Khat: Adaptive Community Resilience Strategy or Short‐Sighted Money Maker?

Abstract

Khat (Catha edulis) is a perennial bush originating in East Africa. This shrub's leaves and twigs are sold in East African and Middle Eastern markets for their narcotic effect. Khat has become an exceedingly popular topic in both the health and policy arenas, with a growing body of literature related to cardiovascular and oral health, mental health and cognitive processes, and monitoring and policy related to khat. However, there has been relatively little research on khat's association with food security, which is foundational to human health and well‐being, or its place in the agrifood system. Furthermore, research linking khat to validated cross‐cultural measures of food security is nonexistent. The majority of studies contextualizing khat production in terms of food security focus on khat's displacement of food crops. This study surveyed 115 farmers in the Amhara region of Ethiopia. Data revealed khat to be positively associated with food security. However, there is reason for caution given the documented potential for poor health outcomes related to khat consumption and the heavy reliance on irrigation for intensive khat production, combined with the unregulated nature of water withdrawals in Ethiopia. Poor health and degradation of water and soil resources are key vulnerability pathways in community resilience.

Exploring linkages between drought and HIV treatment adherence in Africa: a systematic review

“…Institutional and policy frameworks related to drought and environmental stress mitigation include water harvesting, collective loan systems, food aid, drought tolerant crops, off-farm employment, or alternative livelihoods, among others. 61 , 62 , 64 , 66 , 68 , 74 , 77 , 83 , 87 , 88 , 117 , 118 , 122 – 124 , 137 – 144 The review also shows the disruptive effects of drought on these strategies. 55 , 122 …”

Exploring linkages between drought and HIV treatment adherence in Africa: A Systematic Review

“…Institutional and policy frameworks related to drought and environmental stress mitigation include water harvesting, community loan systems, food aid, drought tolerant crops, off-farm employment or alternative livelihoods amongst others. 50,51,53,55,57,63,66,74,75,79,83,86,87,89,91–93,96–98,100,101 The review also shows the disruptive effects of drought on these strategies. 44,96…”

Impact of Khat Production and Marketing on the Livelihood of Smallholder Households in Ethiopia

“…Whether increased income from khat production is translated into improved food security and nutritional status of households depends on several factors including expenditure behavior, gender relations, availability and prices of grain, etc. Also, scholars are in doubt that its production can result in the deterioration of food security and nutritional status of households in a situation where an expansion of khat production increases the prices of staples or where male-headed households mainly spend increased income on non-food items [28] [29] Not only this [30], in his study of "Khat: Adaptive Community Resilience Strategy or Short-Sighted Money Maker? In North Wollo, Amhara Ethiopia".…”