GEOGRAPHY GRADE 12

RESEARCH TASKS
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TABLE OF CONTENT
TOPIC PAGES
Step 1: Formulating a hypothesis/problem statement. 2
Step 2: Background information about an area of study 2
Step 3: Mapping 3
Step 4: Methods of data collection 4-5
Step 5: Analysis and synthesis of data 6-7
Step 6: Recommendations and possible solutions 8
Step 7: Conclusion – accept or reject the hypothesis. 8
Step 8: Bibliography 9
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STEP 1: FORMULATING A HYPOTHESIS/PROBLEM STATEMENT.

The effect of infrastructural challenges on food security in Ntambanana, KwaZulu-Natal,
South Africa

STEP 2: BACKGROUND INFORMATION ABOUT AN AREA OF

RESEARCH

its coordinates are 28°43'0" S and 31°45'0" E in DMS (Degrees Minutes Seconds) or -28.7167
and 31.75 (in decimal degrees).

To explore the effects of infrastructural problems on food security issues, this research is for
Ntambanana area, in the northern coast part of KwaZulu-Natal. It is one of the six local
municipalities in the uThungulu district, Ntambanana covers an area of 1 083 km², has a
population of 94 772 people and 98% of the total people.
The land in Ntambanana 85% belongs to Ingonyama Trust and 15% is privately owned by
commercial farmers. The municipality is rated as the poorest within the uThungulu district
it solely depends on equitable share.
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STEP 3: MAPPING
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STEP 4: METHODS OF DATA COLLECTION

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STEP 5: ANALYSIS AND SYNTHESIS OF DATA

Ntambanana is predominantly rural with no formally established town and settlement.
pattern. It is largely defined as ‘rural scattered,’ an extremely sparsely populated.
settlement pattern for which it is difficult to provide infrastructure.

this research was to determine the extent of hunger and determine how frequently
households used food. This research investigated the extent of hunger and determined how
frequently sampled households used food consumption coping strategies to mitigate hunger
in Ntambanana. No significant differences were found between the two groups, but the use
of various strategies to buffer hunger and starvation was common. Some of the coping
strategies would compromise diet adequacy and quality. Borrowing food from neighbours
caused conflict among community members. Coping strategies like feeding working
members at the expense of non-working members undermine household unity and stability.

However, generally the coping strategies applied were not erosive albeit focus group
participants saw the application of some of these strategies as indicative of severe food
insecurity. Although social grants buffer such households from hunger, there are months of
the year that households need support to avoid negative consumption reduction practices
and reduce the incidence of seasonal hunger. Interventions that seek to help such
households save in anticipation of lumpy payments such as school fees, stationery and
uniforms in January and June are crucial to ensure year-round food security. More
households need to engage in home gardening to increase food availability. Extension
services should assist with planning food production to provide food year-round. Food
preparation, meal planning and nutrition advice to support home production of fresh
produce is also needed.
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STEP 6: RECOMMENDATIONS AND POSSIBLE SOLUTIONS

The evidence from the research confirmed that there is poor infrastructure, it suggests that.
more attention should be paid to address these deficiencies that hinder food security.
However, there are challenges which continue to affect the progress of rural development
that also contribute negatively to sustain food security. Therefore, the following
recommendations can be made:
 The improvement of road systems linking the rural areas and town would make an
easy access to markets and make transport available and reliable for the local people.
 Good infrastructure would lead to rural areas able to compete with the urban
markets and able to attracts internal and external investors.
 The research also recommends that the improvement of market system in
agricultural products would be able to integrate rural and urban markets that would
lead to rural economic growth.
 A well-developed road network would encourage local businesses.

STEP 7: CONCLUSION – ACCEPT OR REJECT THE HYPOTHESIS

I reject the hyphothesis

The research confirmed that there is poor infrastructure and lack of support from various
organisations; it suggests that more attention should be paid to address these deficiencies
that hinder food security.

However, there are challenges which continue to affect the progress of rural development
that also contribute negatively to sustainable food security. The insufficiency of storage
facilities raises several issues, that leads to spoilage and the local farmers or small-scale
farmers are discouraged to produce which contributes to food insecurity However, the
availability of appropriate storage and packaging facilities can play an important role in
ensuring food security.

The rural farmers can generate more income as well as being able to compete in a market.
The results indicate that the roads are not in good conditions which are an indication of
poor basic infrastructure that creates limited access to market facilities or any destination.
There is poor road network and one main gravel road which link to the area to a nearby
town (Empangeni) which creates transport constrains such as expensive transport costs and
time consuming for travelling, and it has negative impact on attracting the market as well as
sustaining food security. During summer season sometimes there are rains most of gravel
roads are muddy that makes difficulty for vehicles to have access to the area.
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STEP 8: BIBLIOGRAPHY

Abdu-Raheem, K.A., & Worth, S.H. (2011). Household food security in South Africa:
Evaluating extension’s paradigm relative to the
current food security and development goals. South African Journal of Agricultural
Extension 39(2), 91-103.
ANC (African National Congress) (2014). Key commitments to move South Africa forward.
2014 Election Manifesto. Marshalltown.
http://www.anc.org.za/2014/wp-content/themes/anc/downloads/Manifesto_Booklet.pdf
(September 24, 2014).
Barrett, C. B. (2010). Measuring food insecurity. Science, 327, 825. doi:
10.1126/science.1182768.
Battersby, J. (2011). Urban food insecurity in Cape Town, South Africa: An alternative
approach to food access. Development Southern
Africa 28(4), 545 -561.