Food Security Situation among Rural Households in Menz Keya Gebreal Woreda, Ethiopia
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Date
2020-12
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to investigate food security status of rural households, and to
identify determinant factors of food security and challenges of food security in Menz Keya
Gebreal woreda. In light of this objective the study adopted quantitative and qualitative method
and research approaches to test a series research hypothesis and subjective analysis.
Specifically, the study used survey of questionnaire, focus group discussion, key informant
interview and secondary sources. Simple random sampling method was employed to select 319
sample households. Data was analyzed using Pearson’s correlation, binary logistic regression
analysis and descriptive statistics; however, narrative statistics was used to analyze subjective
data that has been collected by focus group discussion and key informant interview. The results
shows 25.7% and 74.3% of sample households were food secure and food insecure respectively.
The results of this research confirmed that variables such as family size, number of working
labor force, literacy status and level of education, land size possessed, nutrition awareness,
fertilizer utilization and improved seed utilization were key determinants of food security. Except
family size the remaining variables did have direct relationship with food security achievement.
Generally it was found that natural resources degradation, climate change and low agricultural
productivity are challenges of food security achievement in the study woreda. When we look at
more specifically loss of soil fertility, loss of underground and surface water, loss of biodiversity,
occurrence of erratic rainfall, occurrence of frost, shortage of rainfall, crop and livestock
diseases outbreak, inflation of agricultural inputs price, occurrence of man-made and natural
disasters, unable to develop demand driven agricultural technologies, absence of rural
households participation during technology development and inaccessibility of agricultural
technologies are also impose challenge on the effort to achieve food security. Food security
situation of Menz Keya Gebreal woreda is most affected and needs urgent remedial intervention
in collaboration with active participation of governmental organization, non-governmental
organization and the ultimate user, the community.
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Keywords
Food security, Food insecurity, rural households, determinants, challenges, status