Food security status, perceived benefits and constraints among urban dairy- keeping households in Woldia town, north-eastern Ethiopia

Abstract Urban agriculture is promoted as a way to improve food security in fast-growing African towns, but evidence on what urban dairy farming delivers for household food security is limited. We assessed dairy practices, perceived contributions, food-security status and constraints among dairy-keeping households in Woldia town, north-eastern Ethiopia, using a concurrent mixed-methods design. A survey of 231 households in three kebeles was complemented by three focus group discussions, four key-informant interviews and six life-history narratives. Food security was classified with a 24-item multidimensional household index. Herds were small (mean 3.5 cows; none above seven); 81.8% of households kept improved crossbred cows, all sold milk, all purchased feed, and 57.6% farmed on land owned by the town administration. Ninety-five percent of households perceived that dairy contributed to their food security. However, only 5.6% were classified as food secure, 26.4% as mildly and 68.0% as moderately food insecure; none were severely food insecure. Food-security scores did not differ between users of improved and local cows (t(229) = 0.44, p = 0.66). Feed shortage, insecure land, limited market outlets and uneven institutional support were the main constraints, and 39% of households received no government support. Dairy farming is valued and embedded in household livelihoods, but as currently practiced it is associated with limited food security. Secure land, feed systems, market outlets and tailored services are priority entry points for strengthening its contribution.