Determinants of food insecurity and coping mechanisms in Offa district, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Food is an essential requirement for human survival, growth, and health. Despite the fact that the right to be free from hunger is the most fundamental human right that can be achieved, a substantial number of people worldwide experience food insecurity. This study examined the factors that influence household food insecurity and the coping mechanisms adopted by households during food crises in the Offa district, southern Ethiopia. This study included 144 households from three kebeles, and the interview schedule method was used to collect data from the respondents. Descriptive statistics were used to describe the characteristics of households and coping techniques used during food scarcity. Statistical methods, such as the chi-square test and t-test, were used to compare food-secure and food-insecure sampling households in relation to the explanatory variables. The Food Consumption Score (FCS) method was used to determine the level of household caloric availability. Determinants of food insecurity were identified using a binary logit model. The empirical model consisted of 11 explanatory variables. Off-farm income, educational level of the family head, access to credit, livestock ownership, dependence ratio, cultivated farm size, extension services, and technology adoption were found to be statistically significant in determining food insecurity. Coping strategies used by households, such as limiting food intake, borrowing money, rationing money, and skipping meals have been discovered. Based on these findings, it is suggested that all pertinent bodies prioritize improving rural farmers' incomes, promoting extension services, encouraging access to basic education, promoting off-farm and non-farm employment opportunities, and introducing livestock development packages to improve food security for rural households.