HIV/AIDS and enabling pro-poor agricultural growth

This article not only provides some background information on the implications of HIV/AIDS on agriculture-led pro-poor growth in African countries, but also argues for the need and potential of agriculture to tackle this epidemic. It emphasises the need for greater research and specific priority action areas for pro-poor agricultural growth given HIV/AIDS impacts.

Primarily, the author highlights the following key dimensions of how HIV/AIDS can affect agricultural growth:

• GDP growth: despite limited research, it is estimated that HIV/AIDS can reduce GDP and agricultural growth substantially
• labour availability and productivity: HIV/AIDS result in labour shortages affecting the economically active population, increasing dependence and reducing agricultural output and productivity
• human capital and agricultural knowledge: the epidemic destroys existing capabilities and weakens mechanisms that induce human capital formation in the next generation
• household income, expenditure and assets: increased treatment cost, labour shortages and agricultural output reduction result in reduced lifetime family income. Reduction in access to credit and assets, and increased debt can result in chronic poverty
• gender dimension: girls are severely impacted by the repercussions of the disease as they become primary caretakers, and are biologically, socially and culturally more at risk of contracting the infection
• livelihood and farming strategies: due to HIV/AIDS, agriculture becomes less remunerative as it results in sub-optimal changes in livelihood strategies concerning production decisions about crops and farming techniques
• food security and food aid: malnutrition can not only exacerbate HIV/AIDS but this epidemic also increases the nutritional requirements of an individual making food security essential.
  

Given the affects of HIV/AIDS on agriculture, this article suggests that agricultural growth should be aimed at mitigating the vulnerability of acquiring the disease and enhancing resilience. This should be done through effective mainstreaming by national governments and donor agencies. It is further recommended to reform land tenure and inheritance law, re-orient agricultural services, focus on knowledge transfers, increase dialogue and understanding of HIV/AIDS, ensure pro-poor budgeting, promote labour saving agricultural technologies and adapt food aid to HIV/AIDS.

This article finally suggests the need for further research on elements of agricultural development strategies, transmission mechanisms and synergies that curb HIV/AIDS. It suggests increased emphasis on considering the susceptibility and resistance of livelihood strategies to HIV/AIDS, responses to policy interventions, secondary environmental side effects and innovative technologies. The author also urges practitioners to start acting while adapting to the contextual and changing environments.