The Problem of Gender Sensitivity in Food Safety Enhancement of Rural Communities

Abstract

The purpose of the study is aimed to examine the reasons behind the condition of weak gender sensitivity of poor households in the process of improving food safety in rural areas. Based on the research's results of the study revealed that gender sensitivity was still dominant for peasants  than male peasants in improving food security. According to the informants, eating rice once and or twice with limited portions is not yet filling, therefore they supplement it with complementary staple ingredients. Informants are able to do the process of processing complementary foods (cassava and corn), but it has not provided a taste that appeals to peasants' appetites to replace staple foods (rice/rice), rising rice prices reduce farmers' purchasing power. Recommendations that can be conveyed are the need to increase gender sensitivity in enhancing food security. Furthermore, it is necessary to increase the use of non-rice local resources in improving food safety.