Food Security in South Asia: Assessing the Role of Energy Availability

ABSTRACT Energy poverty poses a threat to food security in South Asian countries. The study intends to evaluate the influence of energy availability on food security in South Asia using panel data for the period 2000 to 2022. The study has constructed an energy availability index as a proxy for energy availability to gauge its influence on food security. Other variables included in the analysis are agriculture labor, agriculture capital, military expenditure, remittances, income growth, and financial development. The model is estimated by using panel cointegration, fully modified ordinary least squares (FMOLS) and dynamic ordinary least squares (DOLS) techniques. The estimated results demonstrate that energy availability significantly and positively affects food security in South Asia. Agriculture capital, remittances, income growth, and financial development improve food security, while agriculture labor and military expenditure deteriorate food security in the region. Governments need to increase energy availability mainly through renewable energy sources to ensure food security in the region. JEL Classifications: C23, O13, Q43