Assessing the determinants of household food security: Evidence from agricultural training and socio-economic factors in rural Indonesia

Abstract

Household food security in rural Indonesia remains a critical challenge, shaped by complex interactions between agricultural practices, socio-economic conditions, and institutional support systems. While agricultural training is widely promoted as a key intervention, its effectiveness depends on the type of knowledge disseminated and farmers’ capacity to adopt recommended practices. This study employs a mixed-methods approach, combining Ordinary Least Squares (OLS) and logistic regression models with qualitative insights from interviews and focus group discussions. Primary data were collected from 189 smallholder households in the Tempe Lake Subdistrict. A Food Consumption Score-based index was used to measure household food security, alongside descriptive analysis of training access, technology adoption, and cost perceptions. The results indicate that agricultural training, education, cultivated land size, and household expenditure have significant positive effects on food security, while distance to agricultural fields has a negative impact. However, descriptive findings reveal that exposure to climate-smart practices and adoption of improved seed varieties remain limited, with a majority of farmers perceiving such inputs as costly despite recognizing their productivity benefits. Consistent with a pathway-based conceptual framework, the impact of agricultural training on food security is conditional on access to inputs, economic capacity, and the diversity of knowledge systems promoted.