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Analysis of households food insecurity and its coping mechanisms in Western Ethiopia

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  • Seid Sani

    (Wolkite University)

  • Biruk Kemaw

    (Debre Brehan University)

Abstract

This study analyzed households’ food insecurity and its determinants along with the coping mechanisms opted against food insecurity and shortage in Assosa zone, western Ethiopia. The study used a primary data collected from 276 randomly selected households for 7 consecutive days from each sample using weighed records method. In addition, focus group discussions and key informants interview were also used. This study employed descriptive statistics, food insecurity index and Tobit model to analyze the data. The finding of the study revealed that, in the study area, the incidence of food insecurity was 53.62%, with the depth and severity of food insecurity being 16.84% and 7.32%, respectively. The study finding also pointed out that the mean kilocalorie intake of food insecure households was 1440.37kcal/AE/day, with the minimum and maximum being 597.65 kcal and 2048.13 kcal, respectively. Furthermore, the estimated Tobit model result revealed that age of the household head, family size and off-farm and non-farm income positively affected extent of households food insecurity; whereas access to irrigation, farm income, distance to market and access to credit negatively affected the extent of households’ food insecurity. Moreover, the study also identified that reducing meal size, reducing frequency of meal served, working as a daily laborer and selling livestock’s were the top four main coping mechanisms opted against food insecurity and/or shortage. Therefore, to reverse the incidence, future interventions should focus on the aforementioned factors to build the capacity of households through enhancing their access to human, financial and physical capital.

Suggested Citation

  • Seid Sani & Biruk Kemaw, 2019. "Analysis of households food insecurity and its coping mechanisms in Western Ethiopia," Agricultural and Food Economics, Springer;Italian Society of Agricultural Economics (SIDEA), vol. 7(1), pages 1-20, December.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:agfoec:v:7:y:2019:i:1:d:10.1186_s40100-019-0124-x
    DOI: 10.1186/s40100-019-0124-x
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    2. Sayed Alim Samim & Zhiquan Hu & Sebastian Stepien & Sayed Younus Amini & Ramin Rayee & Kunyu Niu & George Mgendi, 2021. "Food Insecurity and Related Factors among Farming Families in Takhar Region, Afghanistan," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(18), pages 1-17, September.
    3. Moges Wubet Shita & Sayeh Kassaw Agegnehu & Derjew Fentie Nurie & Tilahun Dires & Gerhard Navratil, 2024. "Factors Affecting Food Security of Expropriated Peri-Urban Households in Ethiopia: The Case of the East Gojjam Administrative Zone," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(11), pages 1-17, October.
    4. Nunoo, Isaac & Boansi, David & Owusu, Victor, 2023. "Does the use of cocoa farmlands for artisanal small-scale gold mining really increase household food insecurity? Evidence from Ghana," Resources Policy, Elsevier, vol. 87(PA).
    5. Charles Peter Mgeni & Klaus Müller & Stefan Sieber, 2019. "Reducing Edible Oil Import Dependency in Tanzania: A Computable General Equilibrium CGE Approach," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(16), pages 1-17, August.
    6. Paul Nduhuura & Matthias Garschagen & Abdellatif Zerga, 2021. "Impacts of Electricity Outages in Urban Households in Developing Countries: A Case of Accra, Ghana," Energies, MDPI, vol. 14(12), pages 1-26, June.
    7. Komikouma Apelike Wobuibe Neglo & Tnsue Gebrekidan & Kaiyu Lyu, 2021. "The Role of Agriculture and Non-Farm Economy in Addressing Food Insecurity in Ethiopia: A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-22, April.
    8. Adebayo Isaiah Ogunniyi & Samuel Opeyemi Omotoso & Kabir Kayode Salman & Abiodun Olusola Omotayo & Kehinde Oluseyi Olagunju & Adeyemi Oladapo Aremu, 2021. "Socio-economic Drivers of Food Security among Rural Households in Nigeria: Evidence from Smallholder Maize Farmers," Social Indicators Research: An International and Interdisciplinary Journal for Quality-of-Life Measurement, Springer, vol. 155(2), pages 583-599, June.
    9. Thobani Cele & Maxwell Mudhara, 2024. "Impacts of Crop Production and Value Chains on Household Food Insecurity in Kwazulu-Natal: An Ordered Probit Analysis," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(2), pages 1-16, January.
    10. Olutosin Ademola Otekunrin & Ridwan Mukaila & Oluwaseun Aramide Otekunrin, 2023. "Investigating and Quantifying Food Insecurity in Nigeria: A Systematic Review," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-38, September.
    11. Bismark Amfo & Robert Aidoo & James Osei Mensah, 2021. "Food coping strategies among migrant labourers on cocoa farms in southern Ghana," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 13(4), pages 875-894, August.

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