Agroecology and gender effects on rural households’ food insecurity and coping mechanisms in Borena District, Amhara Region, Ethiopia

Although national and international efforts had been made to reduce hunger, food insecurity continued to affect households in the Borena district. This study examined the food security status of rural households, its key determinants, and coping mechanisms. Using a multi-stage sampling technique, 189 households were selected across different agroecological zones. Primary and secondary data were then collected through household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, chi-square tests, and a binary logistic regression model. The study found that 62.6% of households were food insecure, with higher prevalence in tropical and alpine zones. Female-headed, older, illiterate, and large-sized households were more vulnerable, while farmland size, livestock ownership, off-farm income, irrigation use, food aid, and access to improved inputs reduced the risk of food insecurity. Households employed both short-term (erosive) coping strategies—such as reducing meals, borrowing, and consuming cheaper foods—and long-term (adaptive) strategies, including petty trade, cultivating short-season crops, receiving remittances, and seasonal migration. Food security challenges varied considerably across agroecological zones. The study underlined the need for targeted policies that empower female-headed households, promote irrigation and off-farm income diversification, enhance access to agricultural inputs, and strengthen social protection and livelihood support in drought-prone areas.