dc.description.abstract |
Sustainable food security remains a major global concern despite the various strategies
being undertaken. Currently, fragile ecosystems can no longer sustain themselves because
of the numerous factors acting against each other. This study therefore, sought to examine
the dynamics towards sustainable food security in Arid and Semi-Arid parts of East Shewa
zone in Oromia Regional State of Ethiopia. The study objectives were to: analyze the food
security situation, assess the factors determining food security and examine the challenges
towards sustainable food security in the study area. The study was informed by vulnerable
livelihood approach and political ecology explanation. It adopted pragmatism philosophi-
cal underpinning that lays emphasis on mixed method research. Using multistage and
systematic random sampling techniques, a sample size of 397 comprising of pastoral and
agro-pastoral households was generated from 58,632 target household population of the
study area. The instruments of data collection were questionnaire, focus group discussion
guides, structured interview guides, and observation schedules. The collected data was sub-
jected to Rasch Model and SPSS, and analyzed descriptively and inferentially. Frequency,
percentage, average, and charts were used to display the data and binary and ordinal logistic
regression models were applied for inferential analysis to determine association between
variables. The qualitative data was transcribed, categorized into themes and analyzed to
provide depth to the quantitative results. Arising from the research findings 22% of the
households were food secure while 78% fall in food insecure category indicating the food
situation in the study area was not sustainable as the majority failed to produce or access
food. From the regression analysis undertaken it was found that household socioeconomic
factors such as respondent’s non-farm income (P-value=.006), crop farm/irrigation (P-
value=.021), family size (P-value=.029) government support (P-value=.008) and livestock
owned (P-value=.001) played significant roles in determining household food (in)security
(P-value < 0.05). In relation to the dynamics towards food security sustainability, the re-
gression analysis showed that there was a statistically significant negative correlation
between soil fertility decline (P-value=.000), land degradation (P-value=.031), biodiversity
loss (P-value=.001), shortage of water (P-value=.027), restricted mobility (P-value=.000),
poor market facilities (P-value=.022) conflict (P-value=.000) and household food security
at P-value <0.05. Emerging from the study findings, livestock food shortages, crop failure,
farm inputs, market dynamics, conflicts, asset decline, and shortage of food were pro-
nounced as the major challenges facing the study area. In conclusion, the dynamics
observed in these parts demonstrate that even in challenging environments, a multifaceted
approach of integrating socioeconomic development, environmental conservation and in-
stitutional reform can unlock significant potential for sustainable food security. In
recommendation, the study advocates for collaborative efforts involving responsible na-
tional, regional, and local governments as well as non-government organizations in
enhancing food security, awareness raising, and implementation of policies for sustainable
management and accessibility to natural resources within the study area. |
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