Climate change and food security of the Malaysian east coast poor: A Path modeling approach

This research aims at examining the direct and indirect impacts of climatic changes as well as the effects of non-climatic factors on household food security in Malaysia. The study is based on primary data collected in the months of July – October, 2012 through a questionnaire survey on 460 low income households from East Coast Economic Region (ECER) of the country. The samples were selected from E-Kasih poor household database, based on cluster random sampling technique. The statistical estimation was done through two-stage formative path measurement model by using nonparametric bootstrap procedure under Smart PLS. This study finds that household food insecurity ECER – Malaysia is not only related to social and economic factors, but also statistically significantly linked to the direct and indirect impacts of climatic factors. The policy implications of the study suggest that design of food security programs must be integrated with climatic change adaptation programs. The government and other relevant agencies should jointly develop appropriate policies for poverty alleviation, household level food security, and adaptation with climatic changes in Malaysia.