Causes and Coping Strategies of Food Insecurity among Rural Households in Kimbibit Wereda, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia
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Date
2018-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Review of literature revealed that there are a number of studies conducted to understand the
causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia (Furgasa, 2016). However, because of the generic nature of
these studies, there is a perception that it makes it difficult to better understand the specific nature
of the situation in different pocket areas. This study aims to address the existing knowledge gap
by exploring the causes of food insecurity and coping strategy among rural households in
Kimbibit Wereda, Oromia National Regional State, using a cross sectional household survey.
Structured questionnaire, focus group discussions, and key informants interview were used to
collect data for the study. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) techniques were
employed to classify the households into food insecure groups by further classifying mildly,
moderately, and severely food insecure. A total of 236 survey questionnaires were distributed
and 234 were returned. The study revealed that among the survey participants, 56.8% of
households are severely food insecure. Accordingly, majority of the households are receiving
food aid from the productive safety net program. The finding further indicates that the general
factors including agro-ecology, economic, socio-cultural, institution and policy are the major
factors affecting food security in the study area. In an effort to assess the food security condition
in the wereda using Food Availability Decline (FAD) and Food Entitlement Decline (FED)
models, it is concluded that food availability decline surely impacted the area as the production is
hampered by the general factors mentioned above. The food market in the area offers some food
but many of the households do not have the means to afford or access, which is a clear
demonstration of a decline in entitlement. The study recommends that farming households be
supported in terms of both short term and long term strategies to improve food production and
supply including provision of off-farm engagement firms in the area, diversifying livelihood,
using modern farming techniques and inputs to increase productivity.
Description
A thesis submitted to the Department of Public Administration and Development Management of
Addis Ababa University in partial fulfillment of the requirements for the Degree of Masters in
Public Management and Policy (MPMP)
Keywords
Food availability, Food insecurity, Household, Kimbibit Wereda