Abstract:
A study was conducted in two selected peasant associations in Gera Keya wereda of
Amhara Region to investigate the problem of food insecurity in terms of its extent,
determinants and coping strategies of the peasants. A total of 161 sample households were
selected from two peasant associations which represent highland and mid-altitude areas of
the woreda. The results showed that more than half 53.4% of the households in the study
sample are food insecure and significant variations in intake of per capita calories have
been observed between the two sample kebeles. Seasonal food insecurity was also
commonplace especially between June and October. The food poverty gap measure for the
total sample households is 25.0%. The corresponding figure for Giragn and Kimir Dingay
kebeles are 20.0% and 30.0%, respectively. Hence, the food poverty or insecurity situation
at Kimir Dingay kebele is worse than at Giragn kebele. The regression analysis showed that
family size, ownership of oxen and small ruminants and farmland size are the major
determinants of household food security in the study area. Farmers have also indicated the
cause of food insecurity to be drought (belg season rain failure), erratic rainfall, shortage of
farmland due to population pressure, soil erosion, lack of oxen, low price of sheep, sheep
diseases, frost, water logging and plant pests and diseases. Farmers reported that they
devise different coping mechanisms to the problem of food shortage, which differ based on
the degree of severity of the problem. An array of coping mechanisms have been pointed
out by farmers which range from reducing the number and quantity of meals to eating wild
plants, yet there is a tendency of reliance on relief food aid which is developed due to
indiscriminate provision of relief food aid.
