Assessment of Food Security Status and its Coping Mechanism in Selected Districts of Gamo Gofa Zone, Southern Ethiopia

The study was conducted in selected Districts of Gamo Gofa Zone with the main objectives to identify the determinants of food security status and its coping mechanisms. Result was reported by percentage, frequency and average, Chi-square, t-test and binary logit model. Household calorie acquisition in food consumption was used to evaluate the status of household food security. The totals of 196 respondents were used. Among them, 39.8 % were food secure and 60.2% were not secure. The average Kcal consumed by food secure and insecure households was 2756.3 and 1506.2 respectively. There was a statistical significance average variation of kcal consumption per day per AE (p<1%). The binary logistic model result shows that five were found to be a significant effect on the household food security status out of 11 variables included in the model. These were: farm size, TLU, Market, Food aid, and Annual food expenditure were significantly affecting household food security status (p<10%, 5%, and 1%). Rural households have practiced different coping mechanisms at different stages of food deficit including: Sale of livestock, reduce the size and the number of meals, receive food aid, involve in off-farm activities, daily labor, borrow cash/ kind from others were the dominant coping mechanisms. According to this finding recommended that technologies that improves the productivity of farm and livestock should be given more attention. Some of the coping mechanisms practiced by farmers were more harmful than others. Practices: like rent out farm, livestock sale, and charcoal making have negative effect on subsequent period production and productivity of the farmers as well as negative environmental effect. Therefore, understanding the coping mechanisms performed by the household provides a clue for the determination and promotion of sustainable development strategies.