1

Needs Assessment Report

“An assessment of the food security of the population of Legane, Waras District,

using food security indicators”

Objective

To generate data for evidence-based analysis of the food security situation of the population of Legane, Afghanistan. Date of Assessment Region (See Map 1) Estimated population size

June 20-26, 2013 Legane, Waras District, Bamyan Province

1428 Households (HHs) 9996 Individuals

Medair Team CDCs

Arianna Zorzi – Team Leader Mohammad Hussain –Translator Naiem Mohammad – Liaison Officer Amir Aqa - Driver

• Jeran

• Somuchak

• Gandaqol

• Oshorkono

• Sistan

• Gul Khalan

• Joydah

Justification for the assessment

Medair field staff received reports raising concern about the food security situation in Legane. The

community reported that it has faced several consecutive difficult years, with 2013 being more severe

than usual. Rainfall was below a normal level during the spring, leading to reduced discharge of streams,

which has affected agricultural activities and pastures. Medair responded with an indicator based

assessment that revealed a poor food consumption score for 60% of the households interviewed, and a

high reliance on short term consumption coping strategies. The utilization of longer term livelihood

strategies was also assessed, revealing a low resilience of the population to natural hazards, especially

drought. The difficulties of this year drought are adding to a chronic situation of food insecurity and

require immediate action before the winter months, when the lean season in Bamyan is classified as

invariably severe.1

Humanitarian context

Legane is situated in the southern part of Waras District, in Bamyan Province, sharing a border with

Miramor District of Daykundi Province to the south. It is composed of seven Community Development

Councils (CDC)2 located at an altitude range between 2,300 m and 3,100 m, and with a population of

approximately 10,000 individuals3 of Hazara ethnicity. It belongs to Afghanistan livelihood zone n. 26, with

livestock and agriculture serving as primary and secondary sources of food and income, and

1 Based on FEWS NET, MAIL, NRVA 2011/12 data

2 Community Development Councils (CDCs) have been launched as part of the National Solidarity Program (NSP), which was

established in mid-2003 as a government program executed by the Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development. Through

NSP, communities are mobilized and supported in the establishment of a village-level, consultative decision-making and

representative local leadership. 3 data was collected for the number of households (HH) from the CDCs’ leaders and the number multiplied by the official

average HH size for Bamyan province based on the 2008 National Vulnerability and Risk Assessment conducted by WFP and the

Ministry of Rural Rehabilitation and Development (MRRD) and funded by the European Commission

2

characterized by risk of food insecurity in a normal year4. This year Legane is facing a drought that will

dramatically impact people’s food supply, as explained in section four. There is only one small bazar in

the Legane area and food is expensive due to the cost of transportation. The nearest alternative where

cheaper staple food can be purchased is the bazar of Watana, in Daykundi Province, at an average

distance of five hours walk from Legane. Few people can afford the costs of a vehicle rental, the journey

is expensive and time consuming, and not possible during winter months. Although Solidaritee

International worked in the area in the past with a Cash For Work (CFW) intervention for the rehabilitation

of the main road, no other NGOs are present in the area at the moment. Security in Legane is good, with

no reports of major incidents or Armed Opposition Group (AOG) activity.

Map 1: Waras and Panjab District

Methodology

The sampling methodology used in this survey allowed the collection of information indicative of a trend,

rather than data with statistically determined confidence levels. However, rigor was introduced by a robust

triangulation of data through the utilization of several standard food security indicators, and cross

checking of the information obtained through different sources to ensure its consistency.

a. A HH survey was conducted with 70 HHs, 10 HHs for each CDC. The HHs were divided into

three wealth groups, extremely poor, average and better off, with a proportion of 4, 4 and 2 HHs

surveyed in each wealth group respectively for each CDC. Participative methods (proportional

piling) were used during focus group discussions to understand the proportion of people falling

into each wealth group. Several indicators were captured with the questionnaire, including Food

Consumption Score (FCS)5, Household Dietary Diversity (HHDD)

6, Coping Strategies Index

4 Famine Early Warning Systems Network, 2011 Special Report on Livelihood Zoning. Livelihood zones are geographical areas

within which people share broadly the same patterns of access to food and income, and have the same access to markets. In

Afghanistan zone n. 26 refers to the high altitude mountain districts situated in the Provinces of Bamyan, Wardak, Ghazni,

Parwan, Pasher and Kapisa. 5 Indicator described in section 1.1 of Summary of findings

3

(CSI)7, HH wheat consumption, HH wheat production in a normal year, months covered by own

production in a normal year, expected output for this year’s harvest, expected months’ coverage

from this year’s harvest. FCS was compared with the findings for other national areas through the

2012 Emergency Food Security and Livelihood Survey (EFSLS) carried out by the Food Security

and Agriculture Cluster (FSAC).

b. Two key informant interviews (KII) were conducted in each CDC making a total of 14 KIIs. The

share of food expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure is a proxy indicator to measure

food access and was asked during KIIs because this type of information requires a detailed and

precise answer not easily obtainable with HHs interviews.

c. Focus group discussions were conducted in each CDC

d. Health clinics were visited and staff interviewed to corroborate information given on the provision

of health services.

e. Transect walks across villages were conducted to corroborate information given about WASH

services, irrigation, and damages caused by drought and flash floods.

Summary of findings

1. Standard indicators were used for the HH survey to determine the level of food insecurity of the

Legane population:

1.1 Food Consumption Score (FCS): This is a composite score based on dietary diversity,

food frequency, and the relative nutritional importance of different food groups. A weight, based

on nutrient content, is assigned to each food group and this is multiplied by the consumption

frequency of each food group.

On average, poor food consumption (FCS = 1-28) was reported among 60% of the households

interviewed in Legane. 23% of households interviewed have borderline consumption (FCS = 28.1

– 42) and 17% have acceptable food consumption (FCS > 42). On average the HHs surveyed in

Legane have poorer food consumption than other areas in Afghanistan. Also, if compared with

the rest of Bamyan, Legane presents a more severe situation (cf. table and chart below)8.

Comparison of FCS data for Legane, Bamyan and National

Legane Bamyan National

Thresholds % % %

Poor food consumption 1-28 60 50 26

Borderline food consumption 28.5-42 23 28 21

Acceptable food consumption > 42 17 22 53

6 Indicator described in section 1.2 of Summary of findings

7 Indicator described in section 1.3 of Summary of findings

8 Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, 2012 Emergency Food Security and Livelihood Survey (EFSLS), p. 27. It has to be kept in

mind that the limit of EFSLS is that the national findings are based on data collected in 22 provinces.

4

1.2 Household Dietary Diversity (HHDD) is a proxy indicator for access to food, intake of

energy and macronutrients, and intake of micronutrients. The HH survey results show that 100%

of the interviewed HHs consume wheat and tea, 90% cooking oil, and 74% yogurt. Vegetable

and fruits are consumed seasonally during the months of June, July and August, and the time of

the survey, third week of July, coincided with this season. However, only 37% and 12% of the

HHs stated that they consumed vegetables and fruit respectively in the last seven days. Meat

and eggs were consumed by 7% and 5% of the HHs respectively. The most common pattern of

consumption is the combination of bread, yogurt, oil and tea exclusively, this demonstrates a diet

poor in proteins and micronutrients even at this time, and is therefore a warning for the coming

winter months when the diet is invariably poor.

0

20

40

60

80

100

Legane Bamyan National

6050

26

2328

21

17 22

53

Coparison of FCS data for Legane, Bamyan and

National

Acceptable

Borderline

Poor

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

Frequency of food consumed among interviewed HHs

HHs

5

1.3 Coping Strategy Index (CSI): Research has shown that the management of short term

consumption coping strategies is an accurate indicator of food security. The CSI can be used as

an early warning indicator of impending food crisis and as a tool to assess food aid needs9. Ten

locally relevant coping strategies were identified for this survey, reflecting four basic categories:

• Dietary change

• Short term measures to increase household food availability

• Short term measures to decrease the number of people to feed

• Rationing, or managing the shortfall

In the chart below these strategies are presented ranked in order of frequency of reliance by the

interviewed HHs

a) Rely on less preferred and less expensive food (100% of interviewed HHs)

b) Purchase food on credit (100%)

c) Reduce portion size of mealtimes (94%)

d) Reduce number of meals eaten in a day (92%)

e) Restrict consumption by adults in order for small children to eat (90%)

f) Feed working members of the HH at the expense of non -working members (87%)

g) Borrow food from family or neighbours (81%)

h) Send HH members to eat elsewhere, with other community members (28%)

i) Send HH members to beg (17%)

j) Skip entire day without eating (10%)

9 CARE/WFP (2003), The Coping Strategies Index: Field Methods Manual. Nairobi: CARE and WFP

0

10

20

30

40

50

60

70

80

a b c d e f g h i j

No

. o

f H

Hs

(Ou

t o

f 7

0)

Coping strategies

Coping strategies reliance

6

The high reliance of the interviewed households to these locally relevant coping strategies

indicate that they are already stressed and is therefore a warning for an impending crisis.

1.4 The share of food expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure is a proxy indicator of household food access. The higher the share of food expenditure, the greater the likelihood that a household has poor food access. The commonly used thresholds for the share of food expenditure are used to classify households into poor, average and good food expenditure groups:

10

Poor: food expenditure is more than 60% of total household expenditure Average: food expenditure is at 40-60% of total household expenditure Good: food expenditure is less than 40% of total household expenditure

Information on the share of food expenditure as a percentage of total expenditure was asked to 14 key informants and the results show that on average the households interviewed spent 55% of their total expenditure on food, well the above national average, which is 33%

12. Moreover,

71% of the interviewees reported their expenditure on food at above 60% of the total share, the percentage associated with poor food access. These numbers are above national average which is 57%

12.

Legane National

Average share of food expenditure as % of total expenditure 55 33

Percentage of HHs with share of food expenditure above 60% of total

expenditure (poor access) 71 57

Chart: Average share of food expenditure as % of total expenditure

2. Focus group discussions revealed three different wealth groups through participatory exercises:

extremely poor, average, and better-off. Across all the CDCs on average it was estimated that

40% of the population fell under the first category, 40% under the second, and 20% under the

third. On average the extremely poor own 0-3 animals and 0- 1/2 jerib11

of arable land; the

average 4-12 animals and ½ to 1 jerib of arable land; the better-off >13 animals and 1-5 jerib of

arable land.

10

Food Security and Agriculture Cluster, 2012 Emergency Food Security and Livelihood Survey (EFSLS), p.15 11

1 jerib = 0.2 hectares

7

3. Even though during Focus Group discussions the informants stressed the fact that the

population has faced several consecutive difficult years, a general agreement was reached to

identify 2010 as a reference year, defined as normal, with acceptable rain and harvest level (8

ser12

of wheat harvested for each ser planted).

4. This year’s (2013) drought is considered worse than usual with rainfall below a normal level.

Focus group discussions revealed that the discharge of streams has declined, springs are drying

up and soil is generally dry. Moreover the major rainfall shortages occurred in early summer,

when rainfall is critical for plant growth. As a consequence plants in general are suffering and

wheat plants specifically are delaying their development and their leaves are turning yellow. Fruit

trees are stressed and are giving less fruit than usual and they seem to be more vulnerable to

pests and diseases when compared to healthy trees. The drought also affects livestock

production because fodder production and grass growth on the pasture land are severely

affected by the lack of water. Photographs were taken during transect walks to corroborate these

statements.

Photograph 1: A small community-made reservoir which has dried up because the spring that

feeds it stopped running

5. The communities have built local systems to collect water from springs but their efficiency is

reduced by leaks and high permeability. Some of them are now empty as the springs that feed

them have dried-up. Lack of water is considered the first cause of reduced agricultural

production and harvest losses. Farmers are predicting a yield reduction of 53% (average of

responses) for the wheat harvest if compared with 2010, and a 30% reduction if compared with

last year (2012). This year they are expecting to be able to cover 1.9 months, with 4 ser

12

1 ser = 7 kg

8

harvested for each ser planted, leaving 10.1 months of staple food gap. Also in a ‘normal year’

(2010 as reference year) the Legane population produces only a small part of its consumption

needs, being able to cover on average 3.6 months of their wheat consumption, and from April

until the harvest in October the majority of the population depends heavily on income from daily

labour in the land of the better- off, to earn cash to purchase food. They also depend on

livestock sales but with several consecutive difficult years they have had to rely on this activity

more than usual, which has depleted their animal herds. With the better-off also facing

constraints due to decreases in agricultural production, daily agricultural work is difficult to find.

With no other income generating activities in the area just about the only option left is to borrow

money (at interest) to purchase food, a coping strategy that is unsustainable even in the short

term. The level of food insecurity is already alarming as shown by the indicators used in the HH

survey and, considering the on-going drought, these are expected to further deteriorate.

Photograph 2: An irrigation structure built by the community

6. Flooding was also mentioned during focus group discussions among the problems faced by

communities. The most affected CDC was Oshorkono, having lost 30 jerib of arable land with

the last severe flooding which occurred in 2010. The community partially managed to rehabilitate

the land but 12 jerib remain unusable. The other CDCs were also concerned about flooding and

they have all faced harvest losses caused by this hazard in the past five years.

9

Photograph 3: Damage to agricultural land caused by flooding.

7. Food security in the absence of quantitative calorie and nutrient intake data, can be estimated by

the FCS. In Legane, 60% of the HHs surveyed can be classified as food insecure.

8. The WASH situation has improved since the Medair intervention in 2010 with the building of 225

latrines and 92 water points. The population stated they have significantly benefited from this

intervention.

9. Health: the main diseases affecting the population are diarrhoea and pneumonia, the former

prevalent in summer and the latter in winter. There are two health centres in the area, one in

Gandaqol CDC in lower Legane, and the other one in Band-e-Tabar, in upper Legane. They are

both staffed with one male nurse and one midwife, and they are open from Saturday to

Thursday. The Gandaqol health centre though was found closed when visited on two occasions

during working days, and all the CDCs of lower Legane stated that the service is unreliable, and

for emergencies they have to go to Daykundi.

10

Conclusion and recommendations

The results show a high prevalence of food insecurity amongst the HHs in the Legane area who

participated in this survey. The indicators measured for the participating HHs indicate a level of food

insecurity above the national level. The drought is damaging plants and trees, especially wheat and fruit

trees, and the prospect of a reduced harvest is alarming. This shock, in fact, is adding up to an already

chronic situation of food insecurity. The lack of other actors and the remoteness of the area make the

likelihood of other assistance to meet the needs of this population very low. Medair developed some

recommendations broken down in immediate short term actions to face the imminent extended food gap,

and longer term interventions to address the underlying causes of food insecurity.

Emergency recommendations for the short term

1. Identification of the most vulnerable HHs which need immediate assistance. A list of criteria for

selection should be available to all, and criteria must be widely disseminated to the affected

population. Clear and understandable justification must be provided for any targeting of aid to a

specific group or for exclusion of a specific group.

2. Immediate improved access to food for the extremely poor households on the basis that with no

other source of income in the area it will be difficult for them to cover the food needs for the five

winter months, without compromising the minimum calories intake requirement.

3. Food transfer is recommended due to the isolation of the area and because the markets are not

easily accessible. There is only one small local bazar where the main staple foods are not always

available. The capacity of the local shopkeepers to store stock is also limited.

Recommendations for the longer term to address the underlying causes of food insecurity

4. Increase employment and earning opportunities until the situation is back to normal through Food

For Work (FFW) or Cash For Work (CFW) interventions that incorporate Disaster Risk Reduction

(DRR) activities.

5. Reduction of the vulnerability of the population to drought and floods by building its capacity in

Natural Resource Management. This should happen in two ways: through building DRR

structures and through specific trainings. Communities can be helped to rehabilitate the water

collection systems that they have already built so that these are more effective and efficient, with

the additional benefit of improving water storage for agriculture. In turn, agricultural production

would be expected to improve towards the level expected in a normal year. The communities in

Legane can be equipped to face drought by learning to improve their management and

conservation of water, decreasing their vulnerability to this shock. Additional DRR structures can

be built to address the problem of flash floods, reinforcing the benefits of the FFW or CFW

intervention. Training of farmers can build local knowledge in the better use of natural resources

and more efficient and sustainable farming techniques. In this way community resilience to shock

will be further enhanced.

6. Improved access to the area through road rehabilitation which will improve food security making it

easier and cheaper to bring food produce to the area and to export any produce and material for

sale. Road rehabilitation will also improve general humanitarian access to an area with many

needs.