The document discusses the four dimensions of food security: physical availability of food, economic and physical access to food, food utilization, and stability of the other three dimensions over time. Physical availability addresses the supply of food through production, stock levels, and trade. Access looks at whether households can actually obtain food given incomes, expenditures, markets, and prices. Utilization examines how well nutrients from food are absorbed and the nutritional status of individuals. Stability considers whether the other dimensions remain adequate over time or are impacted by periodic issues like weather, economics, or disasters. The document also provides recommended indicators for measuring each dimension of food security.
5. Definition of Food and Nutrition Security
• “Food security is achieved, if adequate food
(quantity, quality, safety, socio-cultural acceptability)
is available and accessible for and satisfactorily
utilized by all individuals at all times to live a healthy
and happy life.”
13. Physical Availability
• Of food Food availability addresses the
“supply side” of food security and is
determined by the level of food production,
stock levels and net trade.
14. Economic and physical Access
• To food An adequate supply of food at the
national or international level does not in
itself guarantee household level food security.
Concerns about insufficient food access have
resulted in a greater policy focus on incomes,
expenditure, markets and prices in achieving
food security objectives.
15. Food Utilization
• Utilization is commonly understood as the way
the body makes the most of various nutrients
in the food. Sufficient energy and nutrient
intake by individuals is the result of good care
and feeding practices, food preparation,
diversity of the diet and intra-household
distribution of food. Combined with good
biological utilization of food consumed, this
determines the nutritional status of
individuals.
16. Stability
• Of the other three dimensions over time Even
if your food intake is adequate today, you are
still considered to be food insecure if you have
inadequate access to food on a periodic basis,
risking a deterioration of your nutritional
status. Adverse weather conditions, political
instability, or economic factors
(unemployment, rising food prices) may have
an impact on your food security status
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20. Recommended Indicators
1. Food Consumption food and dietary diversity, food groups)
2. Acute child malnutrition (6-59m), wasting as per the prevalence of
Global Acute Malnutrition (GAM)
3. Crop production situation
4. Food stock at household level
5. Stock of main staples in key markets (food availabiltiy in the market)
6. Employment opportunities within and neighboring districts
7. Income through sales: NTFP, cash/high value crops, and small
enterprise
8. Income: meat, milk, egg, fish, honey
9. Market price of main staple like rice, wheat flour, and others.
10. Remittances
11. Human disease incidence, and epidemics
12. Water supply for drinking, sanitation (ODF)
13. Climatic hazards: floods, landslides, dry spell, snowfall, hailstorm , and
strong wind
14. Disaster: Earthquake, fire
15. Out-migration (stress induced)
16. Coping strategies
17. Civil security (social violance, and bandh/blockade)