Abstract:
This study predicts an empirical study aimed at investigating household food insecurity in the study area using
household data. Data for the study was generated from a survey of the 150 randomly selected farm households in
Dedo and Tiro Afata districts of Jimma administrative zone of Oromiya Regional State in Ethiopia from May up
to October 2007 through critical observation, individual interviews and semi-structured questionnaires.
In the study of household socio-demographic structure, we incorporated twelve independent variables
(namely age, education, family size, plots of land operated, livestock owned and number of oxen, total income
and total expenditure, percept income, access to market and transportation) to distinguish whether these variables
affect household food in security status or not only six of the twelve variables have significant relationship with
household food security status. The binary logit model results make known that among twelve explanatory
variables included in the model, six were found to be significant, and all exhibited the expected signs.. These
significant variables, that affected food insecurity include: family size, number of plots operated, household
income and expenditure, per capita income and distance to transport. The evidences suggest that the study area is
highly food insecure and survival mechanisms are traditional. Along with food availability and entitlement,
attitudinal variables also influence food insecurity.
To estimate the extent of food insecurity FGT index was used. Results of this study have shown that the
incidence of inability to meet the minimum subsistence requirement food insecure without hunger, food
insecure with moderate hunger, food insecure with severe hunger were found to be 16.7 percent, 28.7 percent
and 26.4 percent , respectively. To substantiate its claim the thesis has tried to disclose a better substantial
approach that food security production is directly related to the ability of land quality to support the population
of the country. My final conclusion is that efforts should be made to improve different socioeconomic factors in
general and demographic factors in particular to reduce rural poverty and enhance food security in study
districts. The study findings suggest that Policy measures directed towards the provision of better family
planning should be given adequate attention and priority by the Government in addition to improved access to
education, new technology facility and agricultural extension services by rural households
