Food Security

Wednesday, August 08, 2007

A call for assistance with self-sufficient food security in Zambia

By, Bright M Mweemba, HDN key correspondent in Zambia, August 8, 2007

The food security of people living with HIV (PLHIV) in Zambia needs to be addressed as a matter of urgency. The food supplements that some people get are not a long term solution. Just as antiretroviral drugs (ARVs) are considered a lifelong necessity, so should food security.

The solution lies in finding ways of empowering PLHIV. I suggest that a policy of voluntary resettlement to productive farming areas should be put in place in Zambia. The government needs to set up a revolving fund for this purpose.

It is difficult for individuals to access institutional funding while living in areas other than where they want to settle. The financing systems currently in place only deal with cooperatives or support groups, meaning people need the support of their current community before they can finance a move elsewhere.

Many people cannot become members of their village cooperative because they plan to move on. What these people need is direct assistance to enable them to migrate and start being productive.

As a PLHIV, I have tried to access small, start-up capital from various institutions dealing with HIV and AIDS issues, but all my attempts have been in vain. My wife, who is also HIV positive, and I want to be self-sufficient and able to supply ourselves with food.

I am sure I am not the only person in this situation. I am aware that there are a lot of workshops being conducted to empower people with business skills but as long as nothing is done to actually start these people in business the money spent and the knowledge gained are going to go to waste.

Food insecurity is more of a threat to PLHIV than the actual infection with which they live.


Source: www.correspondent.org

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