Final answer:
Food insecurity refers to the insufficient access to food due to economic constraints like poverty, affecting the ability to meet daily nutritional needs. The correct option is option (a).
Step-by-step explanation:
Food insecurity is a situation in which people are unable to obtain enough food to meet their daily physical needs. This condition is primarily driven by poverty, which inhibits the economic access of individuals and households to sufficient, nutritious food. The concept of food security is built on four pillars: availability, access, utilization, and stability, thus requiring a consistent and reliable food supply that people can afford and utilize for proper nutrition.
Despite improvements in agricultural productivity, which increases food availability, ensuring food security necessitates addressing the root causes of poverty to provide both national and household-level access.