DETERMINANTS OF HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY STATUS: THE CASE OF GORCHE WOREDA, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

In most of the developing countries, lack of resources and little market accessibility are among the major factors that affect small farming household food security. This study aims to investigate rural households’ food security status and identifying the determinants of rural household food security status in Gorche woreda of Sidama zone, Southern Ethiopia. For this study, a total of 136 households were selected from four rural kebelles by using systematic random sampling technique. Primary and secondary data sources were used to undertake this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric regression models. Food security status is calculated using dietary intake method. The survey result shows that about 62(45.59%) of sample respondents were food insecure, while 74(54.41%) were food secure. Further, the results of logistic regression show that age of the household head significantly and negatively influencing the food security status of rural households. Furthermore, farm land size, distance from the main road, membership in cooperative and off-farm engagement do significantly and positively affect the rural household food security status of the study area. The results suggest that local food security can be enhanced by creating off-farm employment opportunities, improved road infrastructure; giving priority to old aged, strengthen the existing farmer cooperatives and proper utilization of farm land.