**Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Development for Food Security in Africa: A Case Study of South Africa Security in Africa: A Case Study of South Africa**

**Nutrition-Sensitive Agricultural Development for Food** 

Hester Carina Schönfeldt, Nicolette Hall and Beulah Pretorius Beulah Pretorius Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

Hester Carina Schönfeldt, Nicolette Hall and

Additional information is available at the end of the chapter

http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/67110

#### **Abstract**

The paradox of persistent under‐nutrition and food insecurity; as well as the increas‐ ing the incidence of over nutrition is particularly observed in middle –income coun‐ tries experiencing rapid westernisation such as South Africa (SA). Values of household Food insecurity remains high, whereas overweight and obesity are increasing at a rapid rate. Agriculture and the food system play a key role in nutrition, health and food security. It provides for the primary sources of energy along with essential nutri‐ ents, while simultaneously being a source of income, creating jobs and earning foreign exchange. This case study presents the current nutrition sensitivity of the South‐ African agriculture and food systems (including governmental prioritization) and highlights the importance of this for future development towards improved food and nutrition Security and nutritional status. Since 2013, discussions on a single, compre‐ hensive, food security and nutrition policy and implementation plan for South Africa have been in process with the aim to coordinate the improvement of both food security and all forms of malnutrition. Yet, the case study findings indicate an unfortunate lack of understanding about nutrient density and dietary diversity and the role which this could play in combating non‐communicable diseases in addition to food insecurity and hunger.

**Keywords:** South Africa, food security, policies, programmes, Africa, nutrition sensitivity

© 2016 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited. © 2017 The Author(s). Licensee InTech. This chapter is distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0), which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original work is properly cited.
