Household seed insecurity and coping strategies in war affected areas of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia

Abstract Seed insecurity remains one of the most pressing challenges facing smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa, particularly in conflict-affected regions such as Ethiopia. This study investigates the extent of seed insecurity and the coping strategies employed by smallholder farmers in war-affected areas of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. Data were collected from three districts of Tigray using mixed-method approaches, including focus group discussions, observation, and household surveys ( n = 548). Farmers’ seed (in)security was assessed by adapting and modifying the FAO’s seed security framework. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and Poisson regression models. The mean household seed insecurity experience score was 9.41 out of 17, indicating higher insecurity compared to benchmark values reported in FAO-based seed security assessments. These were mainly associated with conflict-related disruptions and related social instability, such as disturbances in the farmers’ seed network, unavailability and high cost of seeds, economic instability and limited market access. Key determinants of seed (in)security included education level, crop diversity, wealth status, and distance to markets. Farmers adopted both adaptive and negative coping mechanisms to fulfill their seed and other planting material requirements, mainly through enhancing seed networks, selling assets, asking for credit, and reducing food consumption. The study underscores the importance of context-specific intervention strategies that could best fit with seed systems in the war-affected areas, directly responding to the factors associated with seed insecurity. These findings offer strategic insights for enhancing farmer seed security and coping strategies in war-affected areas.