Status and determinants of small farming households' food security and role of market access in enhancing food security in rural Pakistan

In most of the developing countries, lack of resources and little market accessibility are among the major factors that affect small farming household food security. This study aims to investigate the status of small farming households’ food security, and its determinants including the role of market accessibility factors in enhancing food security at household level. In addition, this study also determines the households’ perception about different kinds of livelihoods risks. This study is based on a household survey of 576 households conducted through face-to-face interviews using structured interviews in Punjab, Pakistan. Food security status is calculated using dietary intake method. The study findings show that one-fourth of the households are food insecure. The study findings reveal that farm households perceive increase in food prices, crop diseases, lack of irrigation water and increase in health expenses as major livelihood risks. Further, the results of logistic regression show that family size, monthly income, food prices, health expenses and debt are main factors influencing the food security status of rural households. Furthermore, the market accessibility factors (road distance and transportation cost) do significantly affect the small farming household food security. The results suggest that local food security can be enhanced by creating off-farm employment opportunities, improved transportation facilities and road infrastructure.

在绝大多数发展中国家，资源匮乏与市场可达性（market accessibility）不足是影响小农家庭（small farming household）粮食安全（food security）的核心因素之一。本研究旨在探究小农家庭粮食安全现状及其影响因素，其中涵盖市场可达性相关因素对家庭层面粮食安全的提升作用。此外，本研究还调研了农户对各类生计风险的认知情况。本研究基于巴基斯坦旁遮普省开展的家庭调研，采用结构化访谈（structured interviews）形式进行面对面调研，共完成对576户家庭的样本收集。研究采用膳食摄入法（dietary intake method）测算样本家庭的粮食安全状况。研究结果显示，四分之一的受访家庭存在粮食不安全问题。调研结果表明，农户将食品价格上涨、作物病害、灌溉水资源匮乏以及医疗费用攀升视作主要生计风险。进一步的逻辑回归（logistic regression）分析结果显示，家庭规模、月收入、食品价格、医疗费用与负债情况是影响农村家庭粮食安全状况的关键因素。此外，市场可达性相关因素（道路距离与运输成本）对小农家庭的粮食安全具有显著影响。研究结果建议，可通过创设非农就业机会（off-farm employment opportunities）、完善交通设施与道路基础设施来提升地区粮食安全水平。