Food Security in Eastern Indonesia

Abstract

This study aims at analyzing the dynamics of food security and the factors that influence food security in Eastern Indonesia. Food security levels for household are grouped into four, namely food secure, vulnerable, questionable and food insecure. The methodology used is panel data tobit model of 190 districts/cities in the Eastern Indonesia from 2008 to 2010. Results of the research showed that overall consumption of calories and protein in the KTI is below the standard limit of nutritional adequacy. The shares of food expenditures of the eastern Indonesia population are greater than for non-food expenditures. Based on the classification of the food security degree, the majority of households in KTI are including the vulnerable category. Food security is affected by percentage of poor people, GRDP per capita, female illiteracy and average of school. Food availability does not guarantee an increasing in the food security degree in the Eastern Indonesia, but food security is also determined by the accessibility and utilization of food. Education has the highest contribution in improving food security in the KTI. It is seen from the value of the elasticity of average of school the most high.