ANALYSIS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN THE FOKONTANY AROUND THE ANJOZOROBE-ANGAVO PROTECTED AREA AND STUDY OF THE IMPACTS ON CONSERVATION

Anthropobiology and Sustainable Development, Science and Technology

The objective of this study is to study and evaluate household food security in the fokontany around the Anjozorobe-Angavo Protected Area for the well-being of the local population and at the same time for conservation benefits. A retrospective and analytical cross-sectional study was adopted on 1121 households in the nine fokontany around the Protected Area of Anjozorobe District between the PA Abundance period and the PS peak period in 2021. More precisely our study site was formed from Zone A made up of the 2 fokontany of the Rural Commune of Mangamila and 2 fokontany of the Rural Commune of Alakamisy, and zone B composed of 3 fokontany of the Urban Commune of Anjozorobe and the 2 fokontany of the Rural Commune of Ambongamarina. The interview, 24-hour recall, observation and field trip were used to analyze food security and impacts on conservation. To determine the factors influencing food security, Gaussian modeling was carried out. During the AP, 63.14% of households in zone B have better food access than those in zone A with a rate of 53.20%; during the PS, only 26.68% of households in zone B have good food accessibility compared to 21.77% in zone A. The sources of income of households in zone A are more stable with a rate of 39.20 % compared to 27.88% in zone B but they do not cover the needs of the family. During the PS, due to the low stability of sources of income, households in zone B have an alarming situation with the survival strategy index 10.62 compared to 9.30 in zone A; the 2 zones are in a state of extreme vulnerability. During the PA, the calorie needs of the two localities are covered on the contrary during the PS with a deficit of 8.16% in zone A and it is the households in zone B which are the most affected with a deficit of 12.55 %. Bad eating habits, low agricultural production, instability of sources of income, and the occupation of mothers are the identified causes during our surveys. Forestry exploitation such as the manufacture of charcoal, selective cutting of wood, the illegal cutting, the exploitation of timber, making of flower pots, etc. has impacts on the conservation of the forest cover. Factors directly linked to food such as poaching, hunting, gathering can lead to the local extinction of species in the corridor, the same is true for the primary sector which brings together all the activities whose purpose consists of the exploitation of natural resources such as agriculture, livestock breeding and fishing. Household food security in the fokontany around the Anjozorobe –Angavo protected area has negative impacts on conservation. The harmonization of human activities with the conservation of natural resources is a challenge for the Anjozorobe-Angavo NAP, especially since the population depends totally or partially on the exploitation of natural resources.

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