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Understanding Food (In) security Through Land and Livelihoods: Evidence from Longitudinal Household Data
Daniel Egerson1,2, Essi Edjodjinam Kpegba-Fiaboe2, Aaron Kobina Christian2
1Department of Wildlife, Fisheries, and Aquaculture, Mississippi State University, Mississippi State, Mississippi, USA.
Journal of Rural Studies
|August 15, 2026
Summary
Secure land tenure improves food security in rural South Africa, though livestock ownership can increase insecurity. Household wealth and income are key predictors of food security, highlighting the need for multifaceted interventions.
Area of Science:
- Agricultural Economics
- Development Studies
- Public Health
Background:
- Rural South Africa faces persistent challenges in food security, influenced by historical land dispossession and socioeconomic inequalities.
- Understanding the interplay between land tenure, agricultural practices, and household well-being is crucial for effective policy interventions.
- Longitudinal data provides valuable insights into dynamic socioeconomic trends and their impact on vulnerable populations.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the dynamic relationships between land tenure, agricultural productivity, livestock ownership, and household food security.
- To analyze trends in these factors using longitudinal data from rural South Africa.
- To identify key socioeconomic predictors of food security in the context of evolving land access and asset ownership.
Main Methods:
- Utilized longitudinal data from the Health and Aging in Africa: A Longitudinal Study of an INDEPTH Community (HAALSI) across three waves (2014-2022).
- Employed descriptive and regression analyses on household-level data from adults aged 40 and older in Mpumalanga Province.
- Examined trends in land access, food production, livestock holdings, and socioeconomic characteristics.
Main Results:
- Observed significant declines in household food security and private land ownership over the study period, with partial recovery.
- Found that secure land tenure is consistently linked to improved food security, while agricultural productivity's effect varies with tenure.
- Noted that livestock ownership, especially cattle, correlated with increased food insecurity; household wealth and wage income were the strongest predictors of food security.
Conclusions:
- Secure land tenure is a critical determinant of food security in rural South Africa.
- Household wealth and wage income are paramount for enhancing food security, underscoring the impact of economic vulnerability.
- Addressing food insecurity necessitates interventions strengthening tenure security, promoting livelihood diversification, and expanding social protection programs.
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