Analysis of Household Level Determinants of Food Security in Jimma Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study look for examining food security status of rural households in Gomma District in south western Ethiopia. Household caloric acquisition method was used to measure the status of food security. Household survey was conducted on 190 households and based on these households binary logistic regression model was estimated. Variables related like age, income from off farm/non-farm activities, size of cultivated land, livestock and oxen ownership were found to have positive impact for the attainment of household food security. Likewise use of chemical fertilizer and soil and water conservation practice were found to have positively affecting household food security in the study area. The finding indicated that development interventions that aimed to encourage older households to share their experience to younger households, diversify income of the households, improving productivity of land and livestock, improving the supply and access of chemical fertilizer, incentives to use soil and water conservation activities are found to improve the food security status of the households , thus concerned bodies need to do access and that aimed to diversify income of the households, improving the supply of chemical fertilizer , improving the productivity of land and livestock will have paramount importance for the attainment of household food security. Generally, this study has implication that attaining household food security in southwestern Ethiopia needs mixed adoption of policies and strategies.

Keywords: Correlates, Food insecurity, Ethiopia, Determinant