2015年-世界发展银行全球_Republic_of_Moldova_Food_Security_Assessment_94页_2mb

Republic of Moldova Food Security Assessment Summary

Executive Summary

This report assesses the current food security situation in Moldova, focusing on the four dimensions of food security: availability, access, utilization, and stability. It highlights the role of domestic agriculture, economic conditions, and policy frameworks in shaping food security outcomes. The analysis is based on the latest Household Budget Survey (HBS) and National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) data, with the caveat that Transnistria was excluded due to data unavailability.

Core Content

Food Security Outcomes

• Food Energy Deficiency (FED): Moldova's population has largely met food energy requirements, with an average of 2,400 Kcal per capita in 2013, above the WHO recommended 2,050 Kcal.
• Household Food Insecurity: Despite overall improvements, 21% of households consumed less than the recommended level of calories, and 9% faced high food energy deficiency (HFED).
• Poverty and Food Insecurity: The rate of households facing HFED dropped from 24% to 8.8% between 2007 and 2013. However, the poorest households (lowest income quintile) still spend over 65% of their income on food, and the share of HFED households among the poor increased from 26.3% to 33.8%.
• Urban vs. Rural: The gap between urban and rural food security has narrowed, with both groups facing similar levels of food energy deficiency (around 21%) by 2013. Urban households, however, showed greater improvement in HFED rates (from 32.3% to 8.0%) compared to rural (from 17.7% to 8.3%).

Key Trends

• Diet Composition: Moldovan diets are balanced in terms of carbohydrates and proteins, but fats are consumed in excess. There has been a gradual shift towards higher consumption of dairy, fruits, and vegetables, while staple food consumption has decreased significantly.
• Malnutrition Rates: Malnutrition among children under five has declined over the years, with stunting dropping from 8.4% to 4.4%, underweight from 4.3% to 3.2%, and wasting from 3.9% to 1.4%. Rural children are still more affected than urban ones.
• Economic Vulnerability: Poor households continue to face challenges in meeting their food energy needs. The poorest 20% of households saw a modest improvement in food security, but economic vulnerability remains high.

Main Policy Dimensions

Food Availability

• Domestic Production: Moldova is a net exporter of cereals, fruits, and wine, but a net importer of meat, dairy, and vegetables due to seasonal production.
• Production Trends: Agricultural production has stagnated, particularly due to droughts in 2003, 2007, and 2012. Yields of key crops have been low compared to other countries.
• Import and Export Patterns: Moldova's agri-food trade has seen shifts, with increased reliance on imports for certain food groups. Domestic production remains vulnerable to climate shocks and lacks modernization.

Access to Food

• Economic Access: Food prices have grown steadily but at a slower rate than global prices. The poorest households still spend over 65% of their income on food.
• Income Growth: Nominal incomes of the poorest 20% of the population doubled between 2006 and 2012, driven by rising agricultural prices and remittance inflows.
• Remittances: A significant portion of rural household income comes from remittances (20-25%), which contribute to food security but also make them more vulnerable to economic shocks.

Food Utilization

• Nutritional Status: Moldova has low prevalence of poor dietary intake (0.4% of households), indicating relatively good food utilization.
• Diet Diversity: There has been an increase in the consumption of non-staple foods, such as dairy, fruits, and vegetables.
• Food Safety: The report notes the need for improved food safety standards to ensure that food is not only available and accessible but also safe for consumption.

Food Stability

• Seasonal Volatility: Food prices in Moldova are highly seasonal, especially for fruits and vegetables, leading to increased food insecurity during off-seasons (1st and 2nd quarters).
• Stability of Access: Rural households are more vulnerable due to seasonal income fluctuations and reliance on own production.
• Stability of Utilization: Nutritional outcomes have improved, but the poorest and female-headed households still face challenges in maintaining a balanced diet.

Policy Recommendations

1. Agricultural Development: Modernize the agriculture sector through the adoption of new technologies, improved irrigation, and better agronomic practices.
2. Income Stability: Implement income stabilization tools, such as agricultural insurance, to protect households from income shocks.
3. Price and Market Regulation: Continue the policy of "cheap bread for everyone" by maintaining state grain reserves and controlling prices of essential food items.
4. Social Assistance: Strengthen social assistance programs to support the poorest and most vulnerable households.
5. Infrastructure Development: Improve post-harvest infrastructure to reduce losses and enhance food storage and distribution.
6. Cross-Sectoral Coordination: Enhance coordination between agriculture, economic, social, and health policies to ensure a comprehensive approach to food security.

Key Observations

• Gender Disparities: Female-headed households are less likely to face food insecurity than male-headed ones, but they still experience higher rates of HFED and lower caloric intake.
• Household Size: Smaller households (1-2 members) have lower rates of food energy deficiency and higher caloric intake per member compared to larger households.
• Income Sources: Households relying on agriculture-related income are more vulnerable due to seasonal price fluctuations and income instability.
• Regional Variations: While the overall gap between urban and rural food security is narrowing, regional disparities in poverty and food deficiency still exist.

Conclusion

Moldova has made significant progress in improving food security over the past decade, with notable reductions in poverty and food energy deficiency. However, challenges remain, particularly for the poorest and rural households, who are more vulnerable to economic and climatic shocks. A comprehensive policy approach is necessary to ensure long-term stability and resilience in the food system. The report emphasizes the importance of modernizing agriculture, improving market regulation, and strengthening social safety nets to address these challenges.