Assessment of food security status and factors influencing food security in Hawi Guddina district, Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was designed to assess the food security status and determine factors influencing food security
in Hawi Guddina district. Multi-stage random sampling technique was employed to select sample
households randomly from six Kebeles by using probability proportional to size. Both primary and
secondary data were used. Data were collected primarily through interview schedule from 140 households.
Descriptive statistics and logistic regression were used to analyze the data. Household calorie acquisition
was analyzed to measure household food security status. Out of 140 households, 32.9 and 67.1% were food
secure and insecure, respectively. The model was fitted with fifteen variables, of which five were found to be
significant. Family size, livestock ownership, distance from market center, access to nonfarm activity and
cash crop production were significant variables. The econometric result revealed that the probability of
being food secure increase with high livestock ownership, access to nonfarm activity and producing cash
crops while large family size and far from market center reduce the probability of household to be food
secure. The study findings recommends, promotion of family planning program, develop infrastructure,
provision of nonfarm activity and agricultural input and training for community should be considered to
improve household’s food security.