DROUGHT, FOOD IN-SECURITY AND LIVELIHOOD STRATEGIES BY SMALLHOLDER FARMERS IN DIRE DAWA ADMINISTRATION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Drought is among the leading causes of vulnerability within resource poor households and affects humanity in a number of ways such as causing loss of life, crop failures, food shortages, malnutrition, health issues and mass migration in Sub-Saharan Africa. The study examined drought, food insecurity and livelihood strategies by smallholder farmers in Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia. The general objective of the study was to explore drought, food insecurity and livelihood strategies by smallholder farmers at Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia. Cross sectional survey research design, quantitative and qualitative approaches and purposive sampling technique was used. Primary data were collected from selected 314 HHs, whereas, secondary data were collected from published, unpublished and web sources. Both descriptive and econometric data analysis techniques were applied using SPSS software. The study revealed that 70.4% households were found to be food insecure and crop failure was reported to be the worst immediate impact by 79% of the respondents; moreover, 70.8% of them referred it to be the main cause of food shortages. The Standardized Precipitation Index result indicated that rainfall scarcity had occurred for nineteen years from the total of thirty years; furthermore, sixteen different livelihood strategies have been identified and work for food (98%), sold livestock (96%) and borrowing cash (83%) were ranked as effective livelihood strategies whereas rented land (27%) and withdraw children from school (27%)were identified as a least option. The multiple logistic regression model result for determinants revealed that, the choice of participated in off-farm activities was determined by age, farm size and access to credit service whereas the choice of soil and water conservation activities was determined by age and annual expense. In designing strategies and interventions aimed at enhancing the livelihood of farm households, it is therefore imperative that different income generating activities and moisture conservation technologies are taken in to consideration.