Effect of Socio-Economic Characteristics on Food Security of Small Scale Farmers in Rawalpindi

Subject Areas : Agricultural Extension

Muhammad  Furqan Mirza ¹ (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Badar  Naseem Siddiqui ² (Department of Agricultural Extension and Communication, PMAS- Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Muhammad  Hanif ³ (Department of Mathematics and Statistics, PMAS- Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Almas  Jabeen ⁴ (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Ghazala  Sadaf ⁵ (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Amina  Nauman ⁶ (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Saba  Shakeel ⁷ (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)
Maria  Munawwar ⁸ (Department of Sociology and Anthropology, PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi, Pakistan)

Received: 2015-12-24 Accepted : 2015-12-24 Published : 2013-07-01

Keywords: Food Security, poverty, Expenditure, Policies,

Abstract :

About half of the population in Pakistan is food insecure. The study focused the food secure population and the strategies for reducing poverty in district Rawalpindi. The study was carried out in district Rawalpindi in the Punjab province of Pakistan. Simple random sampling technique was used for this research study in district Rawalpindi. A sample of 120 respondents was selected. Then the data was analyzed through SPSS. It was concluded that majority people have low income, high food expenditures, low educational level affecting food security and government policies were not satisfactory to ensure food security. Moreover significant associations were found between education and food security and food security with the government policies. It was experienced that the more the people were educated were food secure.

References:

1. Ahmed, F. (2009). Food security in Pakistan. Pak. J. Agri. Sci., 46(2): 1-2.

2. Anonymous. (2013). Draft food security policy finalized. The Dawn. Available from http://dawn.com/2013/02/21/draft-food-security-policy-finalised. Retrieved on 1-4-2013.

3. Arif, M. (2007). Thematic paper. Agriculture and food security in Pakistan. South Asia partnership Pakistan: 14.

4. Farrell, J. A. (2013). The impact of nutrition education on food security status and food-related behaviors. Thesis. M. Sc. Nutrition. Univ. of Massachusetts Amherst.

5. Haile, H. H., Alemu, Z. G. and Kudhlande, G. (2005). Causes of household food insecurity in Koredegaga Peasant Association, Oromiya Zone, Ethiopia. Faculty of Natural and Agricultural Sciences. University of the Free State, South Africa.

6. Maharjan, K. L. (2009). Relationship between income-poverty and food insecurity in rural Far-western Mid-hills of Nepal. Hiroshima University. Japan: 13.

7. Malik, M. (2012). Clarity a prerequisite for improving literacy. The Dawn. Available from http://beta.dawn.com/news/747835/clarity-a-prerequisite -for-improving-literacy. Retrieved on 12-6-2013.

8. Marco, D. M. and Thorburn, S. (2009). The relationship between income and food insecurity among Oregon residents: Does social support matter. J. 12(11): 2108-2112.

9. Mellor, J. (1988). Lectures on Agricultural Growth and Employment. Lectures in Development Economics, No. 7. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad.

10. Naqvi, S. N. H., Khan, M. H. and Chaudhry, M. G. (1992). Raising the level of economic and social well-being of the people. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad.

11. Naqvi, S. N. H., Khan, M. H. and Chaudhry, M. G. (1994). How fast agriculture be growing. Pakistan Institute of Development Economics, Islamabad.

12. Parliament. (2006). Food Security in Developing Countries. Post note. UK House of Parliament, Parliamentary Office of Science and Technology: 1-2 Available from www.parliament.uk/post. Reterived on 22-08-2012 Accessed on 03-03-2013. 13. Saeed, H. (2013). Food for all. The Dawn. Available from http://dawn.com/2013/01/27/food-for-all-2/ Retrieved on 02-03-2013.

14. Shah, A. (2010). Global issues. Social, political, economic and environmental issues that affect us all. World hunger and poverty. Available from http://www.glob alissues.org/issue/6/world-hunger-and-poverty, Reterived on 25-08-2012.

15. Suleri, A. Q. and Haq, S. (2009). Food Insecurity in Pakistan. Sustainable Development Policy Institute, Swiss Agency for Development and Cooperation, World Food Program.

16. Vichealth, C. (2004). Food insecurity program Victorian Health Promotion Foundation. Literature describing the link between poverty, food insecurity and obesity with specific reference to Australia.

17. WHO, (1996). Trade, foreign policy, diplomacy and health: Food security. World food summit. Available from

http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story 028/en/ Retrieved on 12-7-2013.