FNSA Indices
FoodNutrition Security Index (FNSI) is developed by aggregating its four dimensions: Food Availability, Food Accessibility, Food UtilizationFood Stability. First, separate indices for each of these dimensions were developed to understand the status of districts on individual dimensionsthen a combined FoodNutrition Security Index (FNSI) was computed for all districts. The districts are then ranked to identify the priority (lagging)performer (leading) districts.
Food Availability
Food availability refers to the food that is physically available in the given area, through all forms of domestic production, commercial imports, reserves, and food aid. Self-sufficiency in production of food grains is often advocated as a first step towards attaining food security.
Food Accessibility
Food accessibility refers to the ability of household to acquire food regularly through one or a combination of home production and stocks purchases barter gifts borrowing and food aid. The ability to access food rests on two pillars economic and physical access.
Food Utilization
Food utilization refers to the persons ability to absorb and mobilize nutrients from the food they consume. This includes balanced intake of both macro-nutrients and micro-nutrients. The absorption of nutrients from food is also influenced by the prevailing water quality availability of health care facilities and sanitation conditions.
Food Stability
Food Stability refers to a situation when the three food security pillars availability accessibility and utilization are stable such that the individuals households or entire population are food secure at all given times. Food stability is governed by broader climatic political social and economic issues. Food instability can be short-term resulting in acute food insecurity or medium- to long-term leading to chronic food insecurity.
