Maintaining food security during difficult times: An experience of COVID-19 in Kerala

Lockdown linked to the COVID-19 pandemic generated food security associated panic among the general population. This article is an exercise to document actions taken by the Government of Kerala to prevent people from starving during such difficult times of lockdown. Inclusive interventions such as provision of dry ration free of cost, operating community kitchens and engaging in direct cash transfers were some of the highlights of the measures taken by the Government in Kerala to address the food crisis in the state. These efforts are evidence for the government’s commitment towards managing the crisis and this was possible through the involvement of effective decentralized governance through local self-government institutions and community organizations.

Practices of Care in Times of COVID-19

We argue that the COVID-19 virus has been a trigger for emerging practices of care by being an actor with agency that transforms the everyday life of subjects by placing them under uncertainty. Therefore, this paper aims to show how practices of care emerged or were maintained as vulnerable groups were confronted by restrictions to movement and uncertainties following the outbreak of COVID-19. We demonstrate this using two case studies of the Maasai pastoral community in Narok, Kenya and the community kitchens in the city of Berlin, Germany. Thus, we seek to show how practices of care for, care about, and care with are carried out by the members of these communities during pandemic times. Granted that care remains highly contentious in feminist literature, this paper contributes to a growing body of literature on care in Feminist Political Ecology by broadening the conceptualization of care. The research builds on a typology of care relations based on practices of distribution, exchange, and reciprocity. This allows us to show when care is exercised in a unidirectional and hierarchical way and when in a multidirectional way reinforcing social bonds of responsibility and collective care that transcends the socio-nature boundaries.

Changing Perceptions of the Role of Food Assistance Programs in the Development and Prevention of Obesity in Lima, Peru

Objectives The purpose of this study is to assess the perceived role of food assistance programs (FAPs) in the development and prevention of overweight/obesity (OW/OB) in two low-income districts of Lima, Peru and analyze how these perceptions have changed across time. Methods In 2009, we conducted focus groups with FAP beneficiaries and in-depth interviews with FAP administrators (N = 34) from three common FAPs in two low-income districts of Lima, Peru. These data captured participants’ perceptions of OW/OB and their recommendations to address them. We conducted grounded theory analysis on this dataset to identify dominant themes and structure a second round of data collection. In January-February 2021, we are conducting in-depth interviews with FAP beneficiaries and administrators from the same programs and districts (current N = 16, expected N = 36). We will conduct grounded theory analysis on the second dataset and cross-analyze the two datasets to measure differences and similarities. Results In 2009, nearly all FAP beneficiaries and half of FAP administrators identified OW/OB as a public health problem in their community. They expressed need for more nutrition education, potentially through FAPs. Most FAP administrators and some beneficiaries also recommended offering healthier food in one particular FAP (Community Kitchens). Preliminary results from 2021 reveal that nearly all FAP beneficiaries and administrators perceived OW/OB to be a problem in their community. Educational resources about OW/OB were limited and participants continued to recommend increased outreach, potentially through FAPs. Most beneficiaries of Community Kitchens cited the need for healthier food options. Conclusions From 2009 to 2021, more FAP beneficiaries and administrators perceived OW/OB to be a problem in their communities; however, resources to address this problem remained limited. Our findings suggest the need for increased nutrition education through FAPs and adjustments to foods available in specific FAPs. Funding Sources Tulane University.

Discourses by Didis of Community Kitchens: A Case on Women Empowerment

Women empowerment and its importance have often been at the centre of debate especially in India. This concept is slowly moving beyond the theory and notions of discussions and manifesting even at the level of village clusters with adequate interventions from the policymakers. Despite the socio-cultural restrictions, the conspicuous role played by women at the household and community levels remains undeniable. This case study, through the concept of community kitchens, ideally captures the scenario in which Didis have become empowered and are able to add value to their family and community. Through a qualitative analysis it was found that the major themes associated with empowerment are community, decisions, family and values thus showcasing the economic and social implications. Research Questions/Objectives Can the concept of women empowerment be de-urbanized? Do women through formalized initiatives feel empowered and experience heightened self-esteem? Can the setting up of micro-entrepreneurial ventures at the village level provide an impetus to alter the existing social structures and power inequalities? Links to Theory: Women Empowerment, group approach and power, self-esteem Phenomenon Studied and Case Context: The Didis of the community kitchen were members registered as self-help groups with the Jharkhand State Livelihood Promotion Society. These community kitchens or Ajeevika Didi kitchens were essentially started and implemented during the COVID pandemic period in a five-phase manner for a period of 3 months from April to June 2020. There were around 450 women who got associated in running these community kitchens. The discourses by these Didis on their association with the micro-entrepreneurial venture and their feelings of empowerment are portrayed in the case. Findings: Semi-structured interviews for the sample respondents were conducted and then auto-coded themes, namely, community, decisions, family and values were obtained using the NVivo software. The sentiment analysis of the transcribed interview conversations revealed more of positive sentiments that were centred around the belief that such micro-entrepreneurial opportunities can largely improve their lives and ease out the inequalities that are experienced by them on the power and control fronts. On an overall basis it was observed that when the financial and psychological aspirations were met, fulfilment and satisfaction were the primary outcomes for the study participants. Discussions: The present case is aimed for discussion in the entrepreneurship classes of management, especially related to social entrepreneurship, women empowerment and contribution of women to the economy and society. The case highlights that woman’s contribution towards the society and family could be impacted through a woman’s own sense of self-worth and self-esteem. This case highlights further that micro-enterprises that are community level are both a social and economic phenomenon, manifesting benefits for the individual as well as the society.

Community mobilization during epidemic emergencies: Insights from Kerala

The present paper describes the strategy to mitigate and control epidemic contingencies in the backdrop of Kerala’s Covid-19 containment plan. I have purposefully selected Kerala, the southernmost state of India, because of its globally acclaimed experience in efficiently managing the cases of coronavirus that were reported. Even tackling the Nipah and Zika virus cases in the pasts, makes it an exemplary unit of study. Moreover, the past experience of the state points to the fact that the containment strategy adopted is the result of an evolved practical approach. I came across certain innovative strategies implicating community mobilization like community kitchens, social surveillance, large scale production of face masks etc. by utilizing the hidden productive capacity of communities that extended from women self-help groups, youth clubs and even prison inmates. Moreover, the state’s controlling and containing measures were mentioned by international media and agencies like the BBC and the World Health Organization (WHO).

Determinantes socioculturales de la política alimentaria: voces de los beneficiarios del programa Comedores Comunitarios. Estudio realizado en la Ciudad de Culiacán Sinaloa México

El propósito de este trabajo es dar a conocer parte de los resultados de una investigación sobre el proceso de implementación de una política social alimentaria a través de Comedores Comunitarios en atención a la inseguridad alimentaria en la ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. El objetivo fue conocer los elementos socioculturales que determinan la eficiencia del programa social. El diseño de la investigación es descriptivo-interpretativo utilizando un enfoque cualitativo basado en un método hermenéutico-critico que recupera los discursos de 30 beneficiarios de 27 Comedores Comunitarios que operan el programa en la Ciudad de Culiacán, Sinaloa, México. Los hallazgos muestran que las representaciones del proyecto político significan para el beneficiario una opción de alimentación y crean un espacio de convivencia y descanso, los discursos muestran lo que viven y sienten respecto a la cotidianidad del comensal. Asimismo se visualiza la necesidad del conocimiento de las determinantes socioculturales de la alimentación para contribuir a transformar la realidad alimentaria, pues reconoce los factores estructurales de la inseguridad alimentaria, pero también las condicionantes en el seno de las prácticas sociales de las familias, ya que ambas son importantes a la hora de la toma de decisiones de la política alimentaria. The purpose of this paper is to present some of the results of a research into the process of implementing of a social food policy through Community Kitchens in response to food insecurity in the city of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The objective was to know the sociocultural factors that determine the efficiency of this social program. The research design is descriptive-interpretive using a qualitative approach based on a hermeneutic-critical method that recovers the discourses of 30 beneficiaries of 27 Community Kitchens who operate the program in the City of Culiacan, Sinaloa, Mexico. The findings show that the representations of the political project mean for the beneficiary a food option and create a space for conviviality and rest, the speeches show what they live and feel with regard to daily life of the diner. Likewise, the need for knowledge of the sociocultural determinants of food is visualized to contribute to transforming the food reality, since it recognizes the structural factors of food insecurity, but also the conditions within the social practices of families, meanwhile both are important when making food policy decisions.

Organizing Joint Practices in Urban Food Initiatives—A Comparative Analysis of Gardening, Cooking and Eating Together

The topic of food is highly relevant to the UN sustainable development agenda. The agenda particularly challenges cities to take on more responsibilities and to initiate processes that change unsustainable food practices. The recent emergence of urban food initiatives, such as community-supported agriculture, urban gardening, food sharing or community kitchens, promises great potential in leveraging sustainability. Although a great deal of research is already available on the societal impacts of food initiatives, little is known about organizational aspects surrounding them. The following study aims to address this gap by systematically analyzing how joint practices of gardening as well as cooking and eating are organized in different urban food initiatives, taking five initiatives in two smaller cities in southern Germany as case studies. Data were acquired through qualitative research methods including interviewing, participatory observations and document analysis. The analysis covers five key dimensions: institutional integration, recruiting mechanisms, goal-setting, time management and types of knowledge. Based on these dimensions, the results portray two distinctive organizational profiles of urban food initiatives. The article concludes with a reflection on how local governments can support food initiatives and thus contribute to sustainable urban food systems.

Linking women-led community kitchens to school food programmes: lessons learned from the Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Children intervention in Palestinian refugees in Lebanon

Objective:Decades of marginalization have led Palestinian refugees living in Lebanon to experience multigenerational poverty and food insecurity. The Healthy Kitchens, Healthy Children programme implemented and examined the impact of a two-pronged intervention that employed women through community kitchens to deliver a subsidized healthy daily school snack to elementary-school children in Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon. We describe the rationale, study design, theorized impact pathways, and discuss lessons learned.Design:The programme was quasi-experimental. We conducted formative and process evaluation of both components of the intervention to elucidate the pathways to programme impact.Setting:Palestinian refugee camps in Lebanon.Participants:Thirty-three women participated in the kitchens and provided subsidized snacks to 714 children.Results:Snacks were healthy, traditional Palestinian recipes designed by women and a nutritionist. Participation fluctuated but eventually increased after modifying the meals to ensure acceptability by children. The main challenges to sustainability related to the need for subsidization of the meals and the lack of school policies around the regulation of sales of school food, which together led to fluctuations in programme participation.Conclusions:The study provides lessons learned on the potential of this model to improve the human capital of two generations of protracted refugees. The availability of schools as a constant market for these social enterprises offers an opportunity for sustainable livelihood generation and food security gains. Challenges to sustainability remain and could be addressed through social (subsidies to support the programme) and structural (policies to restrict unhealthy food sales) measures.