Determinants of rural houshold food insecurity in south west shoa zone a case study of sodo dachi district

Abstract

This study seeks to address these issues by assessing socio-economic and institutional factors that pressure food insecurity of households in rural areas of Sodo Dachi District. The analysis was based on survey data gathered from 270 sample rural households selected purposively following probability proportional sampling procedure. Primary and secondary data were used. The data regarding household determinants were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logit model. Inferential statistics such as t-test and chi-square () tests were also used to describe characteristics of food insecure and secure groups. This study followed a consumption based calorie deficiency indicator to measure the household food insecurity status using seven days recalling. The survey result showed that about 60% and 40% of sample respondents were food insecure and secure respectively. The empirical results estimated using the survey data to identify the determinants of food insecurity among rural households in the study area revealed mixed impressions. Among variables considered, marital status, slope of land owned by the households, crop type grown by the households, family size, farming experience, the number of livestock units in TLU, credit service and income earned per year showed theoretically consistent and statistically significant effect on food insecurity in the study area, except farming experience which is not consistent with the proposed hypothesis. Generally, the findings suggest that, rural household food insecurity could be reduced through all-inclusive and well-judged combinations of involvements aiming at enhancing income diversification opportunities in rural areas such as off-farm activities, promoting education, improving credit service, limit population size through integrated health and education services, improving rural infrastructural facilities such as roads and introduce appropriate livestock production packages among others. These areas could provide entry points for policy intervention to reduce food insecurity