Food security through employment generation in safari parks of Bangladesh: Empirical study from socio-economic perspectives

Abstract

This study focused on the role of safari parks as a sustainable source of income and employment to ensure food security of the corresponding employees. The survey was accomplished from two safari parks among the employees through a pretested questionnaire using simple random sampling techniques. Descriptive and inferential statistics was applied to evaluate current situation of different socioeconomic characteristics of the respondents. Different security dimension say, Economic Security Index (ESI), Health Security Index (HSI), Food Security Index (FSI) and Educational Security Index (EDUSI) was constructed to create the ultimate overall Livelihood Security Index (LSI). Again, simultaneous equation system was used to see the interrelation and amount of influence of different variables that affect livelihood status of the people. Three Stage Least Square (3SLS) estimation procedure was used to estimate the parameters of the equations. The study revealed that overall livelihood of the household was positively changed where food security was significantly influenced by the mode of employment. In order to sustainable income generation and employment opportunities, it is needed to boost the capacity of the geoparks and awareness building initiatives. Government can take initiative for promoting geotourism through infrastructural development so that different stakeholders will take initiatives to create a number of local jobs such as shop keeping, hotel and restaurants, transportations, guides, etc. for sustainable economic development through Safari parks.