Comparative Analysis of Constraints to Food Security Among Urban, Peri-Urban, and Rural Households in Morogoro and Iringa, Tanzania

Abstract

The study on which the manuscript is based assessed the extent to which constraints to household food access security vary along the urban-rural continuum in Morogoro and Iringa, Tanzania. Also, the study assessed the influence of these constraints on household food access security. A cross-sectional research design was employed whereby 279 households were randomly selected using a multi-stage sampling procedure. A structured questionnaire was used to collect primary data, which were analysed both descriptively and inferentially. The study results reveal great variations in constraints to household food access security along the continuum. In addition, there was a negative significant relationship between household food access security and variables such as low income (β = -1.358; p ≤ 0.001), drought (β = -1.026; p ≤ 0.01), limited market access (β = -0.960; p ≤ 0.05), and soil infertility (β = -0.950; p ≤ 0.05). It is concluded that constraints to household food access security vary significantly along the continuum. Moreover, household food access security is essentially affected by low income, drought, limited market access, and soil infertility. Therefore, coordinated efforts from all sectors of the economy are needed to overcome these constraints and hence improve household food access security.