FOOD INSECURITY AND COPING STRATEGIES AMONG SMALL HOLDER FARMERS IN DARA OTILICHO WOREDA, SIDAMA REGIONAL

ABSTRACT This study investigates the prevalence of food insecurity and the coping mechanisms adopted by smallholder farmers in Dara Otilicho Woreda, Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. A survey of 275 households across four kebeles—Womerera, Babe, Shabe, and Loya—was conducted using structured questionnaires and supported by secondary data. Descriptive statistics revealed that 81.1% of households were food insecure, while 18.9% were food secure. The logistic regression model identified key determinants of food insecurity, including farm size, irrigation access, livestock ownership, and credit availability, which positively influenced food security. Conversely, a high dependency ratio had a negative effect. The research highlights that food insecurity in the woreda is driven by limited access to productive resources, unpredictable rainfall, and socioeconomic challenges. Households employed various coping strategies such as selling livestock, off-farm income activities, and relying on fast-maturing crops like sweet potatoes. Despite government interventions like the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) and NGO support, significant gaps in food security persist. The study recommends promoting off-farm income opportunities, improving agricultural productivity through irrigation and modern inputs, and enhancing access to credit and markets. These measures aim to bolster household resilience and address food insecurity in this vulnerable region.