Assessment of food security status of Bajo fishing households in Kabawo Subdistrict, Southeast Sulawesi

Abstract

Coastal communities can be particularly vulnerable to food insecurity due to a combination of factors related to their geographical location, socio-economic conditions, and environmental challenges. This research aimed to evaluate the level of food security in Bajo fishermen’s households. The study was undertaken in Kawite-wite Village, Kabawo Subdistrict, Muna Regency in Southeast Sulawesi. There were 161 Bajo fishing households living in the village, of which 64 households were selected as respondents. The food security status was assessed using the US Department of Agriculture’s household food security survey module. Study results indicated that 6.25% of households were in marginal food security status, 18.75% were in very low food security status, 65.54% were in low food security status, and 9.38% were in high food security status. If only grouped into two categories, 84.38% of households were food insecure, while the remaining 15.63%were food secure. The findings showed that most Bajo households were food insecure. Households employed two strategies to overcome food shortages, namely those pertaining to food and those pertaining to income and expenditure. The government and all stakeholders need to improve the food security status of Bajo fishing households.