1) The main cause of household food security in Chin is the decline in agricultural yields leading to a decline in available food and income at the household level. The lack of employment opportunities add to the problem.
2) Nearly half the sample reported relying on purchase in order to source their staple food attesting to the lack of reliance by households (HH) on agriculture to source even staple foods.
3) Approximately 26% of the sample reported sourcing staple foods on credit, by borrowing, by exchanging items for food and / or working for food. It should be noted that these activities are to a greater or lesser degree – coping strategies.
4) Health problems and medical expenses are a considerable burden to three-fourth of the sample.
5) HHs are mainly concerned with food, health and education. Very few HHs in the sample report any other expense; yet majority of HHs are unable to afford even these basic necessities and are forced to rely on loans.
6) Eighty five percent (85%) of the sample reported currently being in debt and needing to repay their loan. The most common reason for undertaking a loan was to purchase food.
7) The problem of reimbursing debt and the loss of crops to rodents were the 2 most widely reported HH shocks.
8) Based on data collected during the course of this monitoring exercise, HHs in the townships of Htantlang, Tiddim and Tonzang are more likely to be food insecure than HHs in other townships.
An Overview of the Food Security situation in Chin (May 2009)
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