ASSESSING OPTIONS FOR ENHANCING FOOD SECURITY BY PRINCIPAL COMPONENT ANALYSIS

Abstract

This paper illustrates a possible statistical approach to policy option analysis. By using the principal component methodology for assessing options, the data of the farmers in terms of the number of family, distance to passable road and other natural food resources from Sikasso Region, Mali, West Africa were collected. This paper suggests that the farm size-family size, distance to passable road-choice of agricultural crop, distance to passable road-goat raising vis-a’ -vis other ruminants and distance-family size-goat raising vis-a’ -vis other ruminants should be considered in assessing options for food security. Therefore, the principal components analysis of the characteristics of small-scale farmers yields insights that can be utilized for assessing options for enhancing food security. In underdeveloped or developing nations where agriculture forms the base of the economy, the provision of road infrastructure is a crucial element in the schema for ensuring sustainable development and food security.