Comparative analysis of housheold food insecurity between selected coffee and wheat growers of Ethiopia

Abstract

Ethiopia is one of the least developed countries where food insecurity is dominant in rural households. Coffee and wheat are the most important cash and staple crops, respectively, in Ethiopia and yet their association with household food security is not sufficiently addressed. This study was conducted in coffee growers of Gomma district and wheat farmers of Dodota district to assess status and determinants of household food insecurity. A total of 370 households were interviewed in the two districts. Semi-structured questionnaire, focus group discussions and key informants interview were used to engage with the farmers. Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS) was used to measure household food insecurity. Determinants of household food security status (FSS) were elicited using ordered logit econometric model. The result indicated 43.2% and 56.8% of sample households were food secure and insecure, respectively. The majority (60.5%) of food insecure households were found in coffee growers. Educational level, land degradation, and access to market, agricultural advisory services and credit positively influenced FSS of both wheat and coffee growers, yet purpose of production had significant effect only on FSS of wheat growers while remittance had strong association with coffee growers’ FSS. Household occupation, annual farm income and total household asset values also had positive effect on FSS of sample respondents. Hence, mixed development policies and strategies that aimed to address demographic, socioeconomic and institutional aspects of wheat and coffee producers should be designed to assure food security at household level.