Determinants of Households Food Security in Adea Berga District West Shewa Zone, Oromia

Abstract

The main objectives of the study was to measure and analyze the determinants of household food Security in Adea Berga district, West Showa Zone, Oromia National State by employing statistics methods and logistic regression model. Household calorie acquisition approach was used to analyze the state of household food security. Simple random sampling method was administered to select sample peasant association and then five peasant associations were selected among 37 peasant associations in the district. Finally, proportional probability sampling technique was used to select 240 sample households from selected five rural peasant associations. Supplementary information from secondary data was collected from various sources. The data was analyzed using descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, percentage and frequency distribution. Uni-variate analysis such as P-value and Chi-square (χ2) tests were also used to describe characteristics of food secured and food in secured groups. The survey result showed that about 129 (53.75%) of sample respondents were food insecure, where as 111 (46.25%) were food secure. A logistic regression model was fitted to analyze the potential variables affecting household food security in the study area. Among fourteen explanatory variables included in the logistic model, nine of them were statistically significant at less than ten percent probability levels. All variables except number of ox owned and total livestock holding exhibited the expected signs (positively influence food security of the study area). Variables related to off-farm/non-farm incomes, size of cultivated land, use of improved seeds, use of improved farm tools, age of household, and use of chemicals on crops as well as commercial fertilizers do significantly affect household food security. Thus, designing and implementing development interventions with respect to the above potential variables are crucial to enhance sustainable food security in the study area. Improved technologies that increase the productivity of land should be given prior attention. It is also appropriate to the area to promote intensive agriculture, expand nonfarm activities as well as agricultural inputs access to boost farm production and thereby attain food security.