Food Security in Transition: A Subdivision-Level Study of Jangalmahal Using Multivariate Techniques

Abstract

Background: Food security in Jangalmahal is characterised by substantial spatial disparities arising from differences in agricultural productivity, irrigation coverage, access to agricultural inputs, infrastructure, employment opportunities, and socio-economic conditions. Although the region is predominantly dependent on agriculture, subdivision-level variations in these factors may result in unequal food-security outcomes. A multidimensional assessment is therefore required to identify the spatial pattern of food security and the principal factors associated with these disparities. Aims: To examine the level of food security in the Jangalmahal region and analyse the correlation between the food security index and the different variables affecting food security in the region. Study Design: This study uses a Composite Z-score technique to examine food security at the subdivision level, considering a number of indicators affecting the region. Principal Component Analysis was subsequently used to highlight the most important variables. Place of Study: The study was conducted in the Jangalmahal region, which includes Purulia, Bankura, Jhargram, and Paschim Medinipur. This region faces multiple socio-economic, infrastructural, and environmental constraints. Methodology: The study analyses the correlation matrix to identify relationships between key indicators, such as calorie availability, agricultural productivity, infrastructure, and socio-economic factors. Principal Component Analysis (PCA) was applied to reduce dimensionality and identify the most important variables. Results: About 30% of the subdivisions, namely Purulia Sadar (West), Purulia Sadar (East), and Raghunathpur, lying in the north-western part of the region, belong to the category of extreme food insecurity. Principal Component Analysis (PCA), which extracted four significant components explaining 67.04% of the total variance (KMO = 0.785; p < 0.001), was employed to reduce dimensionality and highlight the most important variables influencing food security. The results reveal substantial spatial disparities: southeastern subdivisions, such as Ghatal and Kharagpur, exhibit higher food security due to better irrigation coverage, greater access to agricultural inputs, higher road density, and higher employment rates. Conversely, central and western subdivisions, such as Bankura Sadar and Khatra, fall into medium or low food security categories due to limited irrigation facilities and reliance on rainfall. Conclusion: This study emphasises the need for targeted interventions in irrigation expansion, infrastructure development, and socio-economic improvements to address food insecurity in this region effectively. Improving irrigation facilities, fertiliser availability, seed distribution, farmers’ literacy rates, and access to drinking water would contribute to enhanced food security.