Comparison of the food profile of safety of the households in the areas of Gao and Sikasso in period of post- harvest in Mali

Abstract

Household food security is becoming more and more acute in the world and in Mali, particularly in certain regions. This study compares the household food security profile of the Gao and Sikasso regions. A comparative study based on data from a two-stage stratified cross-sectional sample survey was carried out in February 2016 in the post-harvest period in the Gao and Sikasso regions by the Company's Early Warning System (SAP). Mali. The Chi² tests of Pearson and Anova were used for comparison of proportions and averages with a 95% confidence level and a significance value of 0.05. In Gao, 12.3% of households had a poor food consumption score compared to 9.8% in Sikasso. The household dietary diversity score was higher in Sikasso (89.7%) than in Gao (85.6%). Food insecurity affected more poor households in Gao with 31.5% compared to 28.4% in Sikasso. Food insecurity prevailed in female- headed households with 57.2% in Gao and 43.6% in Sikasso and affected more heads of households without education with 53.3% in Gao compared to 21.6% in Sikasso. Household food security, on the other hand, was much more assured in Sikasso (33.1%) than in Gao (3.8%), with a level of severe food insecurity three times higher in Gao (6.3%) than in Sikasso (2.2%). Food insecurity mainly affects the Gao region, particularly poor households and households headed by women or people with no education, hence the importance of putting strategies in place that are directed primarily at vulnerable groups.