10.57647/j.jrs.2025.1504.32

The role of agricultural systems and rangeland ecosystem services in the food security and nutrition of smallholder farmer households: A small-scale analysis from the west of Iran

PDF
  • Saeed Mahmoudi1,
  • Hossein Mahmoudi1,
  • Abdolmajid Mahdavi Damghani*1,
  • Jafar Kambouzia1,
  1. Department of Agroecology, Environmental Sciences Research Institute, Shahid Beheshti University, Tehran, Iran

Received: 2024-08-16

Revised: 2024-11-01

Accepted: 2024-11-18

Published in Issue 2025-08-20

Copyright (c) -1 Saeed Mahmoudi, Hossein Mahmoudi, Abdolmajid Mahdavi Damghani, Jafar Kambouzia (Author)

Creative Commons License

This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License.

How to Cite

Mahmoudi, S., Mahmoudi, H., Mahdavi Damghani, A., & Kambouzia, J. (2025). The role of agricultural systems and rangeland ecosystem services in the food security and nutrition of smallholder farmer households: A small-scale analysis from the west of Iran. Journal of Rangeland Science, 15(4). https://doi.org/10.57647/j.jrs.2025.1504.32
Crossref
Scopus
Google Scholar
Europe PMC

PDF views: 113

Abstract

Agriculture and rangeland are the basis of livelihood of Smallholder Farmer Households (SFHs) in Sarpol-Zahab county, west of Iran. In this area, three distinct Agricultural Systems (ASs) based on agricultural and pasture ecosystem services have been formed over time including a) AS of guaranteed agri-products that are purchased by the government, b) AS of commercial agri-products that are limited to agro-ecosystem services and c) AS of agri-pasture products that are characterized by a diverse range of agricultural and pasture ecosystem services. The purpose of the present study was to evaluate the consequences of Food Security and Nutrition (FSN) of these ASs for SFHs and compare them. Collecting the required information using the USDA household food security questionnaire, the structured questionnaire for ASs, interviews and field surveys lasted from October to December 2023. The results showed a relatively high prevalence of food insecurity (57.3%) among SFHs. Food insecurity was negatively correlated with farmland size (r=-0.17, p<0.05), household income (r=-0.73, p<0.01), AS of commercial agri-products (r=-0.46, p<0.01), AS of agri-pasture products (r=-0.21, p<0.05), while, there was a weak and positive correlation between food insecurity and AS of guaranteed agri-products that was purchased by the government (r=0.15, p>0.05). The results of the relative risk test also confirm the occurrence of household food insecurity for the conditions of the absence of the AS of commercial agri-products, the absence of the AS of agri-pasture products, and the presence of the AS of guaranteed agri-products. The proper income and crop diversity, part of which is consumed in the households' food basket, will improve the food security status of the SFHs by the AS of agri-pasture products.

Keywords

  • Agricultural systems,
  • Pasture,
  • Agroecosystem services,
  • Food insecurity,
  • Rural household livelihood
PDF

References

  1. Adeniyi, D. A., & Dinbabo, M. F. 2019. Factors influencing household food security among irrigation smallholders in North West Nigeria. J Rev Glob Econ, 8, 291-304.
  2. Adjimoti, G. O., & Kwadzo, G. T.-M. 2018. Crop diversification and household food security status: evidence from rural Benin. Agriculture & Food Security, 7(1), 82. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0233-x.
  3. Afolayan, A. J., & Jimoh, F. O. 2009. Nutritional quality of some wild leafy vegetables in South Africa. International Journal of Food Sciences and Nutrition, 60(5), 424-431. https://doi.org/10.1080/09637480701777928.
  4. Aletor, O., Oshodi, A. A., & Ipinmoroti, K. 2002. Chemical composition of common leafy vegetables and functional properties of their leaf protein concentrates. Food Chemistry, 78(1), 63-68. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0308-8146(01)00376-4.
  5. Bacon, C. M., Flores Gomez, M. E., Shin, V., Ballardo, G., Kriese, S., McCurry, E., Martinez, E., & Rivas, M. 2023. Beyond the bean: Analyzing diversified farming, food security, dietary diversity, and gender in Nicaragua’s smallholders coffee cooperatives. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 47(4), 579-620. https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2023.2171172.
  6. Bank, W. 2011. Climate risk and adaptation country profile: vulnerability, risk reduction, and adaptation to climate change, Senegal. Washington (DC): Global Facility for Disaster Reduction and Recovery/GFDRR. https://www.gfdrr.org/en/publication/climate-risk-and-adaptation-country-profile-indonesia.
  7. Berti, C., Faber, M., & Smuts, C. M. 2014. Prevention and control of micronutrient deficiencies in developing countries: current perspectives. Nutrition and Dietary Supplements, 6(null), 41-57. http://doi.org/10.2147/NDS.S43523.
  8. Bickel, G., Nord, M., Price, C., Hamilton, W., & Cook, J. 2000. Guide to measuring household food security. U.S. Department of Agriculture, Food and Nutrition Service, Alexandria VA. March, 2000. 1-44.
  9. Brown, M. E., & Funk, C. C. 2008. Food security under climate change. Science, 319(5863), 580-581. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1154102.
  10. Bvenura, C., & Afolayan, A. J. 2015. The role of wild vegetables in household food security in South Africa: A review. Food Research International, 76, 1001-1011. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodres.2015.06.013.
  11. Castañeda, A., Doan, D., Newhouse, D., Nguyen, M. C., Uematsu, H., & Azevedo, J. P. 2018. A New Profile of the Global Poor. World Development, 101, 250-267. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.worlddev.2017.08.002.
  12. FAO. 1996. Rome Declaration on World Food Security and World Food Summit Plan of Action. Food and Agriculture Organization, World Food Summit, Rome. https://www.fao.org/4/w3613e/w3613e00.htm.
  13. Gebre-ab, N. 2006. Commercialization of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. Note and Papers Series, 3. 1-31.
  14. Iran's Ministry of Agricultural Jihad (IMAJ). 2011. Studies on Compilation of Executive Document of Kermanshah Agricultural Hub, Sarpolzahab County Report. Kermanshah Agricultural Jihad Organization, 1, 89-159 (in Persian).
  15. Jaleta, M., Gebremedhin, B., & Hoekstra, D. 2009. Smallholder commercialization: Processes, determinants and impact. International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI), Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Discussion Paper No. 18. 1-25. https://hdl.handle.net/10568/27.
  16. Jumbe, C. B. L., & Nyambose, W. H. 2016. Does conservation agriculture enhance household food security? Evidence from smallholder farmers in Nkhotakota in Malawi. Sustainable Agriculture Research, 5(1), 118-128. http://doi.org/10.22004/ag.econ.230607.
  17. Kaminski, A. M., Cole, S. M., Johnson, J., Thilsted, S. H., Lundeba, M., Genschick, S., & Little, D. C. 2024. Smallholder aquaculture diversifies livelihoods and diets thus improving food security status: evidence from northern Zambia. Agriculture & Food Security, 13(1), 1. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00452-2.
  18. Lewu, F., & Mavengahama, S. 2010. Wild vegetables in Northern KwaZulu Natal, South Africa: Current status of production and research needs. Scientific Research and Essays, 5(20), 3044-3048. http://www.academicjournals.org/SRE.
  19. Lobell, D. B., Burke, M. B., Tebaldi, C., Mastrandrea, M. D., Falcon, W. P., & Naylor, R. L. 2008. Prioritizing climate change adaptation needs for food security in 2030. Science, 319(5863), 607-610. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1152339.
  20. Mango, N., Zamasiya, B., Makate, C., Nyikahadzoi, K., & Siziba, S. 2014. Factors influencing household food security among smallholder farmers in the Mudzi district of Zimbabwe. Development Southern Africa, 31(4), 625-640. https://doi.org/10.1080/0376835X.2014.911694.
  21. Mburu, S. W., Koskey, G., Kimiti, J. M., Ombori, O., Maingi, J. M., & Njeru, E. M. 2016. Agrobiodiversity conservation enhances food security in subsistence-based farming systems of Eastern Kenya. Agriculture & Food Security, 5(1), 19. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-016-0068-2.
  22. Mupaso, N., Makombe, G., Mugandani, R., & Mafongoya, P. L. 2024. Assessing the Contribution of Smallholder Irrigation to Household Food Security in Zimbabwe. Agriculture, 14(4), 1-16.
  23. Muyanga, M., & Jayne, T. S. 2019. Revisiting the farm size‐productivity relationship based on a relatively wide range of farm sizes: Evidence from Kenya. American Journal of Agricultural Economics, 101(4), 1140-1163. https://doi.org/10.1093/ajae/aaz003.
  24. Nicholson, C. F., Stephens, E. C., Kopainsky, B., Jones, A. D., Parsons, D., & Garrett, J. 2021. Food security outcomes in agricultural systems models: Current status and recommended improvements. Agricultural Systems, 188, 103-128. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agsy.2020.103028 .
  25. Nkoko, N., Cronje, N., & Swanepoel, J. W. 2024. Factors associated with food security among small-holder farming households in Lesotho. Agriculture & Food Security, 13(1), 3. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-023-00454-0.
  26. Nwaobiala, C., Alozie, E., & Anusiem, C. 2019. Gender differentials in farmers’ involvement in cassava production activities in Abia State, Nigeria. Agrosearch, 19(1), 72-86. https://doi.org/10.4314/agrosh.v19i1.6.
  27. Oduse, K., Idowu, M., & Adegbite, A. 2012. Chemical and phytochemical profile of some uncommon green leafy vegetables consumed in South West Nigeria. IOSR Journal of Environmental Science, Toxicology and Food Technology, 1(3), 22-26.
  28. Okpala, E. F., Korir, L., & Manning, L. 2024. Food Acquirability: An Unexplored Component of Food Security? Foods, 13(13), 1-18.
  29. Otekunrin, O. A., Otekunrin, O. A., Sawicka, B., & Pszczółkowski, P. 2021. Assessing Food Insecurity and Its Drivers among Smallholder Farming Households in Rural Oyo State, Nigeria: The HFIAS Approach. Agriculture, 11(12), 1-20.
  30. Pingali, P. L., & Rosegrant, M. W. 1995. Agricultural commercialization and diversification: processes and policies. Food Policy, 20(3), 171-185. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9192(95)00012-4.
  31. Rafiei, M., Nord, M., Sadeghizadeh, A., & Entezari, M. H. 2009. Assessing the internal validity of a household survey-based food security measure adapted for use in Iran. Nutrition journal, 8(1), 1-11. Available from: http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/2.0.
  32. Uusiku, N. P., Oelofse, A., Duodu, K. G., Bester, M. J., & Faber, M. 2010. Nutritional value of leafy vegetables of sub-Saharan Africa and their potential contribution to human health: A review. Journal of Food Composition and Analysis, 23(6), 499-509. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jfca.2010.05.002.
  33. von Braun, J. 1995. Agricultural commercialization: impacts on income and nutrition and implications for policy. Food Policy, 20(3), 187-202. https://doi.org/10.1016/0306-9192(95)00013-5.
  34. Wekesa, B. M., Ayuya, O. I., & Lagat, J. K. 2018. Effect of climate-smart agricultural practices on household food security in smallholder production systems: micro-level evidence from Kenya. Agriculture & Food Security, 7(1), 80. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-018-0230-0.
  35. Wheeler, T., & Von Braun, J. 2013. Climate change impacts on global food security. Science, 341(6145), 508-513. https://doi.org/10.1126/science.1239402.
  36. World Health Organization (WHO). 2018. The state of food security and nutrition in the world 2018: building climate resilience for food security and nutrition. Food & Agriculture Org.
  37. Woleba, G., Tadiwos, T., Bojago, E., & Senapathy, M. 2023. Household food security, determinants and coping strategies among small-scale farmers in Kedida Gamela district, Southern Ethiopia. Journal of Agriculture and Food Research, 12, 100597. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jafr.2023.100597.
  38. Zhou, X., Ma, W., Li, G., & Qiu, H. 2020. Farm machinery use and maize yields in China: an analysis accounting for selection bias and heterogeneity. Australian Journal of Agricultural and Resource Economics, 64(4), 1282-1307. https://doi.org/10.1111/1467-8489.12395.
  39. Zou, B., & Mishra, A. K. 2024. Modernizing smallholder agriculture and achieving food security: An exploration in machinery services and labor reallocation in China. Applied Economic Perspectives and Policy. 17008, 1-47. https://doi.org/10.1002/aepp.13433.