Abstract:
This study examined the status and determinants of rural households’ food security in Shashemene
district of Oromia regional state, in Ethiopia. Both primary data and secondary were used for the study.
The study was based on the survey of a total of 100 households randomly selected using a three-stage
sampling technique. Analytical tools used include descriptive statistics, Foster-Greer-Thorbecke (FGT)
and logit model. The findings from head count ratio computed by FGT model revealed that about 36 and
64 % households in Shashemene district were food insecure and food secure respectively. The depth of
food insecurity and severity were 12.38 and 7.35-%, respectively. Logit model analysis result showed
that factors such as, family size, cultivated land size, total farm income, off-farm income and livestock
ownership of households were significant influence household food security status. The findings
suggest the following set of policy recommendation. Identifying and understanding factors those are
responsible for household food security is important to combat food security problems at the
household level. The study findings also suggest that in selecting priority intervention areas, the food
security strategy should consider statistically significant variables as the most important areas.
