The relationship between household-generated food waste in rural and urban Lesotho: an investigation
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Date
2020-01
Authors
Chenene, Lisemelo Mateboho Lucia
Journal Title
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Publisher
University of the Free State
Abstract
Food waste has received substantial attention from industry and research communities in the previous decade. To develop sustainable food systems, and possibly ensure food security for the world population, food waste should be minimised. Food waste is related to economic, environmental, and social challenges. There are many culprits in the food supply chain that add to the food waste dilemma, as food is wasted and lost during different stages. These stages include production, processing, transport, retail, and consumption; of which consumption is of importance in this research. Consumers are significant contributors to food waste, and it is therefore essential to have a clear understanding of the factors that influence household food waste related to consumer perceptions and behaviour. Food waste is particularly important from a developing country’s point of view, especially as a potential mitigating factor for food insecurity. Sub-Saharan Africa is considered vulnerable and continues to experience challenges related to inadequate infrastructure, lack of support from government, and very little intervention. One such country, Lesotho, is a small country surrounded by the Republic of South Africa. To the knowledge of the researcher, there is a considerable void in data regarding household food waste research in Lesotho. This is especially true when considering the types of food waste generated by households, the household practices that could be driving food waste, and how it differs between urban and rural settings. It was therefore the aim of this study to compare the household food waste in rural and urban areas of Lesotho. This study further sought to explore reasons for household food waste with specific attention to households’ behaviour, purchasing habits, attitudes, and lifestyle in both the rural and urban areas of Lesotho. A quantitative approach with an exploratory and descriptive design was adopted. Data were collected from February 2019 to May 2019 from both urban (Maseru and Botha Bothe) and rural (Mokhotlong) areas of Lesotho. Randomised probability sampling was employed, and the unit of analysis in this study was households. Consumers who participated in the survey were chosen on the premise that they were older than 18 years, they were also responsible for food purchase and food preparation in households, and they were regarded as being aware of all the food that is consumed and not consumed within the household, regardless of gender (male, female, or other). The number of households sampled in Botha Bothe was 150, Maseru 250, and Mokhotlong 150. A total of 550 consumers therefore participated in the study, representing 550 households. The data were collected by utilising structured questionnaires. The questionnaire was designed in English and translated to the local language, Sesotho, to ensure that the consumers have a clear understanding of the questions asked, as it is the language understood by the majority of citizens in Lesotho. The questionnaire took approximately 30 minutes to complete. No incentive was provided to the participating consumers. The data were analysed using the Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS). The results indicate that education is a significant indicator (p=0.019) of food waste. Regarding the relationship between food waste generation and income, it seems that income is a significant indicator of food waste. Consumers who reside in both rural and urban areas are fully aware of the negative consequences of food waste. Consumers apply a great deal of effort to minimise the amount of discarded food in their households, which was also statistically significant (p=0.022). Approximately three-quarters (76%) of the consumers in urban areas undertake their main shopping from a supermarket, while it is the case with just more than half (52%) of consumers in rural areas. In rural areas, consumers do not discard the food if the “best before” date has expired, regardless of its appearance or smell, whereas most of the consumers in urban areas discard the food if the “best before” date has expired. Lesotho, being a low-income country with scarce resources, could benefit from food waste reduction and intervention programmes to assist in alleviating food insecurity. It is therefore recommended that the Lesotho government supports educational campaigns aimed at reducing food wastage and to enhance household planning skills and routines regarding food preparation.
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Keywords
Dissertation (M.Sc. (Consumer Science))--University of the Free State, 2020, Household food waste, Food security, Lesotho, Consumers