Factors determining the food insecurity status of rural household of rural household Manna Woreda of Jimma zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted in Manna woreda which is found in Jimma zone at a distance of 368 km south west of Addis Ababa and 24 km west of Jimma town. The objective of the study was  to identify the determinants of household food insecurity in rural households. Even though majority of the sample households were found to be food secured, the number of food insecure households was not small. To know the food security status of the households, the data collected from sampled respondents regarding food preparation for seven day recall and daily consumption record were converted to kilocalorie using the Food Composition table manual. After that the major demographic, socioeconomic and institutional variables were assessed to look into their relative importance in determining the state of food security at household level. Accordingly Large family size and  Asset possession, sex of the household head , number of oxen owned, Access to improved seed and chemical fertilizer are  found to be the determinants of food insecurity in the area, Existence of major animals diseases and pest that affect crop production were found to significantly determine individuals food insecurity status. In addition, Some of the coping strategies that are used by food insecure household were assessed. Their local coping strategies at initial and severe stage includes: sale of livestock and productive assets as well as marketing of wood/charcoal which can in turn aggravate the problem of food insecurity.