Medan: The City with the Highest Food Security in North Sumatra

Medan City has the best food security index compared to other cities in North Sumatra Province.

This is evident from the National Food Agency (Bapanas) report entitled *Food Security and Vulnerability Map 2022 (2021 Indicator Data)*.

Referring to Law No. 18 of 2012, food security is the condition of fulfilling food for the nation down to individuals, reflected in the availability of sufficient food, both in quantity and quality, safe, diverse, nutritious, equitable, and affordable, and not contrary to religion, beliefs, and community culture, to be able to live healthy, active, and productive sustainably.

Bapanas measures the food security index in Indonesian cities based on eight main indicators, namely:

1. Percentage of the population living below the poverty line;
2. Percentage of households with a food expenditure proportion >65% of total expenditure;
3. Percentage of households without access to electricity;
4. Percentage of households without access to clean water;
5. Life expectancy at birth;
6. Ratio of the number of people per health worker to population density;
7. Average years of schooling for women over 15 years old; and
8. Percentage of underweight children (stunting).

These indicators are then processed into a score on a scale of 0-100. The higher the score, the better a city's food security is assumed to be.

Using this method, Medan City achieved a score of 80.93 in 2021, the best among the 8 North Sumatran cities researched by Bapanas.

Medan City achieved a high score because its residents have relatively easier access to food compared to residents of neighboring cities.

In Medan, only 8.15% of households have a food expenditure ratio >65% of total expenditure.

Meanwhile, in other North Sumatran cities, the percentage of households with this criteria ranges from 16% to 37%.

Medan City's food security is also supported by the distribution of clean water, which is considered very good.

In 2021, the percentage of households without access to clean water in Medan was 3.19%, while in neighboring cities it generally ranged from 6% to 36%.

The highest percentage of households without access to clean water is in Gunungsitoli City. Therefore, Gunungsitoli achieved the lowest food security index in North Sumatra, and is even considered the most vulnerable in Indonesia.