Emperical analysis of the determinants of rural households food security in Southern Ethiopia: The case of Shashemene District

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.