Food Security Measurement And Analysis

The main focus of this chapter is to provide comprehensive understanding of the concept, measurement and application of food security in building household resilience to food insecurity. Analysis of household resilience requires the use of objective theoretical and conceptual frameworks (Jones & Tanner, 2015). The use of a conceptual framework enables us to understand objectively how the resilience of households is explained by different shocks and stresses including long-term socio-economic, institutional and environmental factors. Conceptually, it is difficult to measure resilience directly unless it is linked to a related theoretical framework (Levine, 2014). Frankenberger et al (2012) also believe that within constantly changing natural,

Maxwell & Frankenberger (1992) noted that there are more than 190 food security studies with particular emphasis on concept and definition of food security. Most of these studies try to answer five important questions: who should get, when, how, how much and what kinds of food they should be provided (Bashir & Schilizzi, 2012). The current food security literature builds on the 1996 World Food Summit definition of Food Security stated in terms of sufficient availability of food throughout the year and opportunity for physical and economic access to food. In reference to the different conceptual definitions given by different authors, four important food security pillars have been established: availability, accessibility (economic and physical access), utilization and stability (FAO, 2008; USAID, 2011; Elliot, 2014). A thorough understanding of these dimensions of food security provides a more comprehensive picture of food security and broadens its scope. Other authors (Barret & Headey, 2014; WFP, 2017; Hoddinott, 1999) have interpreted the concept of food security differently but within the same domain of the above definition given by the World Food Summit. They have tried to define the concept of food security as ‘’access for all people at all times to enough food for an active, healthy life.’’This definition also considers the four important components of food security. The knowledge about the key components of food security is vital to analyse food security resilience of rural households. The resilience analysis of a household is delimited to food availability, food access, utilization and stability since the aim of food security program interventions of Ethiopia is to satisfy the requirements of these targets (MoA, 2014; MoARD, 2009). According to the official reports, the major interventions of the program have direct implication to the four