The levels, determinants and coping mechanisms of food insecure households in southern Ethiopia: case study of Sidama, Wolaita and Guraghe zones

The levels, determinants and coping mechanisms of food insecure households in southern Ethiopia: case study of Sidama, Wolaita and Guraghe zones

Published Jan 2009

Authors

E. Mengistu, N. Regassa, A. Yusufe et al.

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Food insecurity and coping mechanisms in rural Ethiopia

This study aims to identify the basic demographic, economic and social determinants of household food security and their levels among some selected rural communities of Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region (SNNPR) in Ethiopia.  These included the Sidama, Wolaita and Guraghe zones. 

The input data for this study were collected from 620 randomly selected households where the household was considered to be the ultimate unit of analysis (couples were taken as respondents). In order to collect the required information from the selected respondents, two sets of interview forms (questionnaire) and focus group discussion checklists were prepared and used.

The main findings of the paper are as follows:

  • households in the study areas face serious food scarcity for an average of four months in a year
  • large majority of the households own land of the size of less than a half hectare
  • the involvement of the rural households in off-farm and income generating activities is insignificant
  • households in the study area may face difficulties in managing risks and disturbances/agricultural failure during serious food shortages
  • households in the study areas lack the accessibility and availability of some of the economic institutions such as input markets and savings and credits
  • there seems to exist intra-household food distribution and consumption
  • it appears that households in the study areas employ a range of coping strategies during serious food shortage.
The paper presents the following set of recommendations:
  • households should make all efforts to actively involve in off-farm and income generating activities
  • they should also enhance individual members’ productivity through effective division of labour
  • government should strengthen the coverage of the Safety Net Programs so that other poor segments have improved access to food
  • government should strengthen the inter-resettlement programs where appropriate, in order to enhance food security
  • the Safety Net Program should devise other new mechanisms such as capacity building to all householders
  • the government should maintain a reasonable degree of stability in the supply of food, through market intervention mechanisms
  • the government should strengthen the coping mechanism of the households by increasing its capacity
  • NGOs may provide significant help through effective and appropriate disaster management training at all levels.

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