Agricultural diversification, sustainability and food and nutrition security in Western Honduras

Abstract

Food and nutritional security is a global issue and challenge driven by global population growth, climate change, and the degradation of natural resources. Other factors, such as the current COVID-19 pandemic, have highlighted the urgent need to improve food and nutritional security in communities. Hunger and malnutrition are risk factors for the population in Honduras. According to the report on The Cost of the Double Burden of Malnutrition: Social and Economic Impact in Honduras (WFP & ECLAC, 2020), the total cost of malnutrition as of 2017 reached just over two billion dollars, equivalent to 8.8% of the Gross Domestic Product (GDP). The prevalence of chronic malnutrition among schoolchildren in Ocotepeque was 21.4%, with 17.1% experiencing moderate stunting and 4.3% severe stunting, according to estimates from the 2017 Height Census in that department in the western part of the country. Analysis of data by age showed that the prevalence of chronic malnutrition is highest among eight- and nine-year-old children, with prevalence rates of 36.2% and 60.0%, respectively (Ministry of Education & Ministry of Health, 2017). The food and nutrition security situation is alarming in Honduras, particularly in the western region. Nevertheless, the country has the resources and potential to produce enough food to meet the demand of a large portion of its population.