Write a PREreview

Household gardens can contribute to food availability and household economic well-being, particularly in areas where access to food and income is variable. This study aims to analyze household garden utilization, its contribution to food needs and household economic well-being, and its relationship with food security in Kotabaru Regency. A quantitative survey was conducted among 10 households that own and utilize gardens in Pulau Laut Sigam and Pulau Laut Utara Subdistricts. Data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, observations, and documentation and analyzed using descriptive statistics, Pearson’s correlation, and simple linear regression. Garden areas ranged from 35 to 90 m², with an average of 60 m², while production averaged 31 kg per month. An average of 78.9% of garden produce was used for household consumption. Average household income and food expenditure were Rp3,410,000 and Rp1,520,000 per month, respectively. The food security index averaged 77. Garden utilization showed a very strong positive relationship with food security (r = 0.984), while regression analysis produced R² = 0.968 (p < 0.001). These findings indicate a positive association between household garden utilization and food security, although the results are preliminary and exploratory due to the limited observations and use of simulated numerical data.