Exploring the magnitude of the nexus between welfare, food security, and resilience: a comparative study of <i>Enset (Ensete ventricosum)</i> producing and non-producing households in Central Ethiopia

This study examines the interplay of these dimensions among Enset-producing and non-producing households in Central Ethiopia, using panel data and robust analytical methods to address gaps in previous research. A mixed-methods approach was employed, combining quantitative analysis with qualitative insights from focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Descriptive statistics, principal component analysis (PCA), and three-stage least squares (3SLS) regression were used to examine these relationships. The results show that resilience factors explained 58.5% of the variance for the Enset producers and 56.1% for the Non-producers. Enset producers were more reliant on social safety nets (loading = 0.630) and adaptive capacity (0.540), whereas non-producers were more reliant on income and food access (0.647). Welfare analysis revealed that income and expenditure accounted for 34.4% of the variance for producers and 34.2% for non-producers, with asset ownership being more critical for producers (loading = 0.656) and education for non-producers (0.741). Food security outcomes indicated that the Enset producers had significantly greater calorie intake (p < 0.01) and a larger proportion of food-secure households (60.78% vs. 23.61%). The 3SLS analysis confirmed significant linkages between food security, resilience, and welfare, with stronger effects for producers (β = 0.009, p < 0.05; β = 0.856, p < 0.05). The study concluded that Enset-producing households experience stronger interconnections between food security, resilience, and welfare, with calorie intake and resilience playing critical roles in enhancing well-being. The recommendations emphasize promoting Enset cultivation and asset-building for producers while enhancing education for non-producers to foster resilience and food security.