International Journal of Agriculture Extension and Social Development

Food security is a dynamic concept that has continuously evolved, incorporating new dimensions and levels of analysis over the years, reflecting the growing recognition of its complexities in research and public policy issues. The study quantifies household food security in the geographically remote and ecologically delicate Lakshadweep Islands, which rely significantly on the mainland for necessities. Data were gathered on the four dimensions of food security as defined by FAO, which include availability, access, utilisation, and stability, using a cross-sectional survey of 200 randomly selected households. To account for discrete variables, twelve indicators were combined using polychoric Principal Component Analysis (PCA) to create a composite Food Security Index (FSI).The FSI revealed that more than 90% of the households fell into the first and second quartile, indicating low and medium food security but ongoing vulnerabilities, while only 0.5% of households were considered food secure. The results suggest the need for integrated and location-specific strategies to strengthen food security in such a fragile island contexts. The findings are particularly relevant for policymakers in India and other countries with similar remote and resource-constrained settings, where building resilience through diversified livelihoods and improved access to essential services is crucial.