HIV/AIDS has seriously affected the smallholder agricultural sector in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmers lose productive family members and generational agricultural knowledge as well as income and assets. Affected families become more food insecure as their food production is reduced; they consume less and often become increasingly reliant on food aid. PABRA and its partners, in recognising the challenge that HIV/AIDS poses to smallholder farmers also recognises the need to mainstream interventions and coping strategies that impact on people living HIV/AIDS (PLWHA) within its research and development work. In 2005/2006, PABRA commissioned a study in Malawi in order to understand the dynamics of livelihood strategies and linkages with agriculture for PLWHA and to develop a strategy for integrating HIV/AIDS into PABRA and partners work in Africa.

Results demonstrated that the nature and severity of impacts depend on the initial level of vulnerability (assets and wealth, age, gender and position) of the deceased in the household. Despite the high awareness of HIV/AIDS and its causes, behaviour did not reflect this and in some communities up to 80% did not know their sero status. Households use various coping strategies ranging from seeking assistance from relatives or humanitarian organisations, hiring out their labour, reducing household food intake, to early marriage of girls and selling of household assets. Supported by various NGOs and CBOs, affected community members are taking up income generating activities, improving skills in agriculture and using labour saving technologies.

In light of these findings PABRA, in collaboration and partnership with other institutions engaged in agricultural research, is developing a strategic research and development agenda that contributes to mitigating the impacts of HIV/AIDS. Current interventions are being examined and broadened to develop an approach that includes measures that help affected households to reduce their vulnerability and build coping mechanisms, address gender issues, promote food and nutrition security while helping affected communities to improve agricultural-based livelihoods.

PABRA, Kawanda Agricultural Research Institute, P.O. Box 6247, Kampala, Uganda
Tel +256-414-567670, fax +256-414-567635, email r.buruchara@cgiar.org

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