The aim of this study was to explore how food security at household level is affected by lack of
institutional services. This study particularly looks at how these constraints affect access to food and
assess the availability of institutional services such as the availability of extension services in
Ntambanana. The availability of institutional support in rural areas is regarded as means of rural
development which eliminate problems of access to food and other services. The general findings of the
study reveal that assessment and evaluation of policies that are based on rural development and food
security is very important. These include improving communication amongst various stakeholders,
creating an enabling environment for local businesses, ensuring the availability of facilities such as
storage, communication and transport facilities. The results reflect that socio – economic conditions play
an important role in accessing food by looking at the level of purchasing power in the community. This
study concludes that the cost effective ways to improve access to food is to assist local small scale
businesses to earn cash through creating market for them and invest in institutional services that lead to
improving food security. The study recommends that improved rural institutional services sustains food
security as well as contributes to the improvement in the living conditions of rural households
