Assessment of food insecurity status among smallholder arable farmers in the Central District of Botswana

Food security remains a significant policy issue for many nations, particularly in semi-arid countries. Despite the government’s ability to import food in Botswana, food insecurity continues to pose challenges for certain demographic groups. The country is vulnerable to food insecurity, however, little research has been conducted to establish the farmers’ food insecurity status. This study assessed the food insecurity status among smallholder arable farmers in the Central District of Botswana, a region characterized by semi-arid conditions and substantial dependence on agriculture for food security and livelihoods. A structured interview schedule was used to collect primary data about household demographics, socio-economic factors, and food accessibility from 470 smallholder farmers selected through a multistage sampling technique. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure food insecurity levels, and ordinary least squares regression analysis was conducted to determine the socioeconomic factors influencing food security. The results indicated that 63% of the farmers were food secure, while 18.5% experienced varying levels of food insecurity, with 11.06% moderately food insecure and 7.87% severely food insecure. The analysis revealed that household size, income, remittances, employment, and livelihood sources significantly associate with food security status. Higher income and diversified livelihoods are associated with improved food security. Notably, some farmers expressed a sense of satisfaction with their living conditions despite the challenges, indicating a complex association between food security and personal well-being. The government should create conditions that promote employment and increase income opportunities for working household members to improve household food security.