Indonesia faces a pressing challenge: despite some improvements, its Food Security Index (FSI) remained in the low “Priority 4” category from 2020 to 2022. While we often think of food security as a local issue dependent on a province’s own poverty or crop yields, a new study reveals a surprising twist: a province’s food security is heavily influenced by its neighbors. This finding shifts the focus from isolated solutions to coordinated regional strategies.
Researchers analyzed data from 34 Indonesian provinces between 2020 and 2023, examining factors like poverty rates, access to electricity and clean water, dietary quality, and calorie intake. Using a sophisticated spatial panel model, they discovered a powerful “spillover effect.” In simple terms, if one province becomes more food-secure, that positive change ripples outward, boosting food security in surrounding provinces.
The study confirmed that provinces with higher life expectancy and better electricity access tend to have stronger food security. Unsurprisingly, high poverty rates drag food security down. However, two findings challenge common assumptions. First, simply eating enough calories each day did not guarantee food security, showing that the quality and access to a varied diet matter more. Second, access to clean water showed a negative relationship with food security in the model, a paradox likely explained by the high costs or transitional burdens of new water infrastructure, which can temporarily strain household budgets.
This research delivers a clear message for policymakers: food security is a regional team sport, not a solo provincial effort. Isolated programs will fall short. Instead, provinces must coordinate poverty alleviation, electrification, and infrastructure projects to create positive ripple effects across borders. For Indonesia to move from “Priority 4” to genuine food security, the recipe is clear: think locally, but act regionally.
Author: Dita Amelia
The article can be accessed at https://online-journal.unja.ac.id/JIITUJ/article/view/53267
