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Abstract
This study illustrates a methodology to measure empirically household food
vulnerability. Food vulnerability is defined in terms of the probability now of being
undernourished in the future. The empirical analysis is based on panel data from
northern Mali, collected in 1997-98. Our empirical results clearly show that even though
the groups of currently undernourished and food vulnerable households overlap, they are
far from identical. Female-headed households appear less vulnerable to drought shocks,
partly due to community solidarity. Households with good harvests are also less
vulnerable, though greater dependence on agriculture attenuates this effect. Official food
aid and family food gifts are important insurance mechanisms. Simulations indicate that
food vulnerability can be significantly reduced through off-farm employment generation
in the area and greater access to irrigation infrastructure.