Seasonality and food security among smallholder rural households in eastern Ethiopia: Evidence from panel data analysis

Abstract

Food insecurity remains one of the major challenges in Ethiopia. There is scanty empirical evidence regarding the contribution of seasonality to household food and nutrition security. This study was conducted in eastern Ethiopia with the aim of examining seasonal household food and nutrition security and factors influencing this seasonal variation. Data were gathered from randomly selected households during pre- and post-harvest seasons. A Random Effects Generalized Least Squares (GLS) regression was employed for analysis. The result indicated considerable variation between the two seasons in terms of dietary diversity and food security. Households producing more food groups, cultivating larger size of land, having higher household income, keeping more livestock, owning cell phone, having access to cooperatives, and having access to improved drinking water as well as education were more likely to be more food secure across seasons. However, households keeping livestock in their dwelling units and households who had access to credit were negatively associated with seasonal food insecurity. Future interventions aiming at ensuring food security should pay attention to seasonality and mechanisms of improving diversified food production and household income as well as expanding education opportunities and access to cooperatives, infrastructure (mobile telephone), and sanitation.

Keywords:

• Food security
• Seasonality
• Smallholder farmers
• Panel data
• East Hararghe
• Ethiopia

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Food insecurity remains one of the major development challenges in Ethiopia. Its magnitude and effect vary across seasons. This study found a considerable variation in terms of dietary diversity and food security between pre-harvest and post-harvest seasons. Households producing diverse food groups, owning more resources (land, livestock, and income), those with better access to institutions (cooperatives, improved drinking water, and education) as well as owning cell phone were more likely to be more food secure across the seasons. Future interventions aiming at ensuring food security should pay attention to seasonality and mechanisms of improving diversified food production and household income as well as expanding education opportunities and access to cooperatives, infrastructure (mobile telephone), and sanitation.

Acknowledgements

We would like to express our deepest appreciations to Irish-Aid through AgriDiet project for its financial support. We also appreciate the Center for International Cooperation and Development of the University of Pavia, Italy and Haramaya University, Ethiopia for all the support during the write-up of the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Authors’ contributions

The first author designed data collection tools, gathered primary data and analysed the data. Other authors were involved in data analysis, interpretation and write-up. All authors read and approved the final manuscript.

Availability of data and materials

The data that support the findings of this research can be obtained from the authors up on request.

Author details

¹ Director for Research, Extension and Publication, Haramaya University, Ethiopia. ²Center for International Cooperation and Development (CICOPS), University of Pavia, Italy. ³Department of Economics and Management, University of Pavia, Italy. ⁴Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, Ireland. ⁵Institutions, Innovation Systems, and Economic Development Group, Haramaya University, Ethiopia

Additional information

Funding

Irish-Aid through AgriDiet project and Center for International Cooperation and Development (CICOPS) of the University of Pavia, Italy;Center for International Cooperation & Development (CICOPS) of the University of Pavia, Italy [2019];

Notes on contributors

Chanyalew S. Aweke

Chanyalew S. Aweke (PhD) is an Assistant Professor and researcher in the School of Rural Development and Agricultural Innovation, Haramaya University, Ethiopia. He obtained his PhD from the Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, Ireland. He earned his MSc in Rural Development and Agricultural Extension from Haramaya University, Ethiopia. He is currently Director for Research Extension and Publication. His research areas include food security, agriculture-nutrition linkage, and agricultural systems.

Maria Sassi

Maria Sassi (PhD) is a Professor of Agricultural Economics at University of Pavia, Italy. She has extensive research experience in the areas of food security and food policy.

Edward Lahiff

Edward Lahiff (PhD) is a senior lecturer at the Department of Food Business and Development, University College Cork, Ireland. His research areas include Agri-nutrition linkage, rural-urban migration and land.

Muluken G. Wordofa

Muluken G. Wordofa (PhD) is an Assistant Professor and senior researcher at Haramaya University with extensive research experience in food systems, impact assessment and climate change.