Policy responses

Labour saving technologies
The labour shortage caused by the illness and death of household members is one of the most pervasive and well documented losses to AIDS-affected households. The use of labour-saving technologies therefore, represents an important mitigation strategy.

Knowledge preservation and transmission
In addition to labour-saving technologies, it is recognized that as most AIDS-related deaths occur in the reproductive age group, this generational loss can result in the loss of agricultural knowledge, practices and skills and interrupt their transmission from one generation to the next.

Rural institutions and capacity building
Mitigation strategies to cope with the epidemic need to be directed not only to individuals and households, but also to community organizations and institutions. Rural institutions need to be strengthened given that they too suffer from the loss of staff, implementation capacity and institutional knowledge due to AIDS deaths.

Links and references

http://www.fao.org/3/y8331e/y8331e00.htm#Contents

Barnett, T. 2001. HIV/AIDS and agriculture. Mitigation strategies in the agricultural sector: a global perspective. From technical meeting on Mitigating the impact of HIV/AIDS on food security and rural poverty: a framework for the agricultural sector. FAO.

FAO. 2001a. Strategic approaches to HIV prevention and AIDS mitigation in rural communities and households in Sub-Saharan Africa.

FAO. 2002a. AIDS is hitting the African farm sector. World Food Summit: 5 years later.

Pros Mitigate impact through implementation of agricultural labour saving techniques and technologies. Preservation of agricultural knowledge and local best practices Investment on rural institutions Invest in nation-wide or local safety net systems Mainstream public health in all interventions

Cons Difficulty to implement when national priorities are on public health issues

Minimum conditions Functional agricultural extensions services and infrastructures (e.g. irrigation) Functional supply chain

Governance Relevant national line ministries Country Humanitarian Response Programme Updated UNCT Food Security / Nutrition Clusters