Determinants, intensity, and Effects of Postharvest Losses of Maize on Food Security in Ethiopia
| dc.contributor.advisor | Hailu Elias | |
| dc.contributor.author | Henok Taye | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2026-10-16T07:46:14Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2026-10-16T07:46:14Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2026-06-01 | |
| dc.description.abstract | Reducing postharvest losses of maize crops is crucial for minimizing food shortages, securing food, and nutrition stability in Ethiopia. Nonetheless, little is known about the factors influencing the occurrence and extent of postharvest maize losses and their impact on food security. This research employs data from three rounds of the Resilience to Climate Change (RCC) survey in Ethiopia to examine the main factors affecting postharvest losses among smallholder maize farmers and their impact on food security. The panel double-hurdle model was used to analyze factors influencing the probability and extent of postharvest loss, and a panel probit model was employed to assess the impact of postharvest loss and other variables on food security. The findings of the double hurdle model revealed that literacy status and maize production volume are associated with a reduced likelihood of encountering postharvest losses. The volume of maize production, landholdings, livestock ownership, irrigation practices, and utilization of agrochemicals were associated with decreased post-harvest losses. The probit model estimates indicate that higher postharvest losses of maize reduce the probability that the household is secured. The findings also revealed that literacy status, maize production, land holding, livestock ownership, irrigation, and agrochemicals were the determinants that affect both postharvest losses and food security. The study findings underscore several actionable recommendations for the government to build post-harvest intervention systems employing these variables, which are key determinants of post-harvest losses and food security. Consequently, addressing the higher post-harvest losses of maize and food insecurity in the study region necessitates targeted policy interventions that enhance maize production, invest in education, improve the physical and natural capital endowments of households, and promote the adoption of agricultural technology and inputs to mitigate post-harvest losses and food insecurity among smallholder maize farmers in the country | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/123456789/9159 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | Addis Ababa University | |
| dc.subject | Postharvest loss | |
| dc.subject | Food security | |
| dc.subject | Panel model | |
| dc.subject | double hurdle | |
| dc.subject | Probit | |
| dc.subject | Ethiopia | |
| dc.title | Determinants, intensity, and Effects of Postharvest Losses of Maize on Food Security in Ethiopia | |
| dc.type | Thesis |