Assessment of the Impact of Productive Safety Net Program in Kindo Didaye Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Southern Nations Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Poverty and food insecurity go together in many circumstances. Chronic food insecurity is one of the main problems which have been affecting millions of Ethiopians. Productive Safety-Net Program (PSNP), is one of the main food security Programs, has been undertaking by the government of Ethiopia with the aim of fulfilling food gap and promoting asset accumulation to food insecure households. However, studies indicate that the success of PSNP in achieving its aim is an area of debate. The study was to assess and explore the impact of PSNP on economic changes of the beneficiaries by looking at changes of the probability of food gap months, asset accumulation and SLM practices in Kindo Didaye Woreda, Wolayta zone, SNNPRS. The research used random sampling technique to collect cross sectional data from 97 PSNP and 89 non-PSNP participants. It was analyzed by both descriptive and econometrics methods. In econometric analysis propensity scores matching technique was applied to estimate the impacts of PSNP on asset accumulation and Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. The study revealed that the mean number of months that a household cover its food requirements for PSNP participants was 2.63 whereas for non-PSNP participants was 1.82 months. This implies that PSNP has contributed to decline food gap more for PSNP participants than non-PSNP participants. It showed that PSNP Participant has positive impact on livestock holding (0.63 TLU) and SLM (soil bund (13 m/ha) and stone bund construction (14 m/ha) and chemical fertilizer use (10.9 Kg/ha)) and showed an adverse effect on the value of non-livestock assets holding as likely due to expense of beneficiaries’ transfer on consumption. Almost all PSNP can be considered as narrowing food gap and promoting asset accumulation and SLM practices over time. Despite the long-term requirement of sustainable livelihood improvement, it is understandable that PSNP is possible instrument for practitioners and policy makers to reach the poor. Therefore, to sustain food security in the study area considerable effort should be made to cover the remaining food gap and create awareness on asset accumulation together with further work on environmental impact of the program.

Keywords: Productive Safety-Net Program, Food gap, Asset accumulation, Sustainable Land Management practices, Propensity Score Matching