Factors that Influence Food Security in Nicaragua and the Role of Home Gardening in Reducing Food Insecurity and Improving Income

Food insecurity and malnutrition are widely recognized as global issues that require immediate attention using multifaceted approaches. In 2015, the Food and Agricultural Organization reported that in the last quarter of the century, undernourishment in the developing world reduced by more than half to an average of 12%. Despite several interventions, United Nations Children's Fund reports that some countries still have high rates of chronic malnutrition. Nicaragua, for example, had a chronic malnutrition rate of 22% in 2013. Home gardening is a system of crop and animal husbandry on small plots of land within the vicinity of human dwelling practiced majorly to improve household food security and income. The purpose of this paper is to assess the major factors affecting food insecurity in developing countries with specific emphasis to Nicaragua. The role of home gardening in improving food security of developing countries is approached through studies from India, Bangladesh, Nicaragua, Senegal, Mexico and South Africa. Overall, this literature finds positive impacts of home gardening towards reducing food insecurity while providing opportunities for improvement of income and quality of life. In conclusion, community gardening requires limited inputs and can be a useful tool in reducing food insecurity if barriers are addressed.