Rural households' food security and its determinants in coastal regions of Bangladesh

Abstract

AbstractThe coastal zone of Bangladesh is suffering from a wide range of climate change‐driven hazards. Limited attention has been given to these zones' food security assessment. Therefore, this study aims to assess the status of food security and its determinants among different groups of Bangladeshi coastal households. It also identifies their livelihood risks and coping strategies during stressed situations. Data were collected from 1350 households from coastal districts through a questionnaire survey. Food security was calculated and compared with the recommended average (2400 kcal/capita/day). A binary logit model was used to identify the determinants of food security among rural coastal households. Livelihood risks and coping mechanisms were recorded through open‐ended questions. The findings of this study revealed that although on average, sampled households were food secure (2753 kcal/capita/day), 81% of landless households and 72% of marginal landholders within the sample appeared food insecure. Among various food items, rice supplied the greatest total daily calorie intake (1841.47 kcal), second was the edible oil (172.27 kcal). The regression model revealed that farm size, farm income, off‐farm income, and crop production had positive impacts on households' food security. Floods, salinity, heavy rainfall, and reduction of land productivity were high risks to the large farm households, while heavy rainfall, floods, and salinity were high risks to the landless farm households. To cope with these risks, the majority of large farm households used their savings and sold livestock and poultry as coping strategies. The landless and marginal farmers were mostly helped by nongovernmental and government‐run organizations, moved elsewhere to find work, sold their labor, and were involved in fishing. It was concluded that different groups of farmers face different challenges. Our findings indicate that in order to protect landless and marginal farmers, government should implement policies aimed at increasing crop production by means of prioritizing saline‐tolerant crop varieties and the creation of more job opportunities.