| Abstrakt: |
This study uses different measurements of food security to understand the nature and major characteristics of the food security problem of farming households in the Moneragala district, Sri Lanka. According to the empirical data analysis, low level of income, decline in real farm gate prices of agricultural commodities, decline in the real wage rate of the agricultural sector, unequal distribution of productive assets among farming households, insufficient value of food subsidy, and high level of consumption loans among marginal farmers are some of the major characteristics of food insecurity in the Moneragala district. In addition, low level of income and unequal distribution of productive assets afflict the food security of poor farming households. This study shows that farming households in the district are faced with both as well as chronic food insecurity. Transitory food insecurity is an outcome of severe drought, rain or crop destruction from wild animals. Chronic food insecurity is an outcome of the low level of income or poverty. Based on the nature and characteristics of the food security problem in the district, this article argues in favour of two types of policies for improving the food security of farming households. For the short term, there should be a sufficient and effective safety net for relieving farming households from transitory and chronic food insecurity, The long-term food strategy that aims to improve food security should consist of policies, namely, poverty reduction, redistribution of productive assets and income, and stabilization of agricultural commodity prices and the wage rate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR] |
