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Poverty and household food security of black South African farm workers: the legacy of social inequalities

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 January 2007

A Kruger ,
S Lemke ,
Mars Phometsi ,
H van't Riet ,
AE Pienaar  and
G Kotze
A Kruger*
Affiliation:
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Box 594, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
S Lemke
Affiliation:
Centre for International Development and Environmental Research, Justus-Liebig University Giessen, Germany and Visiting Research Fellow, Nutrition Department, North-West University, South Africa
Mars Phometsi
Affiliation:
Nutrition Department, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, Box 594, Potchefstroom 2520, South Africa
H van't Riet
Affiliation:
GG&GD (Gemeentelyke Geneeskundige en Gezondheidsdienst), Amsterdam, The Netherlands, and former Visiting Research Fellow, Nutrition Department, North-West University, South Africa
AE Pienaar
Affiliation:
School for Biokinetics, Recreation and Sports Science, North-West University, South Africa
G Kotze
Affiliation:
Department of Social Work, School of Behavioural and Psychosocial Sciences, Faculty of Health Sciences, North-West University, South Africa
*
*corresponding author: Email vgeak@puknet.puk.ac.za
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Abstract

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Objective

To assess socio-economic indicators, nutritional status and living conditions of farm workers and their families, with the purpose to develop research and intervention programmes aimed at enhancing nutritional status and quality of life.

Design and setting

Three farm schools in two districts of the North-West Province and farming communities were selected. Anthropometrical measurements, structured face-to-face questionnaires and focus group discussions were carried out in 2002 and 2003 by a multidisciplinary research team.

Results

Access to electricity, water and sanitation, as well as monthly food rations or subsidies, vary and depend on farm owners. The majority of adults have education below or up to grade four, farm schools provide only up to grade seven. Distance to farm schools and intra-household issues hamper children's attendance and performance at school. Household food security is compromised due to a lack of financial resources, infrastructure and also household resource allocation. This impacts negatively especially on children, with half of them being underweight, stunted or wasted. Employment is usually linked to men, while most women have access to casual jobs only. Insecurity of residence and the perceived disempowered position towards farm owners add to feelings of hopelessness and stress.

Conclusions and recommendations

This study highlights destitute living conditions of farm worker families. Apart from structural and financial constraints, paternalistic structures of the past might also hamper development. Based on these findings, follow-up research projects and in-depth investigations into underlying social issues with regard to nutrition insecurity and livelihoods of farm workers were initiated.

Keywords

PovertySocio-economic factorsHousehold food securityFarm workersFLAGH programme
Type
Research Article
Information
Public Health Nutrition , Volume 9 , Issue 7 , October 2006 , pp. 830 - 836
Copyright
Copyright © The Authors 2006

References

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