Exploring the Multi-Dimensional Factors influencing Food Security: A Case Study of District Nowshera, Pakistan

Abstract

This paper measures food security in district Nowshera, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, using a multidimensional framework. It covers four dimensions: financial accessibility, physical accessibility, food utilization and food sustainability. It uses primary data from a field survey of randomly selected respondents. The results show that district Nowshera is 54.7 percent food secure, with urban areas being more secure than rural areas. Tehsil Pabbi and Tehsil Nowshera are more secure than Tehsil Jangeera. The lowest food security is found in the rural area of tehsil Pabbi. The study identifies some factors that influence food security, such as income, education, subsidies, farmer union, agricultural productivity and natural calamities. It suggests some policy implications to improve food security, such as increasing income, local food production, food aid support, education, financial subsidies and agricultural productivity, as well as reducing the impact of natural calamities.