The Extent, Cause and Severity of Household Food Insecurity in Pakistan: Evidence from Micro Data

The study analyzes the degree, causes and seriousness of household food insecurity at provincial level by utilizing HIES (2010-2011) data set. The head count ratio, food insecurity gap (FIG) index, and squared food insecurity gap (SFIG) index are used to determine the situation of household's food insecurity using the recommended daily calorie required approach. In addition, the Logit model explores some of the crucial determinants of household food insecurity at provincial level. The outcomes portrayed that the state of food insecurity is exacerbated in Sindh in correlation with the various territories of Pakistan. It lagged behind the entire country as per the food insecurity indexes. Households having larger family sizes, higher dependency ratio, lower levels of educated household heads living in smaller houses (less no of rooms per adult equivalent) are more likely of being food insecure in all the provinces. Moreover households relying on single source of income have higher probability of being food insecure than those that have diversified into some other enterprise. The intensity of these factors is worsened in Sindh especially. So programs that guides in easing food insecurity ought to be presented by the administration that objective family units of such class.