Report of the workshop on interventions to mitigate the impact of HIV/AIDS on smallholder agriculture, food security and rural livelihoods in southern Africa

Abstract

HIV/AIDS has added significantly to the problems of agriculture and food security in Africa through its effect on subsistence agriculture, where production is highly labor intensive. AIDS causes severe labor and economic constraints that disrupt agricultural activities, aggravate food insecurity, and undermine the prospects of rural development. There is evidence that all dimensions of food security - availability, stability, access and use of food - are affected where the prevalence and impact of HIV/AIDS is high. Households, communities, governments and development partners are implementing a variety of interventions to mitigate the impact of the epidemic on smallholder agricultural production. However to date, dissemination of these interventions is low.