Food Security in Developing Countries: Role of Agricultural Exports, Income Inequality and Economic Growth

Abstract

Food security is considered as a basic right of human beings as it is also clear from the Agenda of SDGs. Target 2.1 of Sustainable Development Goal focuses on eliminating hunger and food insecurity and target 2.2 is related to the ending of all forms of malnutrition. The present study highlights the role of agricultural exports, income inequality and economic growth for food security of 89 developing countries by using panel data from the years 1990 to 2020. Employing MMQR, it analyses four dimensions of food security: availability, access, stability and utilization. Key findings include a negative impact of agricultural exports and income inequality on food security in case of developing countries. The results reveal a positive and highly significant impact of economic growth on the food security. The study recommends interventions to reduce reliance on agricultural exports and policies to reduce income inequality and for achieving sustainable economic growth.