Measuring food security across cultures: a

validation study in shrimp farming households in Sri

LankaJessica Wu, S. Checkley, R. Silva*, T. Westers, C. Ribble, T. Fung,

S. Daniel, & C. StephenUniversity of Calgary

*Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

OutlineBackground information

Project Sri Lanka Food security

ObjectivesMethodsResultsChallengesConclusions

Shrimp ponds

Traveling to shrimp farms

Why Sri Lanka?

Why Sri Lanka?Multi-project collaboration over the past 10

yearsConcerns identified by the Government of Sri

LankaVeterinary surveillanceWildlifeAquaculture development for food security

and poverty alleviation

Partners with Wayamba University of Sri Lanka

Defseminar.lk

BackgroundAquaculture in Sri Lanka is

considered an important livelihood that supports income diversification

Why shrimp farming?Opening of the Eastern and

Northern Provinces Is there a possibility of income

generation for people who have re-settled after the war?

Objectives What is the food security status of shrimp

farming households?How should we measure food security?

Shrimp in a feeding tray

Selling shrimp in the local market

What is food security?Food security is defined as

“a situation that exists when all people, at all times, have physical, social and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life” (World Food Summit, 1996)

A typical Sri Lankan meal

Pillars of Food Security

(FAO 2008 An Introduction to the Basic Concepts of Food Security)

Methods Cross-sectional study of 225 shrimp farming households in

Sri Lanka Structured surveys included the Household Food

Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) (Coates et al. 2007)

9 yes/no questions followed by timeframe question if answered affirmatively

Forward translation into Sinhala and Tamil Back translation into English followed by revisions if

required

Local seafood market

MethodsValidation of the HFIAS

Cultural acceptability through expert panel consultationFood security experts from both countriesAcademic experts familiar with the target populationGovernment worker familiar with target population

FeasibilityPilot study

Construct validity Factor analysis of dichotomous outcomes

Internal reliabilityCronbach’s alpha

Accuracy in relating to other food security measures (correlation to socioeconomic status)

Results The HFIAS showed high cultural

acceptability Has been used in unpublished studies in

Sri Lanka Feasibility indicated no logistic or

comprehension challenges Factor analysis

One factor extracted with factor loadings 0.94 or greater

Cronbach's alpha was high (0.934) Association between food insecurity

scores and socioeconomic status was significant (p = 0.032)

ResultsThe majority of shrimp farming households in Sri

Lanka are food secure

Typical market place

Food Security Status of Shrimp Farming Households

88%

6%

2%4%Food secureMild food insecurityModerate food insecuritySeverely food in-secure

*National average in Sri Lanka in 2009 (not incl NP and EP): 80% of households food secure (using expenditure data)

ChallengesTranslation

Two languages = twice the number of translators

Not all translators can type in Sinhala and Tamil

Part of a larger surveyOnly one construct

derived from factor analysisSmall sample size

ConclusionsThe HFIAS, adapted to the Sri Lankan context, is

promising as a valid measure of the access pillar of food security in this country

The majority of shrimp farming households are food secure

First documented use of the HFIAS in the aquaculture sector in Sri Lanka and can be a useful tool for future food security assessments in this country

AcknowledgmentsParticipating shrimp farmers in Sri LankaFunding from the International Development Research Centre

(IDRC) and the Government of Canada, provided through the Canadian International Development Agency (CIDA)

Supervisor Dr. Sylvia CheckleyFellow graduate student Dr. Trisha WestersCommittee members:

Dr. Carl Ribble, Dr. David Hall, Dr. Craig StephenSri Lankan partners:

Dr. Sam Daniel Dr. Renuka Silva

Translators

Trisha and Sam

Questions?

Feline food security???