Unpacking regional variations of multidimensional food security in rural Ethiopia: insights for policy
International Journal of Social Economics
ISSN: 0306-8293
Article publication date: 13 September 2023
Issue publication date: 19 April 2024
Abstract
Purpose
This study aims to measure the status of rural household food security across regions using multidimensional indicators. It also aims to identify the determinants of rural household food security in Ethiopia.
Design/methodology/approach
The study adopted descriptive and explanatory designs. It used data from the fourth wave of the Ethiopian socioeconomic survey that has 3,115 respondents. The authors constructed household food security index using variables that capture availability, access, utilization and stability dimensions of food security. The authors categorized households into relative food security groups, namely, alarming and moderately food insecure, as well as moderately and highly food secure. Beta regression model, which is widely used to analyze response variables that assume values between 0 and 1, is used to estimate the determinants of food security.
Findings
The study finds that 77.7% of rural households are food insecure. Of this, 90% are moderately food insecure. Regional variations in magnitude of food security showed that Harari, Gambella and Benshanguel Gumuz regional states are relatively better-off than other regions in Ethiopia. The study identified sex, education level, marital status, location and wealth status of households as significant determinants of food security.
Originality/value
This study sheds light on regional variations in multidimensional food security in Ethiopia. It thus challenged previous estimates of food security using uni-dimensional indicator. It highlighted the need for region-specific analysis of determinants and a follow up of tailored regional interventions.
Peer review
The peer review history for this article is available at: https://publons.com/publon/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0139
Keywords
Acknowledgements
The authors acknowledge CSA and World Bank for making the data used in this study publicly available. The authors also thank the two anonymous reviewers who enormously contributed for the improvement of the manuscript.
Citation
Gadiso, W.J., Alemu, B.A. and Shete, M. (2024), "Unpacking regional variations of multidimensional food security in rural Ethiopia: insights for policy", International Journal of Social Economics, Vol. 51 No. 5, pp. 585-603. https://doi.org/10.1108/IJSE-02-2023-0139
Publisher
:Emerald Publishing Limited
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