Assessing the causes, potentials, adaptations and mitigation strategies of food insecure districts in north shewa zone, amhara region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Food security situation in Ethiopia is highly linked to severe, recurring food shortage and famine, which is associated with recurrent drought. Currently, there is a growing consensus that food insecurity and poverty problems are closely related in the Ethiopian context. Poverty and food insecurity are quite pervasive in the Amhara Region where more than 27% of the national population lives. For example, recurrent drought, limited sources of alternative income, population pressure, limitations of improved technologies, lack of product diversification and market integration, limited capacity in planning and implementation, environmental degradation and limited access to credit and other incentives were some of the frequently reported reasons for food insecurity in North Showa Zone in particular and Amhara Region in general. This necessitates Debre Berhan University to initiate and prepare research and development roadmap that clearly address the potentials, adaptations and mitigation strategies and interventions which are mandatory to reverse the negative impacts of food insecurity in North Showa Zone. To enhance the livelihoods of the target communities, designing and promoting appropriate interventions based on feasibility and acceptability is of great importance. Therefore, this study focused on assessing and documenting the major causes and potentials of food insecure districts of North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region. In addition, the study also considered adaptations and mitigation strategies commonly used by the local communities to increase their income generating activities (e.g. produce goods and services) and thereby withstand the negative impacts of food insecurity in North Shewa Zone, Amhara Region, Ethiopia. The resulting scientific information is crucial to effectively introduce, practice, and develop climate change resilient sustainable agricultural system that is geared towards enhancing environmental stability, food security, socio-economic development, and poverty reduction in the study sites and elsewhere in Ethiopia.