Analysis of Livelihoods and Food Security among Rural Households of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Pakistan

Abstract

Purpose: This study was an effort with the aim to study livelihoods and food security status in rural areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province, Pakistan. Design/Methodology/Approach: Three districts of the province were confined and research data from randomly selected 336 households were collected. Livelihoods was analyzed by investigating livelihood strategies pursued by the households while food security status was measured through calorie intake method. Findings: The study examined that diversified livelihood strategies were pursued by the households; and noticed that farm was the prime strategy of 34.52% households while non-farm was the strategy of 65.48% households The incidence of food secure and insecure households was 57.44% and 42.56%, respectively; and  FSI of the food secure households averaged 1.26 and food insecure households averaged 0.79. Implications/Originality/Value: There is dire need to provide opportunities for a sustainable livelihood strategy at household level that could ultimately move them from worse to better food security status.