Regional Overview of Food Security from Two Dimensions: Availability and Access to Food, East Java Province

Abstract

Food security has always been a topic of keen interest to policy-makers, practitioners, and academics worldwide. In the operational sense, food security concerns the availability, accessibility, and stability of its procurement. The leading indicators of food security at the household level access (physical and economic) to food, food availability and risks associated with food access and availability. A study was conducted by utilizing data from several government institutions to examine the level of regional and household food security of East Java Province. The result showed that the food security level of East Java Province has increased between 2010 and 2017, mainly because of improvements in several indicators of food security and nutrition. However, two main challenges require serious attention, namely: a) increasing economic access to food, mainly through increased investment and infrastructure and b) addressing increased vulnerability to the risk of climate change. In conclusion, this paper discusses information and suggestions to improve the food security level in the province, including approaching programs and policies related to the issues.