A THESIS SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF RURAL DEVELOPMENT AND AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION, COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURAL SCIENCES, SCHOOL OF GRADUATE STUDIES, ARBA MINCH UNIVERSITY

Abstract

The ultimate aim of this study attempted to address the determinants of rural household food security in Wolaita Zone, the case of Damot Pulassa Woreda, South Nation Nationality People Regional State of Ethiopia. For this study the total of 214 households were selected from five rural Kebeles by using systematic random sampling technique. Primary and secondary data sources were used for this study. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and econometric regression models and post diagnostic checks used in order to check the model fits sufficiently well and check influential impact on the estimate of the coefficient. Ordered logistic regression model was applied to identify determinants of rural household food security. The model result shows out of 10 independent variables, about 5 variables were statistically significant confluence on household food security. The regression analysis output reveals that occurrence of insect or pest was negatively correlated and statistically significant at 1% level respectively to food security. The other independent variable were income of house hold and land size of household head positively correlated and statistically significant at 1% level and loan of household and market distance of house hold were at 5% level respectively. Households were four levels of food insecurity (access) scale. The study result indicated that food secure17%, mild food insecurity 33.6%, moderately food insecurity 23.8% and severely food insecure 25.7%. The copping mechanism by which household or community members meets their relief and adjusts to future used different strategies. The study result revealed that four copping strategy were higher frequency value, three copping strategy were medium frequency value and three, copping strategy were lower frequency value in the study area.