Determinants of Food Poverty States (FPS) in Pakistan

Abstract

Aim of the Study: Food security is one of the major issues facing developing nations like Pakistan. This study made an effort to investigate the key factors that influence various levels of food poverty.

Methodology: Various states of household food poverty are calculated by integrating the two measures of food security, per capita food expenditures (Food Exp) and average dietary energy consumption (ADEC), which represent food affordability or availability and accessibility respectively. The combined two indicators can be further categorized into four possible states of food insecurity, including food security (on the base of both indicators), food insecurity on the base of only food expenditure, food insecurity on the base of only ADEC, and total food insecurity (on the base of both indicators). HIES data for 2018–19.is used by incorporating a multinomial logit model to conduct the empirical investigation.

Findings: Empirical findings are likely to verify the presence of various states of food poverty/food insecurity issues that need to address properly. The empirics also show how the impacts of household socioeconomic characteristics vary considerably among the various food poverty states defined for the investigation.

Conclusion: It is concluded in order to ensure human wellbeing and to plan food security strategies to address this hot issue, it is crucial to understand the causes of household food poverty states.