Beyond food production: unraveling agro-economic drivers of food security in Sulawesi

Abstract

Purpose: to analyze the dynamics and trends of the Food Security Index (FSI) across six provinces in Sulawesi during 2019–2025 and to interpret the observed variations from a regional agro-economic perspective.

Method: this study employed a quantitative approach using secondary data on the Food Security Index (FSI) for six provinces in Sulawesi during 2019–2025, obtained from the National Food Agency. Data were analyzed using descriptive analysis to classify FSI levels and trend analysis to identify annual changes in food security conditions.

Findings: food security across the six provinces in Sulawesi fluctuated during 2019–2025, with a notable decline in 2025. North Sulawesi, Gorontalo, Central Sulawesi, West Sulawesi, Southeast Sulawesi, and South Sulawesi all experienced declines in FSI in 2025, although their overall food-security levels remained within the “Secure” or “Highly Secure” categories. These findings indicate that regional food security is not determined solely by food production but is also associated with economic access, distribution, purchasing power, and the resilience of regional food systems.

Implications: food-security policies in Sulawesi should integrate production, distribution, market access, purchasing power, and food utilization through region-specific strategies.

Originality: lies in interpreting Food Security Index dynamics across six Sulawesi provinces through an integrated regional agro-economic perspective, linking temporal changes in food security with production, access, distribution, and household economic conditions.