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Published:
Nov 19, 2024DOI:
10.4314/emj.v62i3.7Keywords:
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Main Article Content
Grown, chewed and omnipresent, Catha edulis plant in Ethiopia, its livelihood implication on rural households. Community based cohort nutrition study
Abstract
Background: : Catha edulis of the plant family Celastraceae is a mild stimulant plant known as Khat in Ethiopia. In Ethiopia, the history of Khat dates back to the 13th century, and communities produce and/or consume Khat leaves for social, religious, cultural and economic purposes. This study aimed to assess the association between Khat production and consumption on food security and dietary diversity among rural households in Ethiopia.
Method: A panel survey using quantitative methods was conducted in two regions of Ethiopia. Using an open Data Kit (ODK) a panel survey was conducted and analyzed applying a multivariable linear regression model.
Result: The likelihood of food insecurity was twice as high among non-Khat consumers and Khat producers compared to households who neither produce nor consume Khat, (AOR: 2.17 [95%CI: 1.25, 3.76], p<0.1. On average, households that produced and consumed Khat were 1.5 times more likely to have high dietary diversity (AOR: 1.51 [95%CI: 1.09, 2.08], p<0.01).
Conclusion: Although Khat is an important source of income for farmers throughout the year, our findings highlighted that Khat production and non-consumption were negatively associated with food security. The possible pathways of this association could be through the household subsistence farming and cash crop (Khat) interaction. Food security interventions should consider Khat production and consumption practices among households in Khat-producing and consuming areas of Ethiopia.
