Analysis of The Determinants of Resilience to Food Insecurity in an Arid Environment: The Case of Small-scale Farmers in the Souss Valley in South-Central Morocco

Abstract

Climate change is affecting food security in Morocco, particularly for small farmers in arid and semi-arid zones like the Souss
valley. Principal component analysis of the FAO's four pillars of resilience RIMA-II model has enabled us to narrow down the
important data for each pillar. Six components are considered as predictors of household food security, and their contribution is
significant at the p<0.05 threshold. Breeding practice, Access to credit, Housing conditions, Access to irrigation water, Distance
to basic services and Migrant remittances. Food consumption scores (FCS) and food insecurity access scale scores (HFIAS) are
used as indicators of household food security, and dependent variables in a multiple linear regression. Access to irrigation water,
animal husbandry and access to basic services appear to be the main determinants influencing the resilience to food insecurity of
smallholder farming households in the Souss valley.