Outline

HIV/AIDS and Agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa

Preliminary Outline

I. Introduction

A. History HIV/AIDS in Africa

B. Agricultural dependence

C. Nutrition

D. Overview of agricultural problems due to AIDS

II. General Issues

A. Loss of agricultural knowledge

1. Less skilled labor force

2. Shift towards monocultures

a. less nutritious crops

b. soil degradation

B. Female-headed households

1. Economic burdens

2. Social restrictions

C. AIDS orphans

1. Sacrificed education

2. Shift towards less labor-intensive crops

a. monocultures

b. poor nutrition

D. Nutrition

1. Increased susceptibility when malnourished

2. Least labor-intensive crops are least nutritious

3. Increased food necessity when infected with HIV

III. Problems in Specific Countries

A. Uganda

1. Switch from nutritious cash crops to non-valuable root crops

2. Cultural restrictions for widows

3. Moving to cities

B. Namibia

1. Property rights for women after death of spouse

2. Increased female and youth headed households

C. Rwanda

1. Loss of productive labor group

2. Decreased control over farming systems

3. Study of farming systems

IV. Zambia

A. IP case study

1. Highest rate of HIV infection among young adults

2. Uneven distribution of wealth between male and female headed households with AIDS orphans

3. Feminization of poverty

4. Programs addressing HIV/AIDS

B. FASAZ case study

1. Household structures, asset ownership, and gender roles

2. Labor availability

C. FAO case study

1. Inequalities in rural households

2. Distribution of wealth

3. Design of agricultural policies and programs

V. Policy Effectiveness

A. Plan for the Modernization of Agriculture

B. Poverty Eradication Action Plan

C. Agriculture Commercialization Programme

D. Committee on the Elimination of Discrimination Against Women

E. United Nations Development Programme

VI. Conclusion

Abstract

AIDS is a multifaceted epidemic that affects not only the health of a community but its economics, social structure, and environment as well. This is especially true in Africa where many of the communities that are most affected by the disease do not have the means to implement any sort of program to encourage awareness or help ease these burdens. For my project, I will analyze the affects of HIV/AIDS on agriculture in Sub-Saharan Africa. AIDS most greatly affects people between the ages of 15 and 45, which is the most productive age group, especially in rural areas where labor-intensive agriculture is the main means of survival. There are many issues involved in this including a trend towards more households headed by women and HIV orphans, a loss of agricultural knowledge, and a trend towards less labor intensive monocultures.

Working Bibliography

Barnett, Tony and Alan Whiteside. AIDS in the Twenty-First Century. New York: Palgrave Macmillan, 2006.

Brown, Lynn R. The Potential Impact of AIDS on Population and Economic Growth Rates. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute, 1996.

Farming Systems Association of Zambia. Interlinkages Between HIV/AIDS, Agricultural Production and Food Security. Rome, Italy: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations, 2003.

Garí, Josep A. Plant Diversity, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods and the HIV/AIDS Crisis. Bangkok, Thailand: United Nations, 2004.

Gillespie, Stuart. “Potential Impacts of AIDS on Farming Systems: A Case Study from Rwanda.” Land Use Policy. October 1989: 301-312.

Hlanze, Zahke, Thanky Gama, and Sibusiso Mondlane. The Impact of HIV/AIDS and Drought on Local Knowledge Systems for Agrobiodiversity and Food Security. Swaziland: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nation – Links, 2005.

Mesko, Natasha, Esther Wiegers, and Vibeke Hermanrud. HIV/AIDS and Agriculture: Impacts and Responses. Case studies from Namibia, Uganda, and Zambia. Norway: Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations – Links, 2003.

Shapouri, Shahla and Stacey Rosen. “Toll on Agriculture from HIV/AIDS in Sub-Saharan Africa.” Agricultural Information Bulletin 765-9 (2001).

United States. Senate. Committee on International Relations. Hearing on the Developing Food Security Crisis in Southern Africa. 107^th Congress, 2^nd session. Serial Number 107-91. Washington, DC: US Government Printing Office, 2002.

Wiebe, Keirth and Abebayehu Tegene. “Resource Quality, Agricultural Productivity, and Food Security in Developing Countries.” Economic Research Service/USDA. Food Security Assessment GFA-12 (2000): 24-34.

Wisner, Ben, Camilla Toulmin, and Rutendo Chitiga. Towards a New Map of Africa. Sterling, VA: Earthscan, 2005.

Worldwatch Institute. State of the World 2005: Redefining Global Security. New York: W.W. Norton & Company, Inc., 2005.