INTEGRATED ESTIMATION OF FOOD SECURITY IN THE REGIONS OF THE SOUTHERN FEDERAL DISTRICT

The article gives the estimation of food security level in the Southern Federal District (SFD). To achieve this aim the article gives the author’s methodology of assessing the food security at the regional economic level. Each indicator is provided with the criteria allowing to give the point estimation of food security level as optimal, acceptable or low. The author analyzes the indicators and criteria of regional food security: the level of food self-sufficiency in the region, the degree of satisfaction of physiological needs of the population for basic food products, the level of economic availability of food. The result of conducted calculations shows that the integrated estimation of food security in the SFD regions accounts for 8 points, that complies with the acceptable level. However, there are explicit threats to food security: a high level of income inequality among the entities of the SFD, the increase of food price index, high percentage of population with substandard incomes in several entities of the Southern Federal District. The suggested methodology in estimating food safety may be applied in relation to other regions and macro-regions of Russia. It enables the quick assessment of food security level in the region on the basis of the complex system of indicators: economic and physical accessibility of food, self-sufficiency in basic types of food products. The obtained research results are necessary for planning and developping the measures of regional economic and agricultural policy on providing, maintaining and improving the food security.