DETERMINANTS OF FOOD INSECURITY STATUS OF FISHERIES COMMUNITY IN COASTAL REGIONS OF BANGLADESH

Food insecurity is a notable state of the well-being of people. However, the common determinants of food insecurity have nevertheless to be formally known, especially for the coastal region. This study aims to investigate the demographic and socio-economic determinants of food insecurity of the fishermen communities in the coastal areas, namely Galachipa, Kalapara and Dumki upazilas in Patuakhali district of Bangladesh. A two-stage cluster sampling technique has been used for getting the primary data (n=200). The food insecurity status was measured by using Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) suggested under the indicator of 2.1.2 of the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Logistic regression model has been used to identify the determinants of food insecurity status. Results reveal that families having larger number of members are more likely to be food insecure than the families with small numbers of members. Also, households having monthly income level below BDT 5000 are more food insecure than their counterparts. Another important determinant by which food insecurity is significantly affected is the education of household head. A range of viable policy interventions for the fishermen communities have been recommended. These include i) diversification of income generating opportunities, ii) improving education status of the community to enable to shift to safer employment when necessary, iii) building awareness on adverse effects of bigger family size through family planning campaign, and iv) providing skilled based training and necessary credit access among the unemployed members of the household

INTRA-HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY STATUS AMONG ULTRA-POOR COMMUNITIES IN MYMENSINGH DISTRICT

Recent global agenda including Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) highlight the importance of addressing food security, especially among the ultra-poor communities at the intra-household level. Ensuring food security would continue to be a major challenge among South-Asian countries like Bangladesh. Although Bangladesh has achieved sufficiency in food production but food security is remaining a challenge in rural areas and some clusters in urban areas. This study was conducted to explore the household food security among the ultra-poor communities at Phulpur and Tarakanda upazilas of the Mymensingh district in Bangladesh. The sample size consisted of 150 households. The binary logistic regression model was used to determine the socio-economic factors influencing food security. The wife’s (primary female) education was found to be positively, while husband’s (household head) occupation was found to be negatively associated with the food security status of the selected households. Considering 1805 kcal, 56.7% of the sample households were food secure, and considering 2122 kcal, 42% were food secure. This study also revealed indicative disparities in food security within households. Policies should address these issues