The impact of foot-and-mouth disease on household food security among smallholder farmers in KwaZulu-Natal Province, South Africa

Foot-and-mouth disease (FMD) has become a significant threat to the livelihoods of smallholder livestock farmers in South Africa; however, empirical evidence on its household-level impacts on food security is limited. This study examines the effects of FMD on household food security among smallholder livestock farmers in KwaZulu-Natal, using cross-sectional survey data. The Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), an ordered logit model, and a Poisson regression model are employed to estimate the determinants of food insecurity severity and intensity. The results show that 63% of households had some level of food insecurity, while only 37% were food secure during FMD outbreaks. Forced livestock slaughter, reductions in herd size, and increased feed costs during FMD significantly worsen household food security outcomes. Access to credit during FMD outbreaks is associated with higher food insecurity, suggesting it serves as a short-term coping mechanism rather than a resilience-enhancing strategy. In contrast, government support mitigates the adverse effects on food security from FMD-related shocks. The findings highlight the need for integrated FMD response policies that combine disease control with targeted livelihood and food security support for vulnerable smallholder households with the alignment of the National Developemnt plan of south Africa, SDG2 of ending hunger and poverty, and the African Union CAADP Strategy and Action Plan: 2026-2035, which aim to end hunger and poverty and intensify sustainable food production, agro-industrialisation, and trade, respectively.