Recognizing the factors affecting on food security in rural areas(Case study of villages in Zahak region in Sistan and Baluchestan province)

Establishing food security of households is one of the goals of economic, social and cultural development programs of the country and therefore it is important to estimate the level of household food security. In the present study, food security of rural areas of Zahak city was assessed using Coping Strategy Index in 2015 and 2016. The results showed that about 80% of the studied households are in poor nutrition and have used strategies to cope with food insecurity. In addition, the variables of annual income, household head occupation, type of household head occupant, rural to urban distance, number of households, access to mobile phones and household head addiction status are among the factors affecting food security level. Accordingly, effective steps can be taken to achieve the desired level of food security by trying to empower the villagers, improve the job situation and income of the head of the household and raise the level of awareness of the people by agricultural promoters.