The Effect of Agriculture Trade Openness on Food Security in Iran (ARDL Approach)

In the present study, the effect of the degree of trade openness of agricultural sector on food security of the country has been investigated in the form of self-regression model with distributions in the period of 1999-2013. The results of the study indicate that the degree of openness of agricultural trade on the country's food security index is positive. Accordingly, for one percent increase in the degree of openness of agricultural trade, the index of food security would increase by 0.21 percent in the long run. Therefore, policies to increase production by using the appropriate technology for export in order to reduce production costs and increase the quality and productivity are recommnded. Also, increasing incentives to private sector investment and expansion of agricultural insurance to reduce risk and uncertainty and encourage farmers to produce quality products is inevitable.