Assessments of Household Coping Strategies toward Food Insecurity in Hawi Gudina District, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was aimed to assess households` coping strategies toward food insecurity in Hawi Gudina District of West Hararghe zone.  A multi- stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample households randomly from six Kebele Administrations of the district by using Probability Proportional to Size. Both primary and secondary data were used. The required data set for the study were collected from 140 households through interview schedule. Household calorie acquisition was analyzed to measure the status of household food security. Out of 140 households 32.9% and 67.1% were food secure and insecure, respectively. Coping strategies practiced by households in the study area were collected and analyzed by using descriptive statistics. The result of the study revealed that, reducing size of meals (86.4%), sale of cattle (80%), borrow grain/cash from relative (74.3%), work as daily laborer (60.7%) and sell of firewood and charcoal (58.6%) were the top five strategies that were practiced by sampled households during food insecurity situation. The study recommends the need to assist farming households regarding the negative impact of applied strategies on their future asset and natural resource aspect of study area through awareness creation and provision of other option which are suitable to the environments of the study area.

Keywords: Coping strategies, Household, Calorie intake, Food insecurity, Hawi Gudina district