Why does food insecurity persist among livestock-owning smallholder dairy households in rural East Java, Indonesia? Insight from Kediri Regency

Food insecurity can persist in smallholder dairy systems despite livestock ownership. This study assessed the severity of household food insecurity among dairy farmers in rural East Java. It examined how socio-demographic characteristics, productive assets, income, institutional access, and social participation relate to levels of food insecurity. A cross-sectional survey of 100 dairy-farming households distinguished farmers who relied solely on dairy farming (n = 45) from those who combined dairy with additional non-dairy employment (n = 55). Household food insecurity was classified into four ordered levels, and determinants were analyzed using ordered logistic regression with odds ratios. Food insecurity affected a substantial share of households, with a clear shift toward food security among households with additional employment. In adjusted analysis, higher income and larger herd size were associated with lower odds of more severe food insecurity, while the absence of social-organization membership was associated with substantially higher odds. Several factors—including land ownership, credit access, household size, farming experience, and additional employment—were not significant after adjustment. Overall, the findings indicate that reducing food insecurity in smallholder dairy communities depends on improving stable net income, strengthening productive capacity, and enhancing inclusive social participation.