Agriculture in the time of HIV/Aids
Noragric prepared a review on the current views on the relationships between agriculture, HIV infections and AIDS-related diseases in sub-Saharan Africa. Often considered unrelated, this report, drawing on review papers and original research suggests that agriculture both is severely affected by HIV and AIDS and that the state of agriculture significantly influences the spread of HIV.
The report points out that few SSA countries have substantial analyses of the rural and agricultural situations in their Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers (PRSPs). Few countries have national policies that give high priority to agriculture and the link between agriculture and HIV and AIDS is therefore missed. Therefore one of the biggest and most dangerous risks for farmers in sub-Saharan Africa is HIV and AIDS.
The report further states that alternative individual or family assets (e.g. cattle, land, agricultural implements) have been exhausted due to a result of AIDS in the family. HIV and AIDS pose a very heavy burden due to the costs for medicines, care and funerals, which are often paid at the expense of additional needs such as food or school fees.
According to the report rural poverty is at the root of risky behavior (sexual services for food, cash or other resources), which can often lead to an HIV infection, hence the rate of HIV transmission can only be effectively reduced by reducing rural poverty.
Therefore the report recommends:
- increasing effective income in agriculture: promoting a society that provides for its people in food, in health and in education
- increasing local social security networks, which provide information, behavioural advice and access to assets that can be mobilised as alternatives to transactional sex
- possibly using microfinance mechanisms.
The report concludes that central to any interventions is a strong appreciation of gender issues. It is essential to strengthen the roles and position of girls and women in society, to give them freedom to choose, and to gain respect from men, families and societies for their stance. This cannot be done solely by declaring good intentions; it involves fundamental transformations in impoverished rural societies.