Spatial Distribution of Poverty, Food Insecurity and Effective Factors in Urban Areas of Iran

Document Type : Research Article

Authors

• M. Shabanzadeh-Khoshrody
• E. Javdan
• K. Shemshadi

Agricultural Planning, Economics and Rural Development Research Institute (APERDRI), Tehran, Iran

https://doi.org/10.22067/jead.2024.87214.1257

Abstract

Introduction
During the last decade, due to the increase in food prices, the cost of a healthy diet in Iran has greatly increased. Although the government's support policies have aimed at improving the living conditions of households, but the cost and income information of the Iranian Statistics Center shows that due to inflationary conditions and its impact on real income and purchasing power of consumers, these programs have not had the necessary effect in reducing poverty and food insecurity. Reducing poverty and increasing the food security index is a requirement for independent countries like Iran. In this regard, knowing the current situation of poverty, food insecurity and factors influencing it, is not only the main condition for preparing future plans, but is necessary to continue this work with the aim of monitoring and evaluating the results of implemented plans and actions.
 
Materials and Methods
In the present study, the spatial distribution of poverty and food insecurity in the urban areas of Iran in 1401 has been investigated and then the factors affecting food insecurity have been identified. In order to achieve these goals, the nutritional performance matrix was drawn and calculated per capita calories in 1401 using the household income-expenditure information of Iran Statistics Center. The Aggregate Household Food Security Index (AHFSI) and the Foster, Greere and Thorbeke (FGT) poverty index were calculated and based on these indices, the spatial distribution of poverty and food insecurity in urban areas of Iran was analyzed. Finally, the impact of economic and demographic variables on food insecurity was analyzed in the framework of the logit model.
 
Results and Discussion
According to the results, the urban areas of the country are in low food security conditions; so that, only 45% of people have food security and about 55% of the residents of urban areas are either facing food insecurity or are on the border of food insecurity. On the other hand, the per capita calorie intake in the urban areas of the country is 2540 kcal, and generally these calories are supplied from cereals. In addition, there is inequality in the intake of calories in different provinces of the country, and the average intake of calories varies between 1988-3196 kcal among the provinces. Examining the status of food poverty indicators also shows that the average head count, gap and intensity of poverty in urban areas are 55.1%, 15.2% and 6% respectively. Based on these indicators, it can be said that 55.1% of the population of the urban areas of the country had food poverty in 1401 and the calorie intake of the poor households in these areas was 15.2% less than the minimum required daily calories; therefore, to eliminate poverty, the caloric intake of poor households should be increased by 15.2%. Finally, the results of the logit model estimation showed that the variables of age, employment status, working hours of the head of the household, subsidy, income and food diversity have a positive and significant effect on the food security of the households, but the Family size has a negative effect on the food security. In addition, the two variables gender and literacy of the head of the household did not have a significant effect on the food security in urban areas of Iran.
 
Conclusion
In this regard, although the long-term solution is to increase household purchasing power, stabilize and reduce commodity prices through strengthening production and supply, but in the short-term, increasing salaries and wages in line with the inflation rate and increasing social support programs for the low income deciels and weak society should be taken into consideration. In other words, income policies that can directly or indirectly increase the level of income and thus the purchasing power of the household, can be considered as a scientific and effective solution for food security. Moreover, the social support and poverty alleviation programs should be targeted and applied according to the needs and deficiencies in different geographical, demographic and income conditions. Finally, it should be acknowledged that improving the nutritional literacy of households can increase the nutritional knowledge and awareness of households, and therefore, by improving the variety and quality of the food they consume, it can lead to an increase in food security in urban areas of Iran.

Keywords

• Aggregate household food security index
• Food poverty indicators
• Food insecurity
• Logit model
• Urban areas of Iran

Main Subjects

• Agricultural and Village Development

©2024 The author(s). This is an open access article distributed under Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (CC BY 4.0).

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