Factors Affecting Food Security Capacity Building in the Household Levels of Farmers in Muang Kham, Xiengkhouang Province, Lao People’s Democratic Republic

Abstract

     This study was conducted to investigate: 1) socio-economic attributes of farmers; 2) level of food security creating practice at the household level of the farmers; and 3) factors effecting food security creating at the household level of the farmers. The sample group consisted of 279 farmers in Muang Kham, Xiengkhoung province, Laos P.D.R. A set of questionnaires was used for data collection and analyzed by using descriptive statistics and multiple regression.
     Results of the study revealed that most of the respondents were female, 42.93 years old on average, married and elementary school graduates on below. They had 6 household members and 3 household work force on average. The respondents had 10.66 rai of farm land with an income earned from the agricultural sector for 30,252.46 baht per year on average. They had an income earned from the non-agricultural sector for 11,059.13 baht per year. The respondents had household expenses for 25,802.92 baht per year and debts for 2,179.82 baht on average. Most of the respondents had no social position but they were group member in the community for 4 groups on average. They attended a training or joined an educational trip for 1.32 time on average. They perceived news or information about farming for 19.22 time per month on average. The respondents had a moderate level of knowledge about food security creating but they had a high level of an agreement or attitude towards food security creating. As a whole, the respondents performed food security creating at the household level at a moderate level ( = 3.46). Based on its details, they had a high level of practices in terms of food utilization ( = 3.53), access to food ( = 3.52), adequate food ( = 3.40), and food stability ( = 3.40), respectively. The following had positive statistically significant relationship with food security creating practice at the household level: educational attainment, an income earned from the agricultural sector, an income earned from the non-agricultural sector, participation in activities related to food security, knowledge about food security creating, and attitude towards food security creating. Two factors were found to be negative: household expenses and debt burden.