A community ecological analysis of food availability and accessibility in a rural community in the Philippines
Abstract
A.V. Fronda*, J.J.C. Duria, O.B. Parico and E.G. Buenaflor
One of the most valuable goals that all countries strive for is to maintain an excellent level of food security. Meanwhile, this is not achieved by some due to the lack of available food and access to it because of the shortage of money. This study aimed to assess the food availability and accessibility among low-income households in the rural community of Barangay Fronda, Talugtug, Nueva Ecija, Philippines. Specifically, the study sought to determine whether these households are able to maintain an access to food despite their low income using the United States Food Security Survey Module (US FSSM). In analyzing the data, the researcher employed descriptive statistics. Findings shows that among low-income households in Barangay Fronda, food are available among the households by having livestock, rice farms, backyard gardens, and vendors roaming around the community. However, it was also found that it is accessible for them physically but not financially because of being low-income earners that was also affected by some economic challenges such as the COVID-19 pandemic and rising prices of goods caused by the conflict between Russia and Ukraine.