Food security in farm labour households of Kuttanad

Abstract

The study entitled food security in farm labour households of Kuttanad was undertaken for assessing the extent of food security and to identify the factors influencing the food security of farm labour households. From each of the seven agro ecological zones of Kuttanad, 20 farm labour households were selected randomly for the study constituting a total sample size of 140 households. A detailed study was conducted by identifying four women and four pre school children from each agro ecological zone totalling 28 each. The food security of the selected households was ascertained by assessing the three dimensions of food security namely access, availability and utilisation of food. Food access and availability were determined by assessing socioeconomic status, food consumption pattern, food purchase inventory and food adequacy of the households. Utilisation was determined by assessing the nutritional status of family members. Overall food security was also determined using the food security module suggested by USDA.Nuclear family system with 4 to 6 members was noticed among most of the households. Most of the adult family members were educated up to high school level and 71.89 per cent men and 54.51 per cent women were working as agricultural labourers. The monthly income of the households was found to be very low and they spent above 50 per cent of their income for the purchase of food materials. The housing and living conditions were found to be poor with no drainage and drinking water facilities.The food consumption pattern of the households indicated that all were non vegetarians and followed a three meal a day pattern. Most frequently used food items included cereals, vegetables, fish and fats and oils. Milk and milk products, meat and egg were used to a lesser extent by the households. Food expenditure pattern of the households indicated that 67 per cent spent 10 to 35 per cent of food expenditure for the purchase of cereals and 10 to 28 per cent did not spent any money for the purchase of milk and milk products, egg, meat and fish. Food purchase inventory of the households revealed that all items were purchased to a lesser extent compared to the actual requirement of the households. Food adequacy in terms of food intake per consumption unit indicated inadequacy of all food groups except flesh foods. The per capita intake of all nutrients was also found to be lower than the recommended levels. The nutritional status of family members through anthropometry indicated that 25 to 48 per cent children, adolescents and elderly had different grades of malnutrition. However, the nutritional status of adult members was found to be better with 72 per cent of adults having a normal BMI of 20 to 25 kg/m2. The actual food and nutrient intake of women and preschool children were found to be far below the RDA for most of the food groups and nutrients. Anaemia was prevalent among 90 per cent of women. Food security status of the households indicated food insecurity among most of the households. Only 49 per cent of the households were found to be food secure on the basis of overall food security. On the basis of food access, availability and utilization, food security was observed only among 25 per cent of the households. Among the different factors affecting food security family size was found to be the most important one followed by income, food expenditure and energy intake.