Coping Strategies of Food Insecure Households: The Case of Offa District, Wolaita Zone, South Nations Nationalities and Peoples Region

Background: Ethiopia is one of the low income countries encountering food insecurity for decades due to unsatisfactory livelihood strategies and in the long run it may cause severe damage to livelihoods of the poor, thereby reducing self-sufficiency. Objective: To assess and generate specific data on coping strategies of food insecure households in Offa district wolaita zone, SNNPR. Methods and materials: Cross sectional community based study comprised of both primary and secondary data. A sampling procedure was used to randomly select representative farm households from each kebeles. The study was applied a simplified formula of Yamane and 125 farm households were selected as sample and primary data were collected using questionnaire. Result: The study revealed the major perceived causes of food shortage were shortage of land, shortage of water, climatic problem, and lack of input supply. The traditional farming practice, poor performance and health condition of farmers, unemployment, lack of soil fertility etc also affect them. As study predominantly the first victims are children. According to the study, the actual household income in the study area did not meet the average minimum subsistence requirement. The major coping mechanisms and people solve their temporary problem of food shortage by using different types of coping mechanisms such as engaging in labor work, livestock sale, migration to urban areas, relaying on remittance from relatives, sale of wood and charcoal, reducing food consumption and requesting grain loan. Beyond these some local NGOs and GOs providing them by giving financial aid, credits services, participating in small business, job opportunity for unemployment’s, awareness rising on use of technology, saving and family planning in the study area. Conclusion: The current coping strategies are not sufficient because of they are also predominantly top down, and fail to bring the desired change in the life of the households. The findings of this study ensured that household livelihoods are highly diverse and policy-makers need to reflect on the most suitable ways of supporting this diversity. Keywords:- causes, challenges, coping strategies, food insecurity, production, vulnerable group DOI: 10.7176/DCS/9-8-03 Publication date: August 31st 2019