Income (annual) from Various Sources 33
Table 3.4 Consumption and Investment Expenditure of the Households in Different
40
Heads
Appendix
Profile of the Household Population by Sex 88
Table 3.1
Appendix
Profile of the Household Head 89
Table 3.2
Appendix Distribution of Households according to the Pattern of Leasing-in and
90
Table 3.3 Leasing-out of agricultural land
Appendix
Housing Condition and Sanitation Facilities 91
Table 3.4
Appendix Possession of Household Assets and Classification of Households based
92
Table 3.5 on Assigned Scores
Appendix
Distance of the Service Stations/Institutions from Selected Clusters 92
Table 3.6
Appendix
Crop Production System in Haor areas 93
Table 3.7
Appendix Cropping Pattern and Income of Major Crops
94
Table 3.8
Appendix
Average Income of Various Sources according to the Landholdings 95
Table 3.9
Appendix
Classification of Households by Annual Income into Decile Groups 95
Table 3.10
Appendix
Distribution of Income at Household Level 95
Table 3.11
Appendix
Monthly Consumption and Expenditure Pattern mainly on Food Items 96
Table 3.12
Appendix
Annual Household Expenditure on Agricultural Inputs 96
Table 3.13
Appendix
Annual Household Expenditure on Clothing Items 96
Table 3.14
Appendix Annual Household Expenditure on Other Items excluding Food,
97
Table 3.15 Agriculture and Clothing
Appendix Borrowing Status of the Study Households during the Year Prior to the
97
Table 3.16 Interview
Appendix
Pattern of Amount Borrowed, Repaid and Interest Paid 98
Table 3.17
Appendix Lending Status of the Study Households during the Year Prior to the
98
Table 3.18 Interview
Appendix
Pattern of Amount of Lent-out, Recovered and Interest Received 98
Table 3.19
Appendix Status of Savings of the Study Households during the Year Prior to the
99
Table 3.20 Interview
v
Table 4.1 Sources and Consumption Pattern of Main Food Items in Normal and
44
Lean Seasons
Table 4.2 Comparison of Daily Meals between Normal and Lean Season by Type
45
and Households’ Economic Condition
Table 4.3 Comparison of Quality of Meals between Normal and Lean Season
46
according to Combination of food and Households’ Economic Condition
Table 4.4 Average Number of Daily Meals of Vulnerable Groups during the
47
Normal Season and Change (reduction) in the Lean Season
Table 4:5 Comparison of the incidence of poverty by CBN method and DCI
52
method with self-ranking assessment
Table 4.6 Poverty Gap and Squared Poverty Gap by FGT Method using the Lower
55
and Upper Poverty Lines of CBN Estimation (in percent)
Appendix
Availability of Main Food Items in Normal and Lean Seasons 99
Table 4.1
Appendix Nutritional Intake (Per Capita Per day) of the Study Population by
100
Table 4.2 Selected Characteristics
Appendix Per capita Per day Requirements of Food Intake, Price of Food and
101
Table 4.3 Calorie Contents
Appendix Estimation of the Incidence of Poverty at Household Level (head count
101
Table 4.4 ratio) by Cost of Basic Needs (CBN) Method
Appendix Estimation of the Extent of Poverty at Household Level (head count ratio)
101
Table 4.5 by Direct Calorie Intake (DCI) Method
Appendix Differentials of Poverty using CBN Method according to Selected
102
Table 4.6 Characteristics
Appendix Differentials of Poverty using DCI Method according to Selected
103
Table 4.7 Characteristics
Table 5.1 Food Security Status with its Degree 57
Table 5.2 Necessary Actions to be taken to maintain Households’ Food Security 62
Table 5.3 Pattern of Receiving Help from Safety Nets Programs in the Last One
Year According to the Landholdings, Occupation and Household 64
Composition
Table 5.4 Status of involvement in any IGAs, duration and contribution to
68
household food security
Predictors of Different Levels of Food Insecurity by Logistic Regression
Table 5.5 72
Analysis
Appendix Status of Food Security in the last 3 months according to the Occupation
104
Table 5.1 of Household Head, Landholdings and Location (district)
Appendix Adopted General Coping Strategies according to the Households’
105
Table 5.2 Economic Condition
Appendix Coverage of Safety Nets and Participation in IGA according to the
105
Table 5.3 Poverty Condition (Using CBN method) of the Households
Appendix Household’s Failing Status in the Social Safety Nets Program with
106
Table 5.4 Reasons
Appendix Duration, Place of Delivery, Quantity and Effectiveness of Safety
106
Table 5.5 Net Aids for the Beneficiary Households
Appendix Sources of Information about the Social Safety Nets Program and
Table 5.6 Opinion Regarding the Time of the Year when the Help is much more 107
Needful
vi
Appendix
Status of Persuasion for Inclusion in the Social Safety Nets Program 107
Table 5.7
Appendix
Status and Types of Training Received from GO and NGOs 107
Table 5.8
Appendix Opinion of the Villagers Regarding the Role of Different Stakeholders
108
Table 5.9 during Natural Calamities
Appendix Estimated Regression Coefficients and Associated Statistics from
Table 5.10 Logistic Regression Model for Identifying the Predictors of Normal Food 109
Insecurity
Appendix Estimated Regression Coefficients and Associated Statistics from
Table 5.11 Logistic Regression Model for Identifying the Predictors of Moderately 110
Food Insecurity
Appendix Estimated Regression Coefficients and Associated Statistics from
Table 5.12 Logistic Regression Model for Identifying the Predictors of Severely 111
Food Insecurity
Appendix Estimated Regression Coefficients and Associated Statistics from Ordinal
Table 5.13 Logistic Regression Model for Identifying the Predictors of Food 112
insecurity

vii
List of Figures

Page
Figure 3.1 Educational Status of the Household Members by sex 21
Figure 3.2 Composition of Households 22
Figure 3.3 Decision-makers of Households during Food Crisis 28
Figure 3.4 Females’ Participation Status in Household Decision-making 28
Figure 3.5 Average Income of Various Sources according to the Landholdings 34
Figure 3.6 Lorenz Curve of Income at Household Level 36
Figure 3.7 Monthly Expenditure of Mainly Consumed Food Items 38
Figure 3.8 Main Provider of Loan 41
Figure 3.9 Problems in Receiving Loan 41
Figure 4.1 Incidence of Poverty by CBN Method 51
Figure 4.2 Incidence of Poverty by DCI Method 51
Figure 4.3 Self-ranking of Household’s Socio-economic Status 52
Figure 5.1 Status of Different Scales of Food Insecurity by Location (District) 58
Figure 5.2 Main Reasons for Households’ Food Insecurity 59
Figure 5.3 Immediate Coping Strategies 60
Figure 5.4 General Coping Strategies 60
Figure 5.5 Coverage of Safety Nets Programs 63
Figure 5.6 Kinds of Safety Nets Help 63
Figure 5.7 Reasons for Inclusion in the Safety Nets 65

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Abbreviations and Acronyms

ACRE AIUB Center for Research and Excellence
AIUB American International University -Bangladesh
BBS Bangladesh Bureau of Statistics
BDHS Bangladesh Demographic and Health Survey
BIDS Bangladesh Institute of Development Studies
BRAC Bangladesh Rural Advancement Committee
Cal Calorie
CBM Community Based Management
CBN Cost of Basic Needs
CI Co-Investigator
DCI Direct Calorie Intake
EPI Expanded Programme on Immunization
EU European Union
FAO Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations
FGD Focus Group Discussion
FGT Foster-Greer-Thorbecke
FPMU Food Planning and Monitoring Unit
GDP Gross Domestic Product
GO Government Organization
GoB Government of Bangladesh
GR Gratuitous Relief
HDDS Household Dietary Diversity Score
HES Household Expenditure Survey
HH Household Head
HIES Household Income and Expenditure Survey
HYV High Yielding Variety
ICT Information and Communication Technology
IGA Income Generating Activity
Kg Kilogram
MDG Millennium Development Goal
MLRGA Multiple Logistic Regression Analysis
MWCA Ministry of Women and Children Affairs
NFPCSP National Food Policy Capacity Strengthening Programme
NGO Non Government Organization
NIPORT National Institute of Population, Research and Training
OLRM Ordinal Logistic Regression Model
PI Principal Investigator
PPS Probability Proportionate to Size
PRA Participatory Rural Appraisal
PRSP Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper
ix
RA Research Assistants
SUST Shahjalal University of Science and Technology
Tk Taka (Bangladesh Currency: 69.4 taka = US$ 1)
TV Television
UNDP United Nations Development Programme
UNICEF United Nations Children’s Fund
UP Union Parishad
USAID United States Agency for International Development
VGD Vulnerable Group Development
VGF Vulnerable Group Feeding
WB World Bank
WFP World Food Programme
WHO World Health Organization
x