MIZAN TEPI UNIVERSITY

COIIEGE OF BUSSINES AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS
THE CAUSE AND CONSEQUENCES OF FOOD INSECURITY (IN
CASE OF MIZAN AMAN
A RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS IN PARTIAL
FULIFILMENT OF THE REQUIRMENT OF ART BA DEGREE IN ECONOMICS

BY
MULIGETA MENGESHA

ADVISOR
FIRENESH B. (MSC)

JUN,2022

MIZAN AMAN, ETHIOPIA

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Acknowledgment
First and for most I would like to thank the “praise to be god” without his permission and
help nothing can be done. Next I would like to thank my advisor FIRENESH B she gives
different comments and suggestion throughout preparing this research.

My deepest thanks goes to my family for their contribution and encouragement to

conduct this Studies effectively and thanks to all respondents and the manger agricultural
rural development offices of miza naman town and finally my deepest thank goes to MY
friends and brothers this paper from the beginning up to end.

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Abstract
This research has been assess causes and consequence of food in security in Bench Sheko
zone with in particular reference to mizan aman town ; This research has focus on
hindrance factors of food security in Mizan Aman , people has been live with large family
size , fragmented land , illiteracy and use tradition farming method.

The study regarding data requires collecting reliable information regarding food
insecurity; data to be collected from both primary and secondary data source. The
primary data has been collected from those individual which are highly affected by food
insecurity through structured questionnaires.

Regarding secondary data to be collected from different research papers that have do on
food in security and also be collected from relevant institution such as mizan aman and
in woreda agriculture and rural development Office as well as published and un
published data sources. The study used stratified sampling techniques. The data analysis
by descriptive method the tools which are percentage, frequencies, table and graph

Finally the study for warded some recommendation for the better feature of the woreda
based on the finding the study recommended some feasible solution to the to identify the
problems

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Table of Contents
Acknowledgment.............................................................................................................................I
Abstract...........................................................................................................................................I
Acronyms........................................................................................................................................II
CHAPTER ONE.................................................................................................................................1
Introduction....................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Back ground of the study......................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem....................................................................................................2
1.3 The Research Question.........................................................................................................3
1.4 Objective of the study...........................................................................................................3
1.4.1 General objective...........................................................................................................3
1.4.2 Specific objectives..........................................................................................................3
1.5 Scope of the study................................................................................................................3
1.6 Significance of the study.......................................................................................................4
1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY..........................................................................................4
1.8 Organization of the study.....................................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO................................................................................................................................5
2. Literature review........................................................................................................................5
2.1 Theoretical literature............................................................................................................5
2.1.1 Conceptual frame work of food security........................................................................5
2.1.2 The classical School........................................................................................................6
2.1.3 Determinants of food security.......................................................................................7
2.1.4 Elements of food security..............................................................................................8
2.1.5 Measurement and indicators of food securityIndicators formeasurement of food
security...................................................................................................................................9
2.1.6 Indicators of food insecurity........................................................................................10
2.2 Empirical Literature............................................................................................................11
2.2.1 The cause of food insecurity in developing country.....................................................11
2.2.2 Food security sources and causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia.................................11
2.2.3 Summary of Ethiopia’s vulnerability............................................................................12
CHAPER THREE..............................................................................................................................14

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3. Methodology of the study........................................................................................................14
3.1 description of the study area..............................................................................................14
3.2 Data sources.......................................................................................................................14
3.3 Methods of data collection.................................................................................................15
3.4 Sample design.....................................................................................................................15
3.5 Method of data analysis.....................................................................................................16
CHAPER FOUR...............................................................................................................................17
FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION........................................................................................................17
4.1 Socio Economic and demographic conditions (situations)..................................................17
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4.1.1 Employment Opportunity and Source of income.........................................................19
4.1.2 Land holding Size.........................................................................................................20
4.2 Pre and post-harvest crop losses........................................................................................23
Pre harvest crop loss...................................................................................................................25
4.2.1 Productive Assets/Resources.......................................................................................26
4.3 The causes of food insecurity..............................................................................................27
4.4 Socio economic consequences food insecurity...................................................................27
4.5 The role of the government in food insecurity...................................................................28
CHAPTER FIVE...............................................................................................................................30
Conclusion and recommendation.................................................................................................30
5.1 Conclusion..........................................................................................................................30
5.2 RECOMMENDATION...........................................................................................................31
BIBILOGRAPHY..............................................................................................................................33
APPENDIX.....................................................................................................................................34
Questionnaires for Data collection.......................................................................................34

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Acronyms
EC Ethiopia colander
MAT Mizan Aman Town
MATARDO Mizan Aman Town Agricultural rural development office
EGC Employment generation schemes
FAO Food Agricultural organization
FFW Food for work
GDP Grosse Domestic Product
GC Gregorian calendar
HHS House Holds
NGO Nongovernmental organization
OMO organization micro office
SSA Sub Saharan Africa
WB World Bank
WV world vision

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I
CHAPTER ONE

Introduction
1.1 Back ground of the study
Agriculture is the back bone of Ethiopian economy the largest number of population
depends on farming. Agriculture is multifaceted contribution as a source of input for
industrial sector, as a source of export and most importantly to provide sufficient food for
the increasing number of population. It is generally known that Ethiopia with diversified
agricultural resources, which are consider to be adequate and favorable for development
of agriculture and achievement of food security, but it has not yet manage to be food self-
sufficient. It is large agricultural labor force, land, livestock, ample water and other
resources which expand the potential of food production, but has failed to produce
enough food and contribute to poverty reduction and national food security.(befekadu
andberhanu,2000)

Developing countries are vulnerable to food insecurity since domestic production

capabilities are inadequate as a result of the low level of accumulated investment in
agriculture. Furthermore developing countries lack of the purchasing power to import
enough food to satisfy domestic demands and are susceptible to even the small change in
food price in world market. In this context, domestic agricultural production plays vital
role as an insurance against unstable movement of import price. Domestic agricultural
production also contributes to food security in the long term by saving foreign exchanges
and stimulating investment in manufacturing sectors, which lead to rapid economic
growth and increase accessibility to foods. (FAO, 2015

Ethiopia has been structurally food deficient since 1980, in which the gap rose from 0.75
million tons in 1979/80 to 5 million tons in 1983/84 falling to 2.4 million in 1995/6
deposited a record harvest (Befekadu and Birhanu, 2000:176).and 2006 estimated 8.5
million rural people food insecurity (mitiku .et al 2013) and 2012 an estimated 3.5
million people where reported food insecurity dawn from peak of 10.8 million during

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year 2015 (FAO, 2015) Since agriculture is the oldest tradition practice of people mizan
town bench maji zone and largest proportion of the population depend on agricultural
sector for food consumption. most of the population of the zones lived in rural area;
landholder are small although unusually evenly distributed allow most farming
householder to achieve food production self-sufficiently soil fertility already low and
decline due to intensive cultivation and limited application of yield-enhancing input.
(Teferi and Tddase, 2013)

1.2 Statement of the problem

One of the consequences of the poor performance of Ethiopian agriculture is wide spread
of food insecurity. An estimated 50% to 60% of the country’s population is food
insecure. The number of drought affected population between 1981 and 1995 range from
a minimum of 2.53 million in 1987 to 7.85 million 1992 in 2002 6 million (Befekadu
and Birhanu, 2002) every estimate indicate that at list 10.8 million people will service
acute food insecurity and require assistance in 2015 (FAO, 2015)

AS part of the country, the causes for low productivity in bench maji zone especially in
mizan Aman town is server varies and complex. The principal determinates which
brought about failure to adequately feed the population include sever environmental
degradation, rapid population growth which exceeds agricultural growth, shortage of
facilities, limited access to infrastructure and basic services, low productivity of
agricultural resulting from insufficient fertilize use and poor performance of agriculture.
As regards, the general food situation in this town the gap between the yearly food
production and food requirement at household and towns levels is widening alarmingly.
As mizan aman town agricultural and rural development office pointed out that the main
Socio-economic consequences of food insecurity is hunger and human disease, cattle
loss, human death begin, and lose of sale productive is some of them
(MATARDO ,2012).

Mizan aman food insecurity addressing socio economic problems in zones has not been
properly explored so far.even if different researchers have done researches on causes and
consequences food insecurity.to best of my knowledge till now no study were conducted
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with this regard in mizan aman town .thus ,by taking the above noted problems into
account this research has been assesed the causes and consequenses of food insecurity of
mizan aman town.

1.3 The Research Question

The reason that initiated the researcher to conduct study on this specific area is address
the following basic research question.

 What is the socio- economic consequence of food shortage?

 What is the problem of food insecurity in mizan aman town?
 How to reducing the problem of food insecurity in mizan aman town?

1.4 Objective of the study

1.4.1 General objective

The general objective of the study is to assess the causes and consequence of food
insecurity in mizan aman town?

1.4.2 Specific objectives

 To examine the socio- economic conditions in mizan aman.
 To identify the major causes of food shortage.
 To identify socio – economic consequences food shortage.
 To forward conclusion and recommendation.

1.5 Scope of the study

The focus of the study is an assessment of cause and socio-economic consequence of
food shortage in mizan aman town bench maji zone. Found in south western nation
nationality of Ethiopia (SWNPE). Moreover, the study addresses one of the main
consequences of the poor performance agricultural food production since 2006, GC.

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1.6 Significance of the study
The result of this study has been important for identifying the different problems that face
food insecure in mizan aman town and propose the problem to the concerned
governmental bodies to search solution for the problem. It adds to the knowledge,
understanding of the individual by providing information and help for policy maker
NGOs for further study in relation to the towns. This can add to the extensive Literature
of food insecurity in Ethiopia as a whole, and can help enlighten concern house hold
about the status of the area.

1.7 LIMITATION OF THE STUDY

The main limitation of the study are absence of well-organized information, shortage of
time to fill the questionnaires, limited number of studies on this topic to get sufficient
information, difficulty of getting reference books and in accessibilities of
internet ,reluctance of official and farm house hold to give response and data may not be
found in desired manner.

1.8 Organization of the study

The papers contain four chapters. The first chapter comes up with the introduction part
of the studies. The second chapter deals with the literature review. The third chapter
deals with methodology .four chapter findings and discussion and.chapter five deals with
conclusion and recommendation budget.

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CHAPTER TWO

2. Literature review

2.1 Theoretical literature

2.1.1 Conceptual frame work of food security

The concept the helps to faster an integrated approach to food and nutrition problems is
that of food insecurity. There have been many definitions of food security in the
literature over the years. However, the definition that is now a day in widely accepted as
capturing the spirit of the concept is that defined by the World Bank (WB, 1986).

Food security is the access by all people at all times enough food for an active, healthy
life. Its essentials are the availability of food and the ability to acquire it. As embodied is
the World Bank definition, these principles may be distinguished as follows. First the
definition emphasizes access to food rather than supply of food this is considered with the
concept of food entitlement and it focuses whether people have sufficient command over
food. Second, the definition emphasizes the access to food by all people employing that
an aggregate view is insufficient; the situation of individuals and social groups at risk
critical importance. Third, definition refers to both availability and food entitlement
distinction model (Mulat; al, 1995).

Food insecurity, intern, is the lack of access to enough food. The World Bank definition
of food security also makes an important distinction between transistor food insecurity
and chronic food insecurity. Transistor food in security is defined as temporary decline
in household’s access to enough food. Chronic food insecurity is defined as continuously
in adequate diet caused by the persistent inability to a quire enough food (ibid).

On the contrary some countries that were food deficit were able to exercise considerable
level of national food security, as they were able to import food through generating
sufficient foreign exchange and improving the efficency of the marketing system. Hence,
food self-sufficiency or adequate food production alone does not necessarily imply the
achievement of food security particularly at house hold or community level (ibid).
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Food availability refers to the need to produce sufficient food in a way that generates
income for small scale producers while not depending on the natural resources base, and
to the need to get this food in markets for sale at prices that consumer can afford. Peoples
ability (which is constrained by income) to get economic assess to this food is the second
component. If rural household cannot generate sufficient income to purchase the food,
they lack entitlement to that food. The third component is the individual’s ability to use
food consumed for growth, nutrition and health. In other words, on food factors such as
education, health care, child care, clean water and sanitation are of critical importance in
the equation of food security. Addressing food insecurity in Ethiopia requires a clear
understanding of the nature, level of magnitude and determinates of food security at
federal, regional, woreda, house hold, and individual levels (WoldayAmaha, 2004).

At the house hold level, a distinction is drawing between transitory food insecurity and
chronic food insecurity. Chronic food insecurity is a long term and continues in adequate
food intake caused by inability to acquire food, and food, and is more closely linked to
poverty. This is the result of lack of human and productive resources to produce of
acquire sufficient food. Transitory food insecurity is a temporary decline (short term) in
houses holds access to enough food. This is the result of episodic events such as,
drought, civil disturbance, instability in food production, prices, incomes, etc. however if
the poor have to cope repeatedly with transitory food insecurity the income and
productive base deplete more and more and many result in chronic food insecurity. (Ibid)

2.1.2 The classical School

The basic arguments of the classical theory of development, as exemplified by Thomas
Maltuhus can be summarized as follows (Ghatak and Ingersent 1984). First increased
population causes a parallel increase in demand for food. Second the increase demand
for food can be met either by cultivating the existing land more intensively (i.e by

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applying more labor) or by binging new land in to cultivation. The former type of
response to population pressure in referred to as “Intensive margin” of cultivation. While
the latter is referred to as “extensive margin” of cultivation (DejeneAredo, 2007).

According to the classical School, both types of responses will give no solution to the
problem of food supply. The limitation of the intensive margin arises from the operation
of the law of diminishing returns.

Since diminishing marginal returns to agricultural labor are inevitable and unavoidable,
food production will always tend to grow less rapid than population. Continuous
population growth will depress per capita food output and consumption which lead to
food insecurity. Eventually the average product of labor will fall below the level of
subsistent requirement. According to the classical theory, the agricultural production
function is continues through time (i.e. there is no shift of production function). For the
classical school, technological progress is not a part of the debate on population growth
and food supplies (Ibid).

2.1.3 Determinants of food security

According to Garrent and Ruelnutriti and status Mozambique WD 27 n 11 factors that
determine food and nutrition security in both rural and urban are:-

1, Calorie availability: the access that a house holds has enough income to purchase food
at prevailing price or has sufficient land and other resources to grow its own food.
Factors other than income and price can also affect household calorie availability, mostly
by influencing preferences. These factors include house hold demographic structure,
education levels of house hold members, and location, 2, Nutritional status: in addition to
factors that affect the house hold’s access to food, which can affect an individual’s own
dietary intake, a child’s nutritional status will also affected by the hygienic condition of
the house hold, and 3, General: the value of total household’s consumption (also referred
to by many, including us household consumption expenditure). Expenditures are a better
representation than income of total resource saves liable to the household because house

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hold typically try to sooth consumption over time in face of fluctuations in income.
Consumption expenditure includes value for all current consumption, imputing values
where necessary for items such as rent or home grown food. Factors specific to each
community, such as price, could also affect calorie availability and nutritional status
(Garrent, and ruel, 1957).

The state of household food security is generally affected by two major determinates,
availability of food and accessibility to it. The farmer is fur their influenced by the
different sources of food and handling patterns which facilitate the time dimension food
availability in the household (Mulat et.al, 1995).

2.1.4 Elements of food security

Several important elements of food security can be derived from the definition discussed
above. The major elements of food security are:-
I, Availability of food: sufficient food supply should be secured in a sustainable manner
that responds to the growing world population and changing dietary habits, II,
Accessibility of food:- food security can be attained only when both physical and
economic access to food are guaranteed. While the factors that influence physical
accessibility, such as wars, export embargoes and problems with transportation, are
common to both developed and developing countries, the factor that determine economic
accessibility are especially serious developing countries, III, Stability of food supply:
food should be supplied at reasonable prices in a stable manner stability of food supplies
is particularly important to developing countries that depend on foreign imports for a
large portion of their food supply, with in the limitation of foreign exchanges and IV,
Food safety (quality and preference): the final important element of food security is that
safe, good quality food must be supplied, in order to satisfy the dietary needs and
preferences of consumers (FAO, 2006:177).

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2.1.5 Measurement and indicators of food security Indicators for
measurement of food security

FAO has played a leading role developing and applying food security indicators and uses
seven indicators to measure the global food situation since the mid1970s. In 1999, the
organization adopted two food security indicators (average per capita diet [GDP] for the
measurement of longer term trends in food security and nutritional well- being which are
directly related to food availability and food access (FAO, 2000).

FAO has also selected seven vulnerability indicators (rural population as a share of total
population, arable and per capita, share of agriculture in GDP, population of roads that
are paved, yields per hectare for major cereal crops, proportion of countries that have
experienced an emergency situation and mortality rate for children under five years of
age (FAO)

Indicators based on the elements of food security Food availability; Natural condition of
agriculture ,Average temperature, rain fall, day light hours ,Number of cropping
seasons ,Factor endowment ,Agricultural and ;fertility, proportion of irrigated
land ,Intermediate inputs : capacity to produce fertilizer, pesticides and agricultural
machines ,Agricultural labor force: average and educational level of farmers ,Production
function ,Economies of large scale: average farm size, Management skill, Production
technologies: investment in research and development Rand D, work force and extension
of agriculture, Institutional system of production: ownership of land, collectivism.
Accessibility to food; GDP per capita balance of payment, Consumer price and importing
price, Economic accessibility to household: nonfarm income of farmers. Women’s and
girl’s accessibility to food (women’s and girl’s share of food consumption),.Physical
accessibility (ibid).

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2.1.6 Indicators of food insecurity
Assessment of food insecurity is difficult issues as that are no universally established
indicators which serve as measuring tools. Food insecurity requires multidimensional
consideration since it is influenced by different interrelated socio- economic,
environmental and political factors. Because of this problem, assessing, analyzing and
monitoring food insecurity follows diversified approaches, ranging, from a more
quantitative to combination of both quantitative and qualitative measurements (Mulat
et.al 1995:9)
Indicators of food insecurity can be classified in to two main categories i, Process
indicators ii, Outcome indicators
I, Process indicators provide an estimate of food supply and food access situation. The
major indicators in this regard are:- A, Supply indicators; Metro logical
data ,Information on natural resource, Agricultural production data, Food price trends,
Food balance on sheets, Information of past damage, Regional conflict /war. B,
Food access indicators, Land use practical, dietary change, Diversification of income
sources, Livestock sales, Sale of production. II Outcome indicator serves as proxies
for food consumption. Outcome indicators include; House hold budget and
expenditure, Food consumption frequency, Subsistence potential, Nutritional status.
(ibid)

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2.2 Empirical Literature

2.2.1 The cause of food insecurity in developing country

A person is food secure when he or she accessed at all times to enough food for an active,
health life. Accordingly, people are food secure when the consumption of food is
sufficient, secure (not vulnerable to consumption short falls) and sustainable (max wall,
1996). The list cause of food insecurity in long and multifaceted they range from
political instability war and civil strife, Macro economic imbalances and trade dislocation
to environmental degradation, poverty, population growth, gender inequality, in adequate
education and poor healthy. All, however can be related in some fashion to two basic
causes insufficient national food availability and insufficient access to food by
households and individuals (smith et al 2000)

2.2.2 Food security sources and causes of food insecurity in

Ethiopia

According to world vision Ethiopia 2002, specific source of household food security
(food economy) in Ethiopia include. A, food production (manly based on crop and
livestock husbandry), B, Cash in come from different sources (manly market Based);
Domestic trade (including petty trading), Sales of family labor (wage employment),
Rental income International trade C, Reserve of food (stocks) or other assets, D,
Institutional assistance program (including credit/financial support, food aid/ relief,
employment generation schemes (EGS), food for worker (FFW) and related support
program), E, Remittance and gifts, and F, Wild food (wild plants and animals including
fish) (world vision, 2002).

In the Ethiopian situation, poor agricultural growth, un equal distribution of productivity

resource and income, rapid population growth and urbanization are the important
(underlying) causes for the growing chronic food security and poverty problems.
Drought, war and growing refugee problem are also the main causes of transitory food

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insecurity in Ethiopia like in many of their African countries in appropriate policies of
government and or do nor agricultural have also been important factors contributing to
both chronic and transitory food insecurity in most African countries including Ethiopia
(Ibdi).

Per capita food production in sub Saharan Africa (SSA) including Ethiopia has been
declining over the last three decades. Production growth rates during these decades
stagnated around- 0,6 percent in 1980-83 and gradually declined to-6.2 percent in 1990
(FAO,1990).

Despite the available resources and the efforts made by governments in SSA, food
insecurity remained one of the most crucial issues. For instance at the beginning of the
1980, consumption of basic stable exceeded production by about 8 million metric tons
(birhanu and paulio, 1990l).

2.2.3 Summary of Ethiopia’s vulnerability

The world vision Ethiopia presented the summery of Ethiopia vulnerability for the year
1987-1990 as follows:
A, 1987/88 (vulnerability to famine increased in northern Ethiopia)
Civil war replacing droughts are the major cause of increasing national vulnerability to
famine. Lack of water and food supplies complicated by logistics and management
problems have affected children’s nutritional status among Somali’s and Sudan’s in
refugee, comps in Ethiopia. 2.4 million People in Eretria, Tigray, Wollo and Gonder
received food aid each month. Flood in North and West caused crop loss in Gonder and
Tigray. Eritrea and Tigray were not able to meet there food, Requirements in 1998, their
Continuing vulnerability to famine was mainly due to war fare, Locusts caused limited
local damage indifferent areas of Tigray and Eritrea. Rains were below average in the
west, and then late on set affected the long cycle maize and sorghum crops. Late and low
rain fall affected Gojjam, Wollega, Ilubabor and Kefa in the west where production was

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about 5% less than 1987. Gonder and Wello suffered from insufficient rain fall and
flooding in different areas (WV, 2002)

In 1988/89 (server food shortage threatened Ethiopia) In 1990 Ethiopia was expected to
have a short fall of about 1.6 million metric tons of cereals, pluses and seeds. In 1990
emerged food assistance requirements were estimated at about 750,000 metrication 3.5
to5 millions people required emergency food assistance People have increased production
and consumption of root, tubers and livestock products due to recurrent drought. Drought
again reduced production sharply in North Eastern Ethiopia. The major agricultural
season’s crop production had failed totally in major areas of Tigray. Major production
short fall also occurred in Wollo, Gonder and Hararghe regions. A deficit of almost 1
million metric tons of cereals, pluses and oil seeds was for Northern Ethiopia in 1990.

In1989/90 (severe drought and crop faller in Eritrea, Tigray and Wollo regions of
Northern and Eastern Ethiopia Rain fall levels and distribution were the worst of decade
About 4.4 million people were in need of 839, 000 metrication of emergency food relief.
Water sources dried, causing un precedent shortage of drinking water for people and
livestock. Shortage of pasture has led to serve decrease in the number, condition and
value of livestock. High grain prices and low livestock prices constrained the farmer’s
important cropping strategy of selling or trading of grain (world vision, 2002).

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CHAPER THREE

3. Methodology of the study

3.1 description of the study area

Mizan aman located south western part of Ethiopia. The towns is surrounded by the
debub bench and semen bench.in the south west bonga and tepi. The administrative
center is mizan. it is located 117KM from south west bonga and 47km from south west
tepi, had around 34,080 population, out of this 18,138 of them are males and 15,942 of
them female. Most of the population the woreda lives in rural area. Mizan Aman has
adequate surface water potential that can be utilized for varies purpose these includes
river shonga, kosokol and gacheb. gacheb river is used as main source of clean drinking
water for MizanAmanTown.the mean annual rain fall of city 1935 mm. It has five
kebeles, namely Adiss ketema, Hibret, Kometa, Shesheka and Ediget. The woreda has
two agro climate zones dega (16.22), woina dega (57.22). Mizan Aman City at distance
of 565km from Addis Ababa and 840km from SNNPRS Capital Hawassa.The Altitude in
the woreda rages from 1100meters to 2730 meters above see level. Agriculture the main
means of subsistence farming in the woreda. The area average annual rain fall of 1467
mm and the main annual minimum and maximum temperature 13 and 26.8 respectively
(Teferi and Tadese ,2013)

3.2 Data sources

In study both primary and secondary sources of data are uses. The primary data is gather
from a population of selected farmer in the woreda. Secondary data will gather from
publish and unpublished documents about the problem as well as from relevant institution
such as mizan aman Town agricultural and rural development office. In addition to this
secondary data is gathered from different research papers that has been done food
insecurity.

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3.3 Methods of data collection
The primary data has been collect using self-administers and structure and interviews.
These types of questioner are select due to the following two reasons. First, it is structure
to design question as per the data need and to minimize respondent’s biasness. On the
other hand, these secondary data ha collect by referring to different publish and
unpublished documents. The data has been collect through randomly select household by
interview questionnaires. The researcher himself collects the survey data.

3.4 Sample design

The study is conduct at mizan aman in bench sheko zone. The population in study area is
hetrogenous and the data has been collect from kebele with hetrogenous population.
From 5kebele found in mizan aman two kebeles has been select by using randomly
selecting. The selected kebele are kometa and shesheka each has been sellect household
respectively. These kebele householders has select. In first kebele selected 50 sample
respondent are taken by randomly and in the second kebele selected 50 sample
respondent are taken by randomly. The size of sample has limit to 50 because of shortage
of logistic and time. The total number of data has collected from mizan aman town and
mizan sheko zone agricultural and rural development office. The Stratified probability
sampling technique applicable because. By selected two kebeles which have 50
household were select randomly. The sample size determination by using proportional
sampling procedure the formula nj = [Nj\N]*n

Where nj = size of sample from jthkebeles

Nj = Jthkebeles of total householder

N = total house holder of both kebele

n = total sample size

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3.5 Method of data analysis
The study has been uses descriptive methods of analysis. The tools use in such analysis
include, tabulation of the data follow, graph percentage indexes. The analysis has
organize describing and systematically interpreting the collect data used in this study is
statically analysis such as organizing the collect data in tabular forms interims of
frequency and percentage.

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CHAPER FOUR

FINDINGS AND DISCUSSION

4.1 Socio Economic and demographic conditions (situations)

As many studies indicates in Ethiopia, small holding, or family farmers provide almost
all the agricultural real output, and employ large number of population.

Table 4.1 gender of the respondents

Gender Kebeles 1 Kebeles 2 Percentage
Male 18 16 68
Female 10 6 32
Total 28 22 100
Source; Owen survey, 2022

The above tables show that the gender distributions of the respondent 68% of the
respondent are male and 32% of the respondents are female. Highest percentage is male
because most of the female are partially dependent on male.

The low level of productivity of the society’s linked with the size of land holding,
illiteracy of the society and the mechanism of production they engaged in agriculture

Table 4.2 the educational level of the sample unit

Alternating
Educational Illiterate 1-4 5-8 9-12 higher Total
level educational level
sample unit 20 13 9 2 6 50
Percentage 40 26 18 4 12 100
Source: own survey, 2022

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As shown in the table above, 40% of the respondents were illiterate, I.e. they cannot write
and read, 26% can only attended grade ranged from
1-4, 18 % attend grade ranged from 5-9, 4 % of them only attended grad ranged from 9-
12(high school) and 12 % of them are attending higher education.

Table 4.3 the production and educational level

Educational Illiteracy 1—4 5—9 9—12 Higher
Level educational level
Production level Very low Lower Medium Higher Very higher

Source; own survey, 2022

It’s over all implication is that the studied farmers fell that their low level of education
has adversely affected their production which is manifested in their poor and traditional
performance most farmers are illiterates, this in turn, leads the farmer to use resource
improperly and insufficiently so that, these and others leads to food insecurity .

Another indicator of low productive performance of the societies is family size on which
the woreda has recorded the highest average family of 8 person per household. The
family size for the selected respond was found to be between 5-10 people per house hold.

Table 4.4 the numbers of respondents on family size

Family size Sample unit Percentage
1-5 18 36
5-10 25 50
Above 10 7 14
Total 50 100

18
Source: own survey, 2022
The above table shows that 50% of respondent answered that their family size ranged
between 5 to 10 person per house hold. In addition, some respondents said that children
are the wealth of the family husband. Therefore it’s possible to understand how much
difficult is to feed this high family size within one household by only one family head of
which most of them are children and they are unable to produce adequate food for their
basic needs.

4.1.1 Employment Opportunity and Source of income

Agriculture is the dominant source of income of people living in rural area of Mizan
Aman Town. The result of population census in 2007 E.C shows that 80 percent of the
total population lives in rural area while the reaming percent reside in the urban areas.
And have the employment opportunity of the people in one way or the other mainly
depends upon agriculture.
Although reliable records are not available discussion in the woreda food security office
indicates that some personae traders participate in petty trading such as grain and levies
took. Their supplementary economic activities to cover the growing food shortages as a
result of farm inadequacy and disaster induced to cover the growing headed households
and house wives also engaged in petty trading such as Coffee, Banana, Avocado and
some others fresh many on market days in their locality because of partially survive of
food insecurity that area.

Table 4.5 the economic activities of sample unit

Economic activity Samples unit Percentage
Agriculture 30 60
Trade 6 12
Daily work 3 6
Civil servant 7 14
Other paid activity 4 8
Total 50 100
19
Source; own serve, 2022
As the above tables show that 60% of the respondents engaged in agriculture, 14% are
civil servant, 12% of them are working in trade activities those who have better skills
compare to other they involve in daily works and other paid activity to generate some
more income for their family. But all agriculture system is their mainstay of their
subsistence way of living.

4.1.2 Land holding Size

Land holding size is considered as a critical production factors that determine that type of
crops grown and the type of size of crop harvest. About 80%of the increase of
agricultural output in Africa has been attained through the expansion of cultivated land
(Degefa, 2000). Due to population pressure, the size of land owned by each individual
household is declining over time. As a result, one can easily observe, areas which are
steep sloped and recommended for farming purpose are put to cultivation, although there
is some attempt to use structural soil conservation methods. The problem seems very
serious in high land (degas) climate zone. This mainly due to high population pressure
(Density) and high irregular to topography of the high land are as than kola. Thus
holding are large in kola agro ecological zone as compared to that of the degas and
woyna adage areas for instance, the available data obtained from mizanaman town of
agricultural and rural development office indicate that in degas ranged between 2 hectare
and above to hectares. In contrast the range in the woynadega area is 1--1.5 hectares.

Table 4.6 the sample respondents on land holding size

Size of land holding in Number of sample unit Percentage
hectares
0-0.25 2 4
0.25-0.75 7 14
0.75-1.5 12 24
1.5-2.00 13 36
Above 2 11 22
Total 50 100
20
Source; own survey, 2022
The size of land holding discussed above, tell us that 4% of the sample unit have a land
size of below 0.25 hectares per household, 14% have between the class intervals 0.25 to
0.75 hectares per hose holds, 24% have class interval between 0.75 to1.5 hectares, 36%
have the class interval between 1.5 to 2 hectares and 22% have above 2 hectares per
household. This shows that farmers who have a land with less than two hectares do not
have access to their food requirements due to the insufficiency of land in comparison to
household member, size so that, it is impossible to attain their food sufficiency.
Therefore, under subsistence agriculture, holding size is expected to play a significant
role influencing farm household’s food security.

Table 4.7 land size employed only for grazing

Land size employed only for Number of sample unit Percentage
grazing in hectares
0-0.25 20 40
0.25-0.5 10 20
0.5-1.0 0 0
1.-1.5 15 30
1.5-2.0 3 6
Above 2 2 4
Total 50 100

Source: own survey, 2022

The table 4.8 below indicates that almost all population use traditional and small-scale
farming system, using their hand and small power. As 54% of respondents reflect they
use both hand and oxen for plopping. And 30% of small holders in the study area use
their hand or stick for threshing their crops, especially for their important crop like maize

21
and potato, also animal power used for threshing of crops 12% of the respondent use
oxen and 46% use both hand and oxen.

Table 4.8 the farming mechanism of households

Types of plough tools Sample Percentage Types of threshing Sample Percentage
unit tools unit
Hand dug 9 18 Hand and stick 15 30
Oxen 14 28 Oxen 12 24
Both hand dug and 27 54 Used hand and 23 46
oxen oxen
Both 0 0 Using mechanized 0 0
oxen/mechanized and oxen
tools
Mechanize tools only 0 0 Mechanized tools 0 0
only
Total 50 100 50 100
Source: own survey, 2022

The other problem faced in the study area is the prevalence of crop disease and
insufficient provision of agricultural services to the farmers on the right time.

Table 4.9 the response of the respondent on crop disease

If there is crop disease Number of respondent Percentage
Yes 46 92
No 4 8
Total 50 100
Source; Owen survey, 2022
The above table shows that almost all respondent response has the prevalence of crop
disease affect the woreda. That is even it is supplied at a time, it is not distribute on time,
as a result input stayed in the storage. Furthermore, in some remote and there is not
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available of road in kebeles, the supply of fertilizer and other input is low due to weak
infrastructural set up (especially road).

Table 4.10 Agricultural production services

Agricultural sector Sample unit Percentage
Private (other farmers) 13 26
Government 34 68
NGOs 3 6
Total 50 100
Source: own survey, 2022

According to the same respondents there is prevalence of crop disease in the woreda.
These diseases reduce the total yield from crop production and their value in the market
and in turn it causes shortage of food the study area seriously suffers from insect’s pests
and others. In addition from the above table 68% of the respondents replied their get
agricultural service from government institution and 26% receive assistance form private/
other farmers by agreeing to replay by additional amount in the next harvest time and only
6% of the get service from NGOs, this show that there is no significant number of NGO in
the study area.

4.2 Pre and post-harvest crop losses

Per and post-harvest loss causes by insect pests and disease weeds, climatic and natural
hazards (uneven operatic distribution of rainfall, storm and food) and storage pest have
contributed much to the decline of agricultural production that brought about food
insecurity in the study area coupled with the problem of land degradation and limited
infrastructure.
The study area seriously suffers from insect pest and weed (such as Parthenon hystophrous)
plant diseases also contributes significantly to decline production per unit area.
Per harvest crop loss caused by insect pests and diseases, weed and other climatic and
natural hazards for different year is summarized below in table 4.11. Although per harvest
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crop loss in Mizan Aman Town show decline trend (for instance 59.9 percent in 2007
cropping year to 50.1 percent in 2019 and 47 percent in 2021. On average harvested there
is 53.9 percent pre harvest crop, which means relativity half of the expected production had
been lost before harvest.

With regard to post harvest loss, caused by storage pests (such as weevil) poor threshing
and storage facility there about an estimated 20 percent crop loss as stated by MATARD
office crop protection expert during discussion on postharvest crop loss.

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Table 4.11 expected yield and crop loss from 2012-2022 G.C

Source:
Crop
Pre harvest crop loss MATARDO,
Cropping year Expected production from
In quintal In perpercentage 2022
the total cultivated land in quintal
2012 31436 5012 19
2013 31892 4556 21
2014 30069 6379 15
2015 29614 6834 14
2016 32347 4099 24
2017 32803 3045 32
2018 33258 3190 31
2019 25058 11390 8
2020 26880 9568 10
20072 2021 27336 9112 10.9
Total(average) Hhhg3300693 63185 15

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4.2.1 Productive Assets/Resources
One of the root causes for the growing food insufficiency and poverty in our country is indicated to
be shortage of productive assets/resources (including land, oxen, other animals, capital in puts, etc.
This is similar in the area under the study. Moreover, in the literature review part of its paper,
Befekadu and Berhanu classified households experiencing storage of draft animal, and cash to buy
seed and fertilizer as chronic food insecurity. Even though data are not available on other
components of productive assets, in this sub topic we have been look at plough oxen ownership
position of households in MizanAman area

Table 4.12 plough oxen owner ship of household in Mizan Aman area
No of oxen No of HHS Percentage from
total HHS
Only one oxen 60 28.5
Only two oxen 30 15.5
More than two oxen 20 5.0
Total 110 49.0
Source: MATARD office, 2022

The total number households in the Woreda (34080), among these only 28.5 percent have one
sssof the woreda households have their oxen. Those who have plough oxen have advantage in
carrying out agricultural activities timely resulting in the higher yield from their own land and
they also able to rent in the land of those who do not have plough oxen on the basis of crop share
are arrangement. So ownership oxen greatly affect the amount of production of peasant
household.

26
4.3 The causes of food insecurity
Food insecurity in the woreda is principal but not exclusively a rural problem. When famine
strikes, it is the rural population who is most vulnerable. Intervention need to be planned on the
base of good understanding of the factors that contribute to the particular vulnerability of rural
people.

Table 4.13 the causes of food security in Mizan Aman woreda

No Causes of food insecurity Sample unit Percentage
1 Techniques of crop production 22 44
2 Rain fail production system 8 16
3 Infrastructural development 10 20
4 Level of house hold member 6 12
5 Fragmented land 5 10
Total 50 100
Source owned survey, 2022

Agriculture in the woreda is, for the most part characterized as being low input /low output level of
technology. The above table show that 44% of the productivity affected by low level of techniques
of production system, 16% of the respondent food insecurity caused by rain fail crop production
system, 20% of the respondent the cause of food insecurity is infrastructural development, 12% of
the respondent say that the cause of food insecurity is the number of children and fragmented land
is one cause of food insecurity as the Mizan Aman woreda level.

4.4 Socio economic consequences food insecurity

Although recorded data are not available on socio economic consequences or serious disaster, food
shortages, survey under taken and stated by MATARDO during discussion held indicated /identified
the main

27
Table 4.14 socio-economic consequences of food insecurity in MAW
Socio-economic consequences Sample unit Percentage
On children malnutrition 10 20
On cattle loose 2 4
On loose of sale productivity asset 13 26
On migration 3 6
On shortage of farm input 15 30
On dependency 7 14
Total 50 100
Source own; survey, 2022

The general consequences as follows: as respondent 20% hunger and human disease (particularly
diseases associated with malnutrition on children, 4% Cattle cost: households might lose their cattle
due to animal feed and water shortage, 30% affect by Sale of productive assets: to cope with the
problem of food shortage households, dispose their productive assets such as cattle, donkeys and sheep
farm implements etc. to purchase food from market. This in turn partly has contributed to the shortage
of plough animals in the study area. 6% Migration and family separation: even though, this is the last
phase of food insecurity in house hold member as household leave their area in seasonal migration,
30% Shortage of farm inputs: disaster induced food shortage has made many households unable to
purchase in puts like fertilizers and results in shortage of seeds because they use it for consumption
and 14% Dependency: peasants households have developed dependency as the result of food aid
provision during disaster induced food shortage

4.5 The role of the government in food insecurity

The main source of agricultural credit service Mizan Aman town was governmental financial
institutions especially OMO micro finance institutions MATARDO has a great role in facilitating
the process of credit arrangement.it is not efficient to the changing the society.

28
Table 4.15 the amount of birr lend and number of
Borrower from the area for the year 2012-2022 G.C
Year
Credi credit source in MATARD office
loan in birr No of borrowers
2012 15,370.35 2
2013 16,720.42 3
2014 16,825.84 4
2015 19,045.32 5
2016 22380.40 7
2017 24,380.40 7
2018 164800.75 8
2019 113308.88 9
2020 38587.33 10
2001 2021 22,864.59 11
Source: MATARDO, 2022
Note: Source of loan provided by MATARD office is obtained from revolving fund given by OMO
micro finance and credit from government financial institutions. As a matter of the fact, government
is engaged in provision of dry ration and supplementary feeding so as to maintain the lives of those
affected moderately and severely. Besides, the government is running a project called safety net
dealing with cash provision recurrently drought areas. As we have seen in the previous section, past
attack is one of the contributing factors to the decline of food production in the study area. In times
of serious pest attack, veterinary professionals provide vaccination to project animals from diseases.
Including these activities and other such as forest seedling and improved animal’s distribution
accomplished by this government in Woreda.

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CHAPTER FIVE

Conclusion and recommendation

5.1 Conclusion
From finding of the study, agriculture is found to play a great role and economical aspects of
people by creating employment opportunities and supplying food.

The agricultural productivity is low in the Mizan Aman woreda. This is because, most of the
farmers are illiterate and use low technical base for crop production. In addition, in the study area
poor infrastructural development is another factor for the low productivity of agriculture.
Moreover, the presence of high level of house hold members with poor skills and most of them are
children and, fragmented land, also negatively affect the society’s food security.

Peasant house hold in the Mizan Aman area relies on mostly harvest two seasons: belg and meher.
The minimum woyna dega areas which are found in the area dominantly reliant up on belg harvest
while the dega area on me her harvest. As we have seen in detail, relying on one production
season coupled with the rain fall agriculture has made house hold,particularly, prone to disaster
induced food shortage in bad years.

Due to population pressure, the size of land owned by each household is declining over time as a
result, steep areas, steeper area are not recommended for farming purpose, are put to cultivation.
This problem with some topographic vulnerability of the area climatic factors and over grazing of
the area Thus in appropriate land use practice has led to the decline of crop production and
deforestation is one of the major problems. Pre and postharvest crop losses caused by insect a
pest and disease, weed, climatic and natural hazards have contributed much to the postharvest
crop less is estimated to be the cause for the growing food insufficiency and poverty.
Although data are not available on the components of productive assets on average in the area
currently only 49 percent households, have their own plough oxen.

30
Agriculture is the dominant source of income of the people living in the rural areas of the woreda.
Because of limited opportunities to job unemployment get to agriculture for their subsistence
requirement of this family.

Thus disaster related food shortages in Mizan Aman area have resulted in serious socio economic
problems as social conflict and human diseases, presences of population pressure, lack of
sufficient input, cattle loss and human death of productive assets migration and family separation,
shortage of frame inputs, sale of wood and dependency of food aid. Finally the paper tried to look
at measures taken by the government, private investors and NGOs to improve the problem of
food insecurity. As a matter of the fact the government in the study area engaged in activity of
supplementary feeding. Moreover, in times of serious pest attack, chemical have been distributed
free of charge.

5.2 RECOMMENDATION
The agriculture is an engine of one economy; it contributes much for the further growth of the
country. Nearly all of the population of Ethiopia either directly or indirectly depends of
agricultural food in all parts of the country. Thus, the improvement and modernization of
agriculture through different measures will enable the country to agriculture through food. Based
on the discussion made throughout this paper and the observed food insecurity problem in the
study area, the following recommendation is for warded.

Attention should be given to intensive farming in order to increases productivity per unit area
through provision of agricultural in put (such as fertilized appropriated improved seeds, oxen
improved farm implement Etc. Promoting agricultural extension based on water harvesting
techniques and providing technical support to improve traditional irrigation system in order to use
existing water resource potential efficiently through small scale irrigation scheme. Agricultural
development office should give attention to physical and biological conservation measures creating
awareness and developing skills among peasants household to protect soil from erosion is
important.

31
The government and other concerned bodies should give attention to promote income generation
activities (diversification of source of income) through creating micro enterprise in rural area.
Provision of intensive training is on agriculture production to be developed human skill of capacity.
The government has to design land use policy and implements in order to minimize the current
unwise utilization of resource.
The Town health center should aware the society about family planning to reduce number of
fertility in the Town and educated the society how to use birth control such as, sexuality
education prevention and contraception method to reduce number of children birth in the
Woreda. This can indirectly bring food security in the Woreda.

32
BIBILOGRAPHY
 Befekadu and BerihanuNega (1999/2000). The Ethiopian Economic Association annual report on
the Ethiopian Economy vol 1, A.A, Ethiopia.
 DejeneAredo (2007), Agricultural development theory on population Density, cultivation systems
and intensification pre industrial agricultural part 1 A.A, Ethiopia.
 MATRDO, (2022) mizan Aman Town.
 FAO (2003), Trade reforms and food security: Food and agricultural organization of the united
nation Rome.
 FAO ROA, Food and agricultural organization, united state
 Jesok lee (2002), sinor fellow and research director: Korea rural economic institute republic of
Korea.
 L.C Smirth et.al (1995), International food policy research institute Agricultural economics, N.W
Washington DC.USA.
 Meller.J (1988), Global food Balances and food security: World development, No 9
 MulatDemeke, et.al (1995), food security, Nut ration and poverty alleviation in Ethiopia: problems
and prospects- proceedings of the first Annual conference of Agricultural society of Ethiopia, A. A,
Ethiopia.
 TeferiAbebe and TadesLeges, (2013) Ethiopian history SNNPR Bureaw of cultural and
tourism.
 WoldayAmaha (2004), Ethiopian Economic Association: Food insecurity in Ethiopia, Vol, 2, A.A,
Ethiopia.
 Wored vision (2002), Annual report on problem of food security in Ethiopia world vision Ethiopia.

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APPENDIX
Questionnaires for Data collection
This questionnaire is organized by of graduating students of Mizan Tepi University under the
tittle the problem of food security, cause and consequence, the case of Mizan Aman Town . I am
thank full for your cooperation and promise you that the information you deliver is going kept
confidential .Thus please fill questionnaires carefully of that your answer wet contribute to a
valuable analysis.

Thank you!

1 Sex: Male female

2 Level of education

Illiterate Grade 9-12

Grade 1-4 Higher education

Grade 5-8

3 The effect of education on production?

Very low lower medium

Higher very higher

4 Family member’s size

1-5 members

5-10

Above 10 members
5 What is your occupation?

Agriculture Trade Daily work

34
Civil servant other

6 Do you have your own land?

Yes No

7 If yes, total land in hectare,

0.25 025-0.72 0.75-1.5

1.5-2 Above 2

8 If no why? ___________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

9 What type of land you have?

Cultivates and grazing Cultivating only

Grazing land only

Others (specify) ____________________________________________________

_________________________________________________________________

10 what are the causes of food insecurity in your woreda.

Techniques of crop production rain failure production system

Infrastructural development level of household member

Fragmented land

11. Which plouphing practices do you use on your house holding have?

Hand dug both hand dug and oxen Mechanized tools only

Oxen Both oxen and mechanized tool

35
12. Which threshing practice do you use for your crops?

Hand/stick Mechanized fool/oxen, house

Oxen/ hose tool Mechanized tools only

Hand /Oxen and horse tool

13. How much of the land use in currently for grazing?

0-0.25 1-00-1.5

0.25-0.5 1.5-2.00

0.5-1.00 above 2.00

14 .Is there crop diseases here? Yes No

15. If you answer are yes, in question 14 what kind is the most of the Serious? State some
diseases _________________________________________________________________
_________________________________________________________________

16. from where you have got service of agricultural production?

Private’s service

From governmental center

NGOs

If others pacify ____________________________________________________

____________________________________________________

17. What change has occurred after receiving aid? States them

____________________________________________________________

18. What is the limitation of solving the problem of food insecurity in your Woreda? Most
farmers are uneducated

Lack of fertilizer storage in the woreda

36
Expecting and from government and NGOs in over year

For number agricultural institution for seed quality improved seed distribution

Specify others ________________________________________________

19 what effect on socio-economics consequences of food insecurity in your family?

On children malnutrition on cattle loose

On loose sale productivity on migration

On dependency

20 state your recommendation to alleviating the problem of food insecurity in your areas
______________________________________

_______________________________________________________________

37