L9

Question 1

What are the four dimensions of food security?

Answer 1

1. Physical availability (supply side: production, stocks)
2. Economic and physical access (household income, market access)
3. Food utilization (adequate intake, diversity, intra-household distribution)
4. Stability of the other three dimensions over time

Question 2

What are the main causes of food insecurity?

Answer 2

A mix of political, economic, and social factors, often worsened by climate conditions and conflict.

Question 3

What is seasonal (transitory) food insecurity?

Answer 3

It occurs when there are cyclical patterns of inadequate availability and access to food, often due to climatic variations, cropping patterns, or diseases.

Question 4

What are some short-term coping strategies for food insecurity?

Answer 4

Buying or receiving food
Selling cattle
Harvesting crops prematurely
Searching for alternative water sources

Question 5

What are some long-term adaptations to chronic food insecurity?

Answer 5

Livelihood diversification
Planting different crops or adjusting planting times
Soil and water conservation
Using granaries for food storage

Question 6

How does pastoralism relate to food insecurity?

Answer 6

Pastoralist communities are vulnerable due to mobility, reliance on livestock, and climatic variability, but their mobile lifestyle helps them cope with uncertainty and chronic food insecurity.

Question 7

What are the risks of sedentarization for pastoralist communities?

Answer 7

Settling pastoralists can increase vulnerability by closing migration routes and reducing access to alternative livelihoods, leading to what is called ‘drop-out pastoralism’.

Question 8

What are the differences between coping strategies and adaptation?

Answer 8

Coping strategies are short-term responses to shocks, often based on available means.
Adaptation involves permanent adjustments to minimize risks in response to changing realities (e.g., climate change).

Question 9

How do pastoralists cope with seasonal food insecurity?

Answer 9

By spreading risks with different types of livestock, relying on mobility, and incorporating agriculture into their livelihood to restock herds.

Question 10

What are the challenges for governments and NGOs in supporting pastoralist communities?

Answer 10

Developing targeted policies that strengthen pastoralism without disrupting mobility and livelihood strategies, especially in dry-land areas unsuitable for intensive agriculture.