2.1.2: Prevalence of moderate or severe food insecurity in the population, based on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES)

Definition
The indicator measures the percentage of individuals in the population who have experienced food insecurity at moderate or severe levels during the reference period. The severity of food insecurity, defined as a latent trait, is measured on the Food Insecurity Experience Scale (FIES) global reference scale, a measurement standard established by FAO through the application of the Food Insecurity Experience Scale in more than 140 countries worldwide, starting in 2014.

Rice Impacts
As of 2014, there were up to 570 million farmers globally. In 2017, about 144 million were representing rice, and most were smallholders.

Rice, being the daily staple of up to 3.5 billion people and accounting for 19% of global dietary energy, has seen its global consumption increase along with the population growth in Asia and Africa.

Despite being producers, these rice farmers are at risk due to climate change and dwindling natural resources. For example, the water shortage in some producing areas like India is already a major problem that limits rice production, and climate change is going to add to the uncertainty of water sources in many parts of the rice-growing world. With little or no new land available for expansion, followed by the recent slowdown in yield growth to less than 0.8% per year, projections into 2050 show a likely shortfall in trying to meet the 44% increase in global demand. Smallholder farmers serve as the first line of defense against global food insecurity, and they must be protected to ensure the survival of the rice-eating population.

Overlaps with the SRP Instruments
The SRP has projects in 14 countries, with value chain distribution from some of the world's largest rice customers. This gives the SRP the ability to assess local food security within those countries. The SRP Performance Indicator 9's Advanced level assesses household food insecurity experience in project areas, in addition to providing a quantitative measurement of dietary diversity.


 * Standards
 * N/A: No direct overlaps with the standards.
 * Performance Indicators
 * 9: Food Safety