Climate Induced Food Insecurity, Coping Strategies and Practices among Small Holder Farmers in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Household level food shortage is one of the most important effects of population growth and population dynamics affecting multidimensional social and economic life of household members. Close examination and analysis of household food security and its responses is very important not only from the economic point of view but also because of its high correlation with other development concern. This study is an empirical study aimed at estimating the level and identifying the basic demographic, economic and social determinants of climate induced household food insecurity and the corresponding responses among selected communities in Southern Ethiopia (Boricha Woreda, Sidama Zone). In order to collect the required input data, a comprehensive questionnaire was developed. The data were collected from 614 households (where both husband and wife were interviewed) who were selected through the multistage sampling technique. The relative contribution or the net effect of each independent variable to the dependent variable (household food security status), controlling for all confounding factors, was examined using the multivariate analysis. The findings of the multivariate analysis using logistic regression technique revealed that some demographic and socio-economic variable have associations with household food security. The result also reveals that households in the study area employ a range of coping mechanisms in order to respond to food insecurity. Some of the responses include out-migration of household members, diversification of income, multiple cropping, and involvement in local/indigenous social institutions. The major recommendations are related to: promoting diversification, encouraging and strengthening local social institutions, environmental and land management.