Productive Safety Net in Achieving Food Security: Challenges and Opportunities in SoroWoreda, Hadiya Zone.

Abstract

This study focuses on the challenges and opportunities of productive safety net program in achieving food security in general and rural food security in particular. The study was conducted in Soro woreda, Hadiya Zone, SNNP regional state. For this study, three productive safety net program beneficiary kebeles were selected Purposely and the sample households were selected randomly. The study employed both qualitative and quantitative research methods and the data was collected through survey questions, focus group discussion, and key informants through in-depth interview. The Key informant for this study were Productive Safety Net Program task forces members from agriculture and rural development office of study Woreda, development agents(DAs)working in each selected kebele, and Kebele chairpersons.The study finding underlined that the program had brought change in daily consumption and, coping mechanism; Contribution on asset building, particularly livestock after being the beneficiary of the program and other contributions. However, engagement of children under 16 ages, pregnant women with more than 4 months, lactating mothers less than 10 months after birth, unfair working schedule in terms of family size included in the program are the major problems of the program . In addition, absence of work clothes and materials for beneficiaries and absence of health insurance for injuries occurred in public work activities were also the problems of the program. There were also various challenges identified in the study area of this research concerning timely transfer, institutional and managerial arrangements, beneficiaries screening and graduation. On the basis of the finding of the study, the researcher comes up with possible recommendations that would play crucial role in the way of improving the problem of the program.