Assessing the impacts of transitioning from rice farming to sugarcane cultivation on food security: Case of the dietary energy intake in the Northeast of Thailand

ABSTRACT Balancing economic gains and food security in the context of SDG 2, and focusing on the shift from rice farming to sugarcane cultivation, the nations can reap substantial economic gains by switching from food crops to cash crops. This change may affect the accessibility and price of food, which raises concerns about the possibility of food insecurity. The present study examined the impact of transitioning from rice farming to sugarcane cultivation on Dietary Energy Intake (DEI) in the Nong Bua Lamphu province in Northeast Thailand. Data was collected through a structured questionnaire survey and seven-day food consumption records from the farm households. Data was analysed through the methods of DEI: the minimum daily energy requirement (MDER), average dietary energy requirement (ADER) and probit regression. The results showed that income from farming irrespective of the type of farmer, food insecurity was relatively rare considering the MDER. The study found that 54% of small, 29% of medium and 4% of large farmers were having less DEI when considering their ADER. The regression model results showed that income from sugarcane, non-farm income and the % of land under sugarcane cultivation played a significant role in achieving DEI. This study emphasizes the need for balanced biofuel crop promotion policies in developing countries, focusing on smallholder farmers, to ensure food security, economic growth and sustainable development. Moreover, policies should be designed to provide support, resources and training to small farmers to ensure they can meet their dietary energy requirements while participating in cash crop cultivation.