Abstract:
Declining crop productivity and farm income in Sri Lanka forced rural households to adopt various coping
mechanisms to mitigate the food insecurity status. This study aimed to analyze the paddy farmer’s coping behaviors, food security status and the determinants of food security. Food security was measured using coping strategies index and multinomial logistic regression was done to analyze the determinants of food security. Results revealed that, mean monthly income of the household was Rs. 13, 104.33. Almost all the households adopted various
coping mechanisms. 30% of households were in food insecure condition. Multinomial logistic regression results
revealed that family size, education level of the head of the household and total monthly income significantly influence the food security status. When household monthly income increases, the odds ratio to be food secure and
moderately food secure increases by one. Considering the diversity of coping strategies employed in the study
area, policy instruments should be designed to improve the income level coupled with proper education and
thereby to improve the food security status among rural household in Batticaloa district.
