EVALUATING FOOD AVAILABILITY USING TOPSIS METHOD: A CASE STUDY IN THE SULTANATE OF OMAN

Abstract

Abstract — The objective of this study is to analyze the availability of food in Oman. This will be done by considering eight different parameters and using the Technique for Order of Preference by Similarity to Ideal Solution (TOPSIS) method, which is based on the entropy weight method. The study utilizes input parameters obtained from the National Centre for Statistics and Information (NCSI) for the period of 2000 to 2021. These parameters include population growth rate, government investment, average temperature degree, average rainfall amount, cultivated land area, agricultural and fishing production, net food import, and food industry output. The study concluded with the implementation of multivariate regression analysis. This analysis involved the consideration of eight distinct parameters as independent variables, while the dependent variable was determined by the TOPSIS food availability index result. Based on the results of this study, it was determined that the level of food availability reached its peak in the year 2020. Furthermore, Oman experienced instances characterized by varying levels of risk, including high risk, medium risk, and low risk. The period of insecurity spans from 2001 to 2002 and includes the year 2019. Conversely, the years of security encompass 2013, 2016, 2018, and the range from 2020 to 2021.