Food security of household in Lakshadweep under the influence of climate change scenarios: an indicator based analysis

Abstract

Food security, a basis of human development and well-being, is achieved when all people have continuous physical, social, and economic access to sufficient, safe, and nutritious food. According to the FAO, food security consists of four dimensions: availability, accessibility, stability, and utilisation. In line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, particularly Goal 2 (Zero Hunger), food security is increasingly jeopardised by the impacts of climate change, which not only diminishes the availability and stability of food supplies but also constrains access and utilisation by reducing income-generating opportunities, degrading natural resource bases, and driving up food prices, thereby exacerbating household vulnerability to hunger and malnutrition. Lakshadweep faces various climate challenges, including rising sea/atmospheric temperatures, sea-level rise, and extreme weather events. Despite these growing vulnerabilities, limited research has explored the nexus between climate change and household food security in Lakshadweep. Given the islands’ dependence on imported food, limited arable land, and high exposure to extreme weather, a critical research gap persists in understanding how climate-induced changes influence household food security. Addressing this gap is vital for formulating efficient and effective policies to enhance food security and also to reduce the negative impacts of climate change in this ecologically fragile island ecosystem. Hence, this study aims to: (i) quantify the food security status of households in Lakshadweep; (ii) determine the factors contributing to the food security of households in Lakshadweep; and (iii) develop a framework to assess the effects of climate change on the food security of Lakshadweep. A purposive sampling method was adopted for this study. Among the ten inhabited islands of Lakshadweep, two islands, Agatti (fishing-based) and Minicoy (tourism- based), were purposively selected. From Agatti’s 1,328 fishing households, a sample of 93 was determined at a 10% margin of error, while from Minicoy’s 2,710 tourism- based households, 96 were selected wereusing the same criteria. The final sample size was rounded to 200 households, comprising 100 from each island. Data were collected

using KoboToolbox (Computer-Assisted Personal Interviewing tool), which minimised sampling errors and enhanced efficiency by reducing data entry time. The data collected from 10 March 2025 to 20 April 2025. This research examined household food security through the human development and capability approach developed by Jean Drèze and Amartya Sen, which integrates entitlement and capability perspectives to understand hunger and well-being. The study employed a composite Food Security Index (FSI) that integrated 12 indicators across four dimensions to quantify household food security in the study area. To derive an objective weighting scheme for indicators in FSI calculation, principal component analysis (PCA) was performed. The FSI results showed substantial inter- island variation, with Agatti recording a lower FSI of 0.269 and Minicoy a higher FSI of 0.613, indicating relatively greater household food security in Minicoy. Furthermore, the FSI values were classified into four quartiles to assess household food security levels: the first quartile (0–0.250) denoted low food security; the second (0.251– 0.500) indicated medium food security; the third (0.501–0.750) represented high food security; and the fourth (0.751–1.0) corresponded to very high food security. The analysis revealed that 90% of households in Agatti fell within the low to medium food security range, whereas only 19% of households in Minicoy were classified in this category. In contrast, 81% of Minicoy households are in the high and very high food security categories, compared to just 10% in Agatti. These results indicate that food insecurity is far more severe in Agatti, where limited livelihood diversity and dependence on seasonal fishing constrain household income and purchasing power. Minicoy’s economy, supported by tourism and related small-scale enterprises, provides additional income and greater financial stability, enabling households to enhance household food security. An ordered probit regression was used to identify the factors influencing food security in Lakshadweep. In Agatti, the education level of the household head and land ownership significantly enhance food security, while the age of women responsible for cooking, as well as food sourcing difficulties caused by climate change, reduce it. Social assistance and the presence of non-communicable diseases also exert moderate effects. Whereas, Minicoy’s food security is positively influenced

by the gender of the household head, women’s education, and housing quality. However, reduced access to traditional food and deterioration in food quality due to climate change negatively affect household food security. The DPSIR (Drivers–Pressures–State–Impact–Response) framework of the European Environment Agency served as the basis for developing a framework linking climate change and food security in Lakshadweep. Within the DPSIR framework, drivers such as urbanisation, industrialisation, cutting trees, etc., lead to pressures including rising temperatures, sea-level rise, changing rainfall pattern, coastal flooding, saltwater intrusion, etc. These pressures alter the state of the four dimensions of food security. The resulting impacts are reduced agricultural and fish production, higher food prices, declining nutritional quality, disrupted supply chains, etc. In response, adaptive strategies such as renewable energy adoption, seawall construction, rainwater harvesting, livelihood diversification, and improved food storage systems are essential to strengthen resilience and ensure sustainable food security under changing climatic conditions. The policy recommendations based on this study emphasise the need for integrated strategies to enhance food security and climate resilience in island ecosystem. Enhancing food security and household resilience requires diversifying livelihoods to reduce dependence on fishing and promote alternative income sources. Improving food supply chains, expanding health insurance coverage, establishing processing units, and enhancing storage and cold chain facilities are crucial to ensuring food availability, stability, and safety. In addition, broader adaptation measures, such as integrating health and nutrition awareness, building climate- resilient infrastructure, such as seawalls, and installing seawater desalination plants, can mitigate the impacts of rising sea levels and freshwater scarcity. Furthermore, developing early warning and disaster preparedness systems is vital to protect lives and livelihoods from extreme weather events.