Rural farm households' food security and the role of livelihood diversification in enhancing food security in Damot Woyde District, Southern Ethiopia

Food insecurity becomes severe in areas where agriculture is households' sole income source. Accordingly, this study looked into food security and the role of livelihood diversification in the Damot Woyde district in Southern Ethiopia. Data were gathered using a structured survey questionnaire, focus group discussion, key informants interview and field observation. The household food balance model (HFBM) and HFIAS (household food insecurity access scale) methods were employed to assess food security (availability and access respectively). The data was analyzed using Simpson's index of diversity, binary logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and the independent sample t-test. The findings revealed that 69% of Woina Dega and 77% of Kolla (HFBM) households were food insecure. HFIAS also showed that only 22.2% of Woina Dega and 11.5% of Kolla households have been food secure. But in other, households, 26.6% of Woina Dega and 36% of Kolla were severely food insecure. Both the binary logistic and linear regression results indicated that livelihood diversification has a positive and important influence on food security in the study area. Hence, we posit that livelihood income diversification lessens the threats of food shortages in rural farm households.