The Economic Factors Affecting Food Security in Indonesia

Food security is a complex phenomenon encompassing many aspects. Pursuing food security is a significant issue for most nations, including Indonesia. This study considers the prominent role of the economic dimension, shown by the share of food expenditure, in improving the level of food security. By examining the effect on food security of food expenditure in the diverse economic conditions across the regions of Indonesia, this study finds that food expenditure share is the most important factor to ensure the food security status. This research study uses Jonnson and Toole (1991)�s methods, following Maxwell et al. (2000) to describe the food security status in Indonesia. It uses cross analysis between the share of food expenditure and calorie intake to show the level of food security. Food security status is classified into four categories (food secure, less secure, vulnerable, and insecure) which are determined using two standard requirements of calorie intake, the National Food and Nutrition Symposium Standard and the World Bank Standard. Our findings for the cross analysis between food expenditure share and calorie consumption using the National Food and Nutrition Symposium Standard reveal that all urban areas are food secure areas, and rural areas include both food secure areas and food vulnerable areas. The findings based on the World Bank Standard classify urban areas as either food secure areas or food less secure areas, and classify rural areas as all four types: food secure areas, food less secure areas, food vulnerable areas, and food insecure areas. Finally, based on this study�s findings, the implementation of policies that support the increasing of incomes and knowledge of nutrition is suggested as means of strengthening Indonesia�s food security.