University of Montana ScholarWorks at University of Montana Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers Graduate School 2014 SECURING FOOD AND LIVELIHOODS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS TO SUSTAINABLY ENHANCING HOUSEHOLD FOOD PRODUCTION IN SANTA FAMILIA VILLAGE, BELIZE Siobhan B. Lozada The University of Montana Follow this and additional works at: https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd Let us know how access to this document benefits ou.y Recommended Citation Lozada, Siobhan B., "SECURING FOOD AND LIVELIHOODS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS TO SUSTAINABLY ENHANCING HOUSEHOLD FOOD PRODUCTION IN SANTA FAMILIA VILLAGE, BELIZE" (2014). Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers. 4202. https://scholarworks.umt.edu/etd/4202 This Thesis is brought to you for free and open access by the Graduate School at ScholarWorks at University of Montana. It has been accepted for inclusion in Graduate Student Theses, Dissertations, & Professional Papers by an authorized administrator of ScholarWorks at University of Montana. For more information, please contact [email protected]. SECURING FOOD AND LIVELIHOODS: OPPORTUNITIES AND CONSTRAINTS TO SUSTAINABLY ENHANCING HOUSEHOLD FOOD PRODUCTION IN SANTA FAMILIA VILLAGE, BELIZE By SIOBHAN BURMA LOZADA Latin American Studies, University of California at San Diego, 2008 Thesis presented in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Resource Conservation, International Conservation and Development University of Montana Missoula, MT April 2014 Approved by: Sandy Ross, Dean of the Graduate School Graduate School Stephen F. Siebert, Chair Department of Forest Management Dane Scott, Co-chair Department of Society and Conservation Sarah J. Halvorson Department of Geography Joshua Slotnick Department of Environmental Studies © COPYRIGHT by Siobhan Burma Lozada 2014 All Rights Reserved ii ABSTRACT Rural households play an active role in reorganizing their livelihood strategies to respond to external stresses and shocks. What is unclear is the extent to which rural households can remain resilient in the face of continued external stresses and how policy actions at larger scales can more effectively encourage rural food and livelihood sustainability. Economic and ecological stresses and shocks have negatively impacted livelihood security and wider economic stability in Belize. This has increased the number of people below the poverty line to 41.3 percent, who remain disproportionately located in rural areas. With a high degree of import dependency, global food price surges have resulted in direct pass through effects on domestic prices, creating food price inflation of up to 22.8 percent between 2006 and 2009. Within this context, this study assesses the state of livelihood security in a village of the Cayo district by assessing the quality of household capital assets, including human, financial, natural and social capital. Semi-structured face-to- face interviews were conducted in 2012 using a random sample of 64 households. Participant observation, key-informant interviews, the use of secondary sources and extra-local interviews with government officials were also employed to gain deeper insight into the complexity of the rural environment and institutional policies related to food security and sustainable agricultural development. Results show high levels of livelihood diversification among both grain farmers and non-farming households. No significant difference existed between total household median incomes. However, the median income of non-grain male household heads is significantly greater than that of grain farmer male householders (U = 1393, n1 = 43, n2 = 16, p < .05). Part-time farming households maintained the highest number of livelihood strategies compared to non-grain households, with a median of 4 to 3 respectively (U = 506, n1 = 11, n2 = 48, p < .0005). Compared to non-farmers, part-time farmers are disproportionately engaged in day labor as a primary income strategy, where pay is lower and work is less reliable (Chi = 57, df = 1, p < .01). Human capital is low among both household types, with 65 percent of non-farming male householders receiving no education above the primary school level, while all grain farmers received no education above the primary school level (Chi = 59, df = 1, p < ii .01). Domestic and foreign remittances did not impact the majority of participants, as only 28 percent reported they received, or would receive, some amount of extra-household monetary support. Yet, the median value of out-country remittances were significantly greater for non- farmers compared to grain farmers (U = 21.00, n1 = 4, n2 = 3, p < .05). Despite these strategies, financial capital remains constrained, as over 75% of households are unable to save money, and the large majority of working females worked out of necessity. In addition, nearly two thirds of households have reduced meal size in recent years, with no significant difference between household types. Nearly three quarters of all householders valued home gardens as a mode to adding diversity to the diet and improving health or reducing purchasing costs. Among grain farmers, 94 percent stated that grain farms provided their family with food, where 62.5 percent indicated risk management, specifically, as their reason for farming. This proportion rises to 83.3 percent when looking at white corn producers exclusively. When asked if farming has become more difficult, less difficult, or the same compared to the past, 62.5 percent of grain farmers stated that agriculture in Belize has become more difficult (Chi = 6.5, df = 2, p < .05). Biophysical constraints among both household types include vulnerability to waterlogging and drought, soil fertility and pest problems. Input costs are also of concern, while grain farmers faced additional transaction risk. Furthermore, land tenure insecurity is widespread. To compound the problem, social capital is also weak given disillusionment with formal organizing, where exclusionary policies by the local cooperative further restrict access to relevant low-cost and low-input technologies. Expanding access to sustainable technologies through participatory research and extension is recommended. However, greater access to technology alone is insufficient for sustaining intensification that can ensure resilient food and livelihood strategies. Reducing costs and risk through secure access to productive resources, markets, and financial services in a manner that accounts for heterogeneity in farming systems and local food security priorities are also essential. To this end, and with attention to national-level social and economic conditions, a pro-poor agricultural growth strategy is considered within a dynamic food sovereignty framework. Keywords: Belize, Sustainable Agriculture, Small Farmers, Sustainable Rural Livelihoods, Subsistence Farmers, Agricultural Development, Political Agroecology, Local Food Systems, Adaptive Capacity, Food Sovereignty. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to express my sincere gratitude to my principle advisor, Steve Siebert, for his guidance and feedback in the completion of my thesis. Your constructive comments greatly improved the quality of this analysis. I am also grateful to Dane Scott for his professional support and warm encouragement. I further acknowledge the Provost and the Mansfield Ethics and Public Affairs Program for financially supporting this work. I give my upmost thanks to my mother for continuously inspiring my journey by reminding me what true strength, intelligence and wisdom looks like. To my professors throughout my academic career for your dedication to developing the mind and spirit of students everywhere. To my close friends for your heartfelt care and those indispensable instances of laughter. To all the families and farmers I have had the privilege of meeting, I express special thanks for diversifying my understanding through your steadfast insistence on my re-education. To my partner who kept me balanced through many memorable excursions during the interviewing period, as well as fed throughout my writing days in the bush, you are the power that drives my convictions. To the forest, flora and fauna, for nourishing the body and mind, reminding us what truly matters; it is to you to which I dedicate this work. TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ........................................................................................................................................... II ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ..................................................................................................................... I LIST OF TABLES .................................................................................................................................. V LIST OF FIGURES AND PHOTOGRAPHS ......................................................................................... VI CHAPTER 1: INTRODUCTION .......................................................................................................... 1 1.1 THE NATURE OF ECONOMIC AND ECOLOGICAL STRESSES AND SHOCKS IN BELIZE ............ 1 1.2 RESEARCH OBJECTIVE ......................................................................................................................................... 6 1.3 SCOPE OF THE RESEARCH ................................................................................................................................... 8 1.4 RESEARCH OVERVIEW ........................................................................................................................................