From backyards to balanced diets: assessing food security through a novel participatory index in homestead agroforestry systems of Sivasagar District, Assam (India)
摘要
The present study empirically investigates the contribution of homestead agroforestry (HAF) systems on enhancing household food security in Sivasagar District, Assam (India) using a novel Participatory Food Security Index (PFSI). Drawing on a mixed-methods research design that includes detailed household surveys, participatory rural appraisal, group discussions, and observations in the field, this study aims to practically define the four pillars of food security as put forth by the Food and Agriculture Organization viz. availability, accessibility, utilization, and stability. The novelty of the PFSI lies in its participatory and composite design that integrates all four FAO pillars of food security with community-driven insights such as food-sharing, preservation practices, and resilience strategies, etc. Unlike existing metrics like FIES, HFIAS, and FCS, it captures multidimensional, context-specific, and temporal dynamics of food security at the village level, addressing social and ecological factors often overlooked by standardized tools. The findings illustrate that while HAF systems have continued to provide a range and diversity of important and nutritious food groups, traditional plant diversity, sharing networks at the community level, and food self-sufficiency has declined significantly. The findings utilized in this paper gives practical metrics and comparisons for the use of agroforestry in food security programming by policymakers and practitioners in a similar rural context looking to re-engage with agroforestry as a positive tool for food security.