Income and Food Security Status Among rural Women Indigenous Knowledge Based Crafters and Non-crafters: Evidence from Rural South Africa

Improving household income and achieving household food security for women in rural areas is a key item on the agenda of both international and national governments across the globe. This is against a background where most rural women face several gender based constraints in accessing basic livelihoods. Against this background the paper assessed the income and food security status among rural women IK based crafters and noncrafters. The study was conducted in Amathole district municipality of South Africa using a cross sectional survey targeting 82 crafters and 122 non-crafters conveniently selected based on their willingness to participate. Quantitative and qualitative research methods were employed to generate data relating to research objectives and questions. The results indicate that income from selling IK based crafts contributed 29 percent of the total household income. With reference to food security the two groups did not show any significant difference. The paper therefore concludes that IK based crafts may address rural household income for women but falls short of addressing their household food security.