Do Market Linkages Play a Role in Improving Food Security Status of Rural Households? Evidence from Chencha Apple Production and Marketing Project, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of this paper is to assess the effect of improvement in production and marketing of Highland Fruits on rural household's food security status. The study carried out in Chencha District, Southern Ethiopia in May 2015 to assess the impact of the project designed and implemented by the World Vision (WV) Ethiopia. Systematic random sampling method followed to select both participant and non-participant households of the project. Food security assessed using Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Months of Adequate Household Food Provisioning (MAHFP) and Household Dietary Diversity Score (HDDS). Totally, 418 households participated in the survey with a response rate of 95.87%. The result from HFIAS confirms significant variation in food insecurity based on participation status. Non-participants are relatively food insecured compared to their counter parts. Mean of MAHFP shows statistically significant difference with higher MAHFP for participated households. In addition, the mean HDDS also shows statistically significant variation between participant and non-participant households. Higher mean dietary diversity score and increased number in months of adequate household food provisioning among project participants signals positive contribution of the project in improving food security status. Thus, improving production and marketing of Highland Fruits can be an alternative in reducing food insecurity problem among rural communities.

Keywords: Apple production, Food security, HFIAS, MAHFP, HDDS