Examining Factors Affecting Food Security of Farming Households in Baghlan Province: A Case Study of Doshi District

Abstract

This study assesses the food security status and identifies its key determinants among farming households in Doshi District, Baghlan Province. It focuses on the gap between subsistence production and access to a diverse diet in a transitioning rural economy. Using a descriptive-analytical approach, data were collected through structured questionnaires from a random sample of 200 households out of a population of 8,100. Food security was measured using the Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS) and the Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS). Results reveal a critical situation, with 75.5% and 83.5% of households classified as food insecure under HDDS and HFIAS, respectively. Regression analysis shows that farm size, livestock ownership, cooperative membership, and access to credit significantly improve food security, while large household size and market distance worsen it. The findings highlight the need for structural, market-oriented policy interventions.