Factores determinantes da percepção de (In)segurança alimentar familiar evidência e implicações da análise selectiva de indicadores na cidade de Xai-Xai e distrito de Mabalane na Província de Gaza

Abstract

Several international development aid agencies point to the reduction of poverty and food insecurity as the main policy development goals in the new millennium. This gives rise to a greater need for instruments to measure them. In the present study, the analysis results from the use of data on quantitative and qualitative indicators from the city of Xai-Xai and the district of Mabalane, both in Gaza province. Efforts to reduce food insecurity and poverty are more focused on rural areas; yet the problems of poor city dwellers have been increasingly worrying. This study builds, analyzes and compares food security indicators, seeking to determine the extent to which poverty is a cause of food insecurity, as well as proposing policy options aimed at minimizing the problem. Data analysis was carried out through three main analytical procedures, namely, descriptive analysis centered on the occurrence of certain indicators in the sample, comparative analysis carried out through One-Way ANOVA for the validation of differences between such indicators and econometric analysis to examine the determinants of the perception of the occurrence of food (in)security. Evidence from the study indicates that the food insecurity situation in the city of Xai-Xai is less severe than in Mabalane and that this is a cause and consequence of poverty, due to its complex relationship. The main policy implications that emerge from the analysis carried out are the improvement of the policy formulation process, better provision of basic infrastructure, strategies to increase income, promotion of agricultural development, nutrition education, investment in human capital, greater scope of development programs, improvement of the production system as well as the processing of agricultural products. (TRADUÇÃO NOSSA)