Understanding the perceived indicators of food sovereignty and food security for rice growers and rural organizations in Mazandaran Province, Iran

Abstract Background Food sovereignty and food security are inseparable from agricultural development policies, particularly regarding how to increase food production and productivity to meet future demand. This study investigates the status and perceptions of food sovereignty and food security of small-scale rice growers’ households in the Mazandaran Province of northern Iran. The study region is one of the most important places for domestic rice production, with nearly 230,000 hectares of rice lands in the country and 45% of total domestic rice production. The role of the Rice Research Institute of Iran (RRII) as an innovative rural institution was highlighted by the rice producers for contributing to food sovereignty and food security. A survey was distributed among 127 rice farmers’ households to obtain indicators of food sovereignty (localization of food systems, values for food providers, concentration of local control of the food system, building knowledge and skills, right to food, working with nature) and food security (availability, accessibility, utility, quality). Principal Component Analysis and Partial Correlation tests were used for finding the relationship between variables and focused indicators. Results Results show that food sovereignty in Northern Iran focused on localizing the food system by gaining access to financial assets and local markets, investing in human capital and local training and improving access to the water resources; food security focused on environmental and climate extension, increasing household’s revenues by improving food policies and food quality from rice farmers’ perspectives. In addition, the results of this study demonstrate the desire in Northern Iran for the role of innovative rural organizations as vital linkages between rice farmers and the public sector (i.e., Ministry of Agriculture Jihad). Conclusions This research shows that from the perspective of the surveyed rice growers in northern Iran, four main indicators that relate to investment and resources were the most significant: capital, markets, credit, and knowledge. Further studies are required for remote sensing monitoring of rice crop condition and yields, condition of irrigation systems, and geographic relationship of the agricultural infrastructure to food sovereignty and food security in northern Iran.