DETERMINANTS OF THE REGIONAL FOOD SECURITY INDEX FOR DISTRICTS AND MUNICIPALITIES IN CENTRAL JAVA PROVINCE

Abstract

Food security is a key aspect of regional development, particularly in efforts to achieve the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs). Although the Food Security Index (FSI) in Central Java is categorized as very resilient, disparities in its determining indicators, such as declining rice production, relatively high poverty rates, and the on going prevalence of stunting, highlight the need to examine its key determining factors. This study aims to analyze the influence of rice production, the percentage of the poor population, and the prevalence of stunting on the Food Security Index across 35 regencies and cities in Central Java during 2018–2024. Rice production represents the availability dimension, whilst poverty reflects food accessibility, and stunting indicates food utilization. This study utilized panel data regression with the most appropriate fixed-effects model (FEM). The results indicate that rice production has a negative effect on the Food Security Index, although the effect is significant. Furthermore, the percentage of the poor population and the prevalence of stunting have significant negative effects on the Food Security Index. Among these variable rice production is identified as the dominant factor influencing food security, as Central Java Province has already implemented food diversification, as reflected in the Dietary Patterns data, thereby reducing its reliance on rice alone.