A Sociological Study of Food Insecurity among Low-Income Families in District Faisalabad

Abstract

Food insecurity is becoming a global challenge, whereas many South-East Asian countries, like Pakistan, with an agricultural background, are facing the paradox of food insecurity and food waste. Whereas food security means access to an adequate amount of food, which is safe, nutritious, and fulfills the dietary requirements for a healthy and active life, it should be guaranteed. In Pakistan, around 37% of the population has a moderate to severe food-insecure situation. This study aims to determine the extent and the risk and illness of the condition in rural poverty of Faisalabad. The study is cross-sectional and quantitative in nature, and primary data were collected from 120 households obtained through a random sampling technique to administer a pre-structured questionnaire. The findings of the study revealed that the rural participants experienced the worst effects because of lower dietary diversity. More than half of the respondents (59.1%) of the respondents, the impact was significant due to clinical diagnosis of moderate to severe tiredness, and malnutrition was a chronic illness. Bivariate analysis illustrated that expectations concerning average household size, household expenditures, and consumption did not yield consistent growth concerning perceptions of food sufficiency with income. All income levels reported food insecurity, with middle-class income (30,000-60,000 PKR) comprising 44.4% of those occasionally food insecure. This shows that more than the poor, inflation and price rises have made more people vulnerable. The analysis shows that food insecurity is a complex problem that intertwines poverty, unemployment, inflation, and poor systems and infrastructure in Faisalabad. Integrated policy response is required, encompassing income support schemes, rural infrastructure development, nutrition education, and selective food aid while considering food security as a public health and human rights concern.