The Role of non-farm activities on the food security of rural households Case study: Fazl Rural district, Nishabour city

In many developed countries and developing countries, agriculture is not the only source of employment and income for rural households. Income from non-agricultural activities is also very important. The present study is conducted with the aim to investigate the effect of non-farm income on household food security. The aim of the present study based on its objective is applied research and method of application is descriptive – analytical while the research population is the rural villages of the Fazl township. The number of samples to complete the questionnaire was determined using a sample of 304 households. The questionnaires were filled in a systematic sampling method for calculating the level of food security and the food insecurity scale and standardization calories is used. Classification of food security in rural households shows that 56.9 percent of households suffer from with food insecurity, food insecurity without hunger is 30.3 percent, 11.5 percent and 1.3 percent of households with moderate food insecurity with hunger and food insecurity with hunger are severe. The following classification is based on a basket of commodities for household food security in the rural study and it shows that 40.79 percent of the respondents have food security and 59.21 percent suffer from food insecurity.