Contributions of Vegetable Production to the Household Food Security: The Case of Surrounding Holeta Town
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Agriculture is the mainstay of the country's economy and the major source of foreign exchange
earnings and domestic consumption. To improve the prevailing low level of production and
productivity the use of yield improving inputs is of paramount important. In this study, an attempt
was made to examine the contribution of vegetable production to household food security. The
study was conducted at rural kebeles surrounding Holeta town. The survey data collected from
rural kebeles surrounding Holeta town. The collected data considered two groups of farm
households, vegetable producers and non-vegetable producer's households for comparison
purpose. The study found out that vegetable production has a significant contribution to
household food security via improving the income of producing household and improving the
productivity of food crop production. Different types of vegetables are grown in the study area
with different intensities in terms of land and other input allocation, purpose of production, and
marketability. The most commonly grown vegetables in terms of the number of growers are
potato, cabbage, tomato, carrot, onion, and green paper. The study found that, majority of
vegetable producers households have been found to be more food secure than their nonproducing
counterparts. Similarly, it was observed that income from vegetable was used to cover
other expenditures such as education, health, and wage for laborers. Moreover the study found
out that, weak extension support service, limited land holding, lack of access to credit, limited
supply of improved seed, marketing and market information, outbreak of disease and pest are
some of the most important problems. The drawbacks in the absence and quality of extension
service were among the strong problems mentioned apart from the other challenges. Finally, the
researcher recommends that in promoting vegetable producer households, continues assessment
of contribution of vegetable production to household food security, intensified agricultural
farming, problems related to extension service, credit service, market and marketing information,
and provision of modern agricultural inputs should be addressed.
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Keywords
Household Food Security