Can sustainable agriculture practices lead to improved food security in rural households?

The sustainability and survival of the human race has always relied on ensuring food security and meeting nutritional needs. Therefore, identifying factors affecting food security can be considered an effective measure in removing barriers to achieving an appropriate nutritional status. This study aims to answer the question of whether sustainable agricultural practices can lead to improving the food security status of rural households. To this end, actions recognized as examples of sustainable agricultural practices were first identified. Then, potato producers in Bostanabad county were selected as the statistical population, and ۱۴۸ of them were interviewed in person as representatives of their families. Initially, the food security status of households was calculated using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) index, and then the Poisson regression model was used to evaluate factors affecting the food security of rural households. The results indicated that, on average, the surveyed farmers with a dietary diversity score of ۸.۶ had an appropriate food security status. In addition, actions related to sustainable agricultural practices, expenses incurred for food purchases during the past week, education level, and potato cultivation area were among the factors affecting the dietary diversity score of rural households in Bostanabad. Based on the results, educating farmers on sustainable potato cultivation methods through promotional training courses can play an effective role in improving their income and purchasing power for food, thereby enhancing their food security status.

کلیدواژه ها:

Household dietary diversity score ، food security ، sustainable agriculture ، Poisson model