MAJOR FEATURES AND IMPACTS OF PRODUCTIVE SAFETY NET PROGRAM ON RURAL HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY: THE CASE OF DOBA DISTRICT, WEST HARARGHE ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Productive safety net program is one of the largest social protection programs in Africa. It receives substantial attention from the Ethiopian government and from the giant donors. The purpose of this Study was to analyze major features and impact of productive safety net programme on rural household food security in Doba district West Hararghe Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia. Towards this end, cross-sectional research design was used for this study. Multi-stage sampling technique used to draw 220 sample respondents from three randomly selected kebeles. Household survey, focus group discussions and key informant interviews are deployed to collect data. In addition, secondary data were gathered by reviewing relevant documents. Both quantitative and qualitative methods were used to analyze data. Simple descriptive statistical analysis such as mean, standard deviation, percentage, and propensity score matching model as well as inferential statistics such as chisquare test and t-test used to analyze the data. Results revealed that about 70.9% and 54.5% among participants and non-participants were food secure respectively. Comparative analysis indicated that PSNP has increased total annual income by 39% and calorie intake by 8.4% of the PSNP participant households compared to non-participating households. The result from the logistic estimator also revealed that participation in PSNP was significantly associated with variables such as cultivable land size, livestock holding, house roofing materials, distance from the extensions office and access to credit service. The study concludes that, participant households were more likely to be food secured as compared to the non-participant households. Therefore, such programs should consider the roles of those variables in the selection of participants for desired impact under similar settings. Finally, integrated family planning program, increase access to and size of loan for the purchase of agricultural input as well as for petty trade to diversify income of participant, targeting process, payment modality and apple management should be implemented according to program implementation manual were recommended for policy concern.