Study of relationship between food security, urban population and development plans in Iran

Abstract

<span>Urban population growth (non-agricultural population) in developing countries has<br /><span>challenged the food security of urban households. The precise demographic definition of<br /><span>urbanization is the increasing share of a nation's population living in urban areas (and thus a<br /><span>declining share living in rural areas). Mostly, urbanization is the result of net rural to urban<br /><span>migration. We investigated the food security among urban households and the effects and<br /><span>various factors involved for the period of 1983 to 2012. Results showed that during this<br /><span>period the food security of urban households had an increasing trend. Despite the<br /><span>enhancement of food security among urban households, 5.6 percent of the urban<br /><span>populations received less than necessary kilojoules level in 2012, role factors were<br /><span>evaluated as well using time series pattern after estimation of urban household's aggregate<br /><span>food security index (AHFSI). Results showed that effect lag variable of aggregate food<br /><span>security index changes on growth of aggregate food security index in the next year will be<br /><span>significantly negative (at 1% level). These results exhibited that with increase in one-unit<br /><span>growth of food security index in one year, it would decrease by 0.008 units the next year.<br /><span>Every one percent increase of people receiving less than standard energy level will decrease<br /><span>the growth of food security index by 0.009 units. This finding is significant at 10 percent<br /><span>level. Nevertheless, the 1<span>st <span>to 3<span>rd <span>five-year development plans showed more growths on<br /><span>food security indices in comparison with the 4<span>th <span>development plan. Furthermore, the second<br /><span>development plan showed the maximum increase of food security index in comparison with<br /><span>the 4<span>th <span>development plan. Based on the results, the constant and steadily increasing trend of<br /><span>the food security index should be considered as a priority in the future development plans</span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span></span>