International Journal of Health Economics and Policy

2017; 2(3): 86-96

http://www.sciencepublishinggroup.com/j/hep
doi: 10.11648/j.hep.20170203.11

Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study

Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed
Department of Agricultural Economics, College of Agriculture and Veterinary Science, Ambo University, Ambo, Ethiopia

Email address:
[email protected], [email protected]

To cite this article:

Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed. Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study. International Journal of Health Economics and
Policy. Vol. 2, No. 3, 2017, pp. 86-96. doi: 10.11648/j.hep.20170203.11

Received: January 6, 2017; Accepted: January 20, 2017; Published: March 2, 2017

Abstract: Food security is a dynamic concept, which has continuously integrated new dimensions and levels of analysis
over the years; this reflects the wider recognition of its complexities in research and public policy issues. Food security is
achieved when all people, at all times, have physical and economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that meets
their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and healthy life. Food insecurity occurs at individuals, households or
nation level that has neither physical nor economical access to the nourishment they need. Food insecurity is an enduring,
critical challenge in Ethiopia which is Africa’s second populous country after Nigeria. The 2015 El Niño drought is one of the
strongest droughts that have been recorded in Ethiopian history were more than 27 million people became food insecure and
total population of 18.1 million people require food assistance in 2016. As indicated by Africa Food Security and Hunger
Multiple Indicator Scorecard, Ethiopia ranked first in having the highest number of people in state of undernourishment which
is 32.1 million people in 2014. World Food Program found long-term effects of chronic malnutrition cost Ethiopia
approximately 16.5 percent of its GDP in each year. The number of food insecure people in the country increasing from time to
time; which was estimated to 2.9 million in 2014 and 4.5 million in August, 2015 and by the end of the same year this figure
had more than doubled to 10.2 million food insecure people. Drought and land degradation, population pressure, instability and
armed conflict are major sources of food security problems in Ethiopia. To cope with these problems Ethiopian people use sale
of livestock, agricultural employment, and migration to other areas, requesting grain loans, sales of wood or charcoal, small
scale trading and limiting size and frequency of meal as major coping mechanisms.
Keywords: Food Security, Food Insecurity, Undernourishment, Drought, Shocks

Food insecurity is an enduring, critical challenge in

1. Introduction Ethiopia which is Africa’s second populous country after
1.1. Background Nigeria. Over 80 percent of Ethiopian population live in
rural areas and are heavily dependent on rain-fed
Ethiopia is one of the most food-insecure and famine agriculture; this makes them extremely vulnerable to
affected countries. A large portion of the country’s population changes in weather conditions [5]. The current El Niño
has been affected by chronic and transitory food insecurity drought conditions led to a sharp deterioration in food
[2]. The situation of chronically food insecure people is security; the estimated number of food insecure people was
becoming more and more severe. Food security situation in 4.5 million due to this vulnerable shock in August, 2015
Ethiopia is highly linked to recurring food shortage and [27], and by the end of the same year this figure had more
famine in the country, which are associated to recurrent than doubled. According to a Government-led multi agency
drought. According to [26] more than 41 percent of the assessment, 10.2 million Ethiopians are considered to be
Ethiopian population lives below the poverty line and above food insecure in 2015/16.
31 million people are undernourished. By using the threshold With 80 percent of its population dependent on rain-fed
of 2,550 kilocalories (Kcal) per adult equivalent per day, 40 agriculture, Ethiopia is particularly vulnerable to weather-
percent of Ethiopian households for whom their majority related shocks. Rain varies greatly by region and is
reside in rural parts of the country were food insecure and particularly unpredictable [54] Although the
undernourished [51]. Intergovernmental Panel on Climate Change (IPCC) predicts
87 Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed: Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study

only a modest change in Ethiopia's rainfall patterns in future 1.3. Methodology

[12] and [44] findings argue that this can still adversely affect
very poor small farmers – especially if such decreases are The design of this review study is involves a qualitative
concentrated in the growing season. and quantitative analysis of food security situation in
In the history of Ethiopian, drought-initiated production Ethiopia. The data collected, interpreted and evaluated here
failures occurred in the 1984/85, and 1989/90s. According comes from secondary data sources. Different authors and
to [45] the 1984/85 drought is the most serious one by researchers have written on the issue of food security /food
affecting over eight million people and causing the death of insecurity; many government and non-government agencies
one million Ethiopian’s. Three years of successive poor have produced reports on food security situation in Ethiopia.
rains in pastoral areas of the country was led to 100,000 All these sources have been used to assess the current food
deaths in 1999-2000; crisis years were also experienced in insecurity, major sources of food security problems and
different parts of the country in 2003, 2008, 2011 and 2013 coping mechanisms used by rural poor households in
[17]. Ethiopia.
In this direction, [10] reported that the 2015 El Niño
drought is one of the strongest droughts that have been 2. Discussions
recorded in Ethiopian history were more than27 million
people become food insecure and total population of 18.1 2.1. Definitions and Concepts of Food Security
million people require food assistance in 2016. Furthermore, Food security is a dynamic concept, which has
there is evidence that climate is already changing leading to continuously integrated new dimensions and levels of
serious drought. The drought pattern has been 10 years in analysis over the years. This continuing evolution of food
case for Ethiopia, but at present time the cycle period is security concept reflects the wider recognition of the
becoming shorter and shorter which leads to serious food complexities of concept in research and public policy,
security problems in every three years. because of this food security issue has long history starting
Households with insufficient access to food often face from time when global food crisis take place in the first half
other challenges related to food insecurity including poor of the 1970s [11].
health and a decline in productivity. These challenges can Food security is a concept that has evolved considerably
often create a vicious circle where households are unable to over time and its definitions developed and diversified by
produce enough food, even in good years, because they are different researchers, scholars and organizations. [33] There
battling chronic health issues and are unable to work to their are approximately 200 definitions and 450 indicators of food
full potential. The gravity of food insecurity, and its many security. Food security is such a complex notion that it is
rippling effects, has led much of the development agenda to virtually impossible to measure it directly, and a variety of
search for specific areas for intervention given limited proxy measures have been suggested. Consumption and
resources and growing populations in many developing expenditure, nutritional status, coping strategies are the most
countries [35]. frequently used measures of food security.
On 5 March 2015, the Government of Ethiopia released In the mid of 1970s and 1974sworld food conference was
the 2015 Humanitarian Requirement Document (HRD). The held to solve the problem of world food crises and major
document identifies humanitarian food and non-food famines around the world. Food security and insecurity are
requirements for vulnerable groups in the country following the terms used to describe whether or not households have
on the multi-sectoral ground assessment conducted at the end access to sufficient quality and quantity of food. With
of 2014 [49]. According to HRD an estimated 2.9 million progress in time and severity of the problem, food security
people require relief food assistance in 2015, an increase issues gained prominence and great attention at the global,
from 2.7 million for the same period in 2014. All of the national, household and individual levels. Such progressive
above data indicate that food security situation in Ethiopia work by scientists led to redefining the scope and depth of
has been a long-standing challenge to the government, food security concept. For instance, [19] explained the
donors, and other international organizations. concept stating that food security at global level does not
1.2. Objectives guarantee food security at the household or individual level.
Without much change in the basic concepts, different
The overall objective of this study is to assess food institutions and organizations define food security in different
security situation and its profile in Ethiopia. ways. According to [25] food security is a situation that
Especially the study will try to:- achieved at the individual, household, national, regional and
Review food security and its dimension in the general global levels when all people, at all times, have physical and
context; economic access to sufficient, safe and nutritious food that
Review the possible major sources of food insecurity in meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active
Ethiopia; and healthy life. On the other hand, in the resent studies, food
Review major coping strategy used by rural households security is defined as adequate availability of and access to
during food shortage. food for households to meet the minimum energy requirements
as recommended for an active and healthy life [34].
 International Journal of Health Economics and Policy 2017; 2(3): 86-96 88

Food insecurity is a situation which occurs at individuals, average value of food production should be analyzed.
households or nation level that has neither physical nor Food access: refers to the resources that households have
economical access to the nourishment they need. Household to obtain foods, either through own production or through
is said to be food insecure when its consumption falls to less purchase. So, individuals need to have assets or incomes to
than 80 percent of the daily minimum recommended produce, purchase in order to obtain foods needed to
allowance of caloric intake for an individual to be active and maintain their consumption. Hence, food access is largely
healthy. In particular, food insecurity includes low food related to household income and own production [4]. [39]
intake, variable access to food, and vulnerability- livelihood food access depend on; income available to the household,
strategy that generates adequate food in good times but is not the distribution of income within the household, the price of
resilient against shocks. These outcomes correspond broadly food in the market and other factors worth mentioning are
to chronic, cyclical or seasonal, and transitory food individual’s access to the market, social and institutional
insecurity, and all are endemic in Ethiopia [15]. rights.
Chronic food insecurity: is long-term or persistent in that it Food utilization: refers to the nutritional benefits derived
can be considered to be an almost continuous state of affairs. from food consumption which is related to proper food
It is a continuously inadequate diet caused by the inability to processing, storage techniques, adequate knowledge of
acquire food. It affects households that persistently lack the nutrition; and adequate health and sanitation services exist.
ability either to buy enough food or to produce food by their Hence food utilization is largely related to nutrition, health
own food production system [24], [32]. and sanitation [4]. The same to this [36] define food
Seasonal or cyclical food insecurity may be evident when utilization as ‘proper biological use of food, requiring a diet
there is a recurring pattern of inadequate access to food such that contains sufficient energy and essential nutrients as well
as prior to the harvest period (the „hungry season‟) when as knowledge of food storage, processing, basic nutrition,
household and national food supplies are scarce or the prices child care, and illness management’.
higher than during the initial post-harvest period [16], [32]. It Food stability: refers to the stability of all other
is generally considered to be more easily predicted than dimensions of food security over time. Even if your food
temporary food insecurity as it is a known and regular intake is adequate today, you are still considered to be food
occurrence. insecure if you have inadequate access to food on a periodic
Transitory food insecurity: on the other hand, is usually basis, risking a deterioration of their nutritional status.
sudden in onset, short-term or temporary and refers to short Adverse weather conditions, political instability, or economic
periods of extreme scarcity of food availability and access factors (unemployment, rising food prices) may have an
[7], [32]. Such situations can be brought about by climatic impact on your food security status [25]. Therefore, food
shocks, natural disasters, economic crises or conflict. security to be insured at global, regional, national, household,
Experiences of transitory food insecurity may arise through and individual level food stability should be maintained.
smaller shocks at the household level, for example, loss of
income and crop failure while not the normal state of affairs 2.2. Food Security in Ethiopia
shocks can be severe and unpredictable [32]. Ethiopia is the second most populous country in Africa
According to1996 World Food Summit Food security with an estimated population of 94.3 million people in 2013
exists “when all people, at all times, have physical and [13]. As indicated by Africa Food Security and Hunger/
economic access to sufficient safe and nutritious food that Undernourishment Multiple Indicator Scorecard, Ethiopia
meets their dietary needs and food preferences for an active ranked as first in having the highest number of people in state
and healthy life”. Based on this definition [25] developed of undernourishment/ hunger which is 32.1 million people.
four main dimensions of food security which are food This makes it, the fourth African country scoring (37.1%) of
availability, food accessibility, food utilization and stability. the population being undernourished/ in hunger [2]. The
Examining the dimensions of food security provides a more livelihoods of rural Ethiopian people are highly sensitive to
comprehensive picture, and can also help in targeting and climate. Food insecurity patterns are seasonal and linked to
prioritizing food security and nutrition policies and rainfall patterns, with hunger trends declining significantly
programmes. after the rainy seasons. Climate related shocks affect
Food availability: refers to the presence of food at global, productivity, hamper economic progress and exacerbate
national, household and individual level, example when existing social and economic problems [4].
“sufficient quantities of appropriate, necessary types of food Food insecurity situation in Ethiopia is highly linked up to
from domestic production, commercial imports, commercial severe, recurring food shortage and famine, which are
aid programs, or food stocks are consistently available to associated to recurrent drought. Currently there is a growing
individuals or nations.” Hence, food availability is largely a consensus that food insecurity and poverty problems are
function of macroeconomic factors [4]. The food availability closely related in the Ethiopian context. Droughts and other
indicators capture not only the quantity but also the quality related disasters (such as crop failure, water shortage, and
and diversity of food. For assessing food availability, livestock disease, land degradation, limited household assets,
adequacy of dietary energy supply, share of calories derived low income) are significant triggers, more important factors
from cereals, roots and tubers, average protein supply, and which increase vulnerability to food security and undermined
89 Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed: Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study

livelihoods [41]. conflicts and wars all these factors impede the achievement
Ethiopia has been a net importer of food for more than of food security and sustainable economic development.
three decades. In the decade between 1985 and 1994, net As cited in [21] their review in Ethiopian food security
domestic production of cereals that on average account for situation assessment found that survey results of Goal
about 85 per cent of household food consumption ranged Ethiopia and concern worldwide in two woredas of the
between 82.7 and 93.8 per cent of total supply. Even though, Gambella regional state of Ethiopia’s (Jikawo and
different factors are contributing to vulnerability of the Lare)indicated that the global acute malnutrition was 19.2
country which includes rapid population growth with low per percent and 18.2 percent respectively. In the same way,
capita income, rain-fed agriculture, under-development of deterioration of food security situation in Oromiya regional
water resources, land degradation, low economic state is prevailed in Arsi zone. The affected woredas are Jeju,
development, and weak institutions. Drought, human and Diksis, Sude, Robe, Bilbilo, Sire and Guna. Poor
livestock diseases as well as resource-based conflicts are performance of the belg seasonal rains led to shortage of
aggravating factors for the food insecurity situation in pasture and water and poor development of planted crops.
Ethiopia [29]. The estimates reveal results: over 41 per cent of Ethiopian
[48] About 10 percent of Ethiopia’s citizens are chronically population is considered to be undernourished [26]. In
food insecure and this figure rises to more than 15 percent addition, an estimated 7.6 million (or 11 per cent of the rural
during the frequent drought years. World Food Program population) are currently considered chronically food
found long-term effects of chronic malnutrition cost Ethiopia insecure, meaning each year they are relying on resource
approximately 16.5 percent of its GDP each year. 2.7 million transfers to meet their minimal food requirements. Over the
People will require emergency food assistance in 2014 and past four years between 2.2 and 6.4 million additional people
238,761 children require treatment for severe acute were food-insecure or not able to meet their food needs in the
malnutrition in 2014. Estimated number of food insecure short term due to transitional factors. They are temporarily
people was 4.5 million August, 2015 and by the end of the dependent on relief food assistance [27].
same year this figure had more than doubled to 10.2 million Both the number of undernourished people and the
Ethiopians. prevalence of undernourishment have declined steadily since
[6] found that factors contributing to the current of food 1990 ([23]; Figure 1). Even though, significant progress in
insecurity includes production fluctuations, low non-farm reducing undernourishment was shown in the period 1990-
employment, low income, regional fragmentation of the 2005, Ethiopia is faced one of the strongest drought shocks
markets, high rate of natural degradation, low level of farm for many years like that of 2015 where 27 millions Ethiopian
technology, high level of illiteracy and inadequate quality of became food insecure and 18.1 millions dependent on relief
basic education, poor health and sanitation, high population food assistance [10].
growth, poor governance and inter-state, intra-state military

Adopted from: FAO/WFP, (2012).

Figure 1. Trends of undernourishment in Ethiopia in period 1990/2005.

strong geographical dimensions which indicate that variation

2.2.1. Vulnerability to Food Security Problems by Regions between different regions of the country. One of the strongest
In Ethiopia vulnerability to poverty and food insecurity has predictors of food security problems and poverty in rural
 International Journal of Health Economics and Policy 2017; 2(3): 86-96 90

Ethiopia is distance from market towns [4]. Nation Nationality People Regional (mainly rural at 37%),
According to [56] Poverty Assessment; poverty rates Gambela (mainly rural at 35%), and Amhara (mainly rural at
increased by 7% with every additional 10km distance from a 26%). Though food shortages are a subjective concept, it
market town of at least 50,000 people. This indicate that rural aligns to some degree with other more quantitative measures
households living far from towns are less likely to access of food access, consumption and poverty level of households.
fertilizer and other inputs, are less likely to benefit from There are meaningful differences between regions of the
gains in agricultural growth and more likely to be food country.
insecure. In similar way, pastoralist regions like Somali, Afar Ethiopia can be classified in to five categories according to
and part of Oromiya region (Borana, Arsi and Bale zone) are Ethiopian Development Research Institute (EDRI) based on
more vulnerable than other parts of the country based on the their agricultural productivity and agricultural conditions
definition of World Bank, due to their poor infrastructure, those are: moisture-reliable lowlands, enset lowlands,
lack of market accessibility and livestock based livelihood. drought-prone highlands, moisture-reliable highlands, and
According to [9] [56] report in all nine regions of Ethiopia, pastoral areas. Among these, drought-prone highlands, enset
rural households were more likely to report food shortages, lowlands, and pastoral areas are currently targeted by PSNP
but the highest prevalence of perceived food shortages was due to Poverty, drought and other shocks vulnerability, and
found in Somali (25% of urban, 31% of rural), Southern food security problems as outlined in below table.
Table 1. Classifications of Ethiopia by agricultural productivity.

Area classification Absolute poor food gap Experience shock Food poverty Households in PSNP
Moisture reliable lowlands 0.45 0.31 0.87 0.32 0.10
Enset lowlands 0.29 0.36 0.75 0.14 0.59
Drought-prone highlands 0.28 0.25 0.46 0.15 0.69
Moisture-reliable highlands 0.32 0.13 0.63 0.12 0.24
Pastoral areas 0.31 0.21 0.31 0.21 0.22

Taken from:Hill and Porter,. 2014; Anderson et al,. 2015.

From the above table, the Enset lowlands, Drought-prone population growth rate which implies a doubling of the
highlands, Pastoral areas represent the most vulnerable and population in less than 30 years [4]. According to WFP one
food insecure areas of the country, due to their vulnerability of the PSNP funding agents, Ethiopian Productive safety net
government of Ethiopia design food security programs like programme operates in Afar, Amhara, Dire Dawa, Harari,
PSNP to provide food or cash transfer to chronically food Oromiya, SNNP, Somali and Tigray Regions. WFP and eight
insecure households in that areas. The highest households in other development partners contribute to PSNP. The Ministry
PSNP indicate the more likely that area is vulnerable to of Agriculture’s Disaster Risk Management and Food
drought, crop failure, livestock disease and other shocks that Security Sector, along with regional governments, is
erode the productive assets of households and left them to be responsible for programme coordination, management and
food insecure. implementation.
Launched in 2005, the program has grown from 4.5
2.2.2. Food Security Policy Context million to around 7.6 million beneficiaries in 2012, or eight
The government of Ethiopia made significant changes to percent of Ethiopia's population; there were plans to reach
its existing food security program, scaling up its level of 8.3 million people by 2015 [55]. However, planning PSNP to
intervention toward food security problems. In 2003, the reach 8.3 million Ethiopian, the program succeeds to reach
government launched a large scale consultation process 7.9 million by 2015/16 according to Humanitarian
called the New Coalition for Food Security (NCFS) by Requirements report in Ethiopia. This indicates that the
incorporating with a large Productive Safety Net Program Ethiopian government and international NGOs are still facing
(PSNP) [41]. PSNP is a component of the Ethiopian great challenges in reducing food security and related
government Food Security Programme (FSP), and is essential problems in the country.
feature of the food security investment strategy for The PSNP targeted towards chronically food insecure
chronically food insecure Woredas, launched in 2005. The households/districts, having accurately identified households
goal of the PSNP is food security status for chronically food that engage in activities which generate low returns and are
insecure household’s members through: direct grants to mainly pursued by poor people. [8] PSNP participants have
labor-poor, elderly or incapacitated individuals, and been poorer in both incomes and assets, and cultivated less
payments to able-bodied members for participation in labor- land than non-beneficiary households the same is true for
intensive Public Works activities [43]. districts that are not covered by PSNP and other Ethiopian
The government was invested in many pro-poor strategies food security programs. According to World Bank one of the
including the PSNP which was committed to reduce food funding agents of PSNP a given households to included in
insecurity. However, while maintaining internal stability, the program should be chronically food insecure household
drought and other related disasters sustainable food security as "having faced continuous food shortages (usually three
in the long term will be more challenging with a 2.5 percent months of food gap or more) in the last three years.
91 Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed: Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study

Source: USAID., (2015).

Figure 2. PSNP Links to Greater Resilience and Food Security.

This diagram illustrate vulnerability context of PSNP

households which characterized by chronic poverty as well as 2.3. The Causes of Food Insecurity in Ethiopia
exposure to shocks and stresses, and how PSNP interventions Ethiopia has been severing with drought and food
improve food availability, access, and utilization which are insecurity problems for decades. There is no problem of
pillars of food security situation at individual, households, underdevelopment that can be more serious than food
national, regional and global level. insecurity that has an important implication for long term
 International Journal of Health Economics and Policy 2017; 2(3): 86-96 92

economic growth of low income countries. Ethiopia has been productive assets of communities and households [38].
plagued with food insecurity for decades. The problem is The [30] finding indicated that Ethiopian populations have
worsening, despite massive resources invested each year into experienced long periods of food insecurity which directly
humanitarian aid and food security programs. Food insecurity related to several factors which include recurring droughts
in the long run may cause irreparable damage to livelihoods and also farm lands degradation, soil erosion, inappropriate
of the poor, by reducing self-sufficiency [22]. storage agricultural facility, less purchasing power of
The causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia are many and households, small and fragmented land size, lack of off-farm
interlinked each other but vary from one region to another. income opportunity. These factors have limited the
Study by [46] in rural part of the country found that major household’s ability to have physical and economic access to
causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia as general includes sufficient, safe and nutritious food that is necessary to meet
natural disasters such as drought and climate change, their dietary needs and food preferences for an active and
population growth, land fragmentation and land degradation, productive life.
lack of secured land tenure, lack of infrastructure, absence of Food insecurity in Ethiopia is persistently caused by a
functional multi party political system, and armed conflict combination of factors that include recurrent drought which
with neighboring countries specially Eritrea and Somalia. has increased in frequency of every 3 to 5 years; the flooding
For decades both chronic and transitory problems of food that has become more frequent in flood prone areas along the
insecurity are severe in Ethiopia. Chronic food insecurity main river basins. Small land holdings with an average of 0.5
exists due to the high ratio of urban unemployment and to 2 hectares per household associated with population
limitation of rural landholdings. More than one third of the growth has resulted in land degradation as one of the most
households have less than 0.5 hectares, which under rain-fed critical problems especially in the north eastern, south central
agriculture, is adequate for subsistence production of food and eastern highlands [52]. According to [18] chronic food
crops. Lack of draft animals like oxen intensifies the insecurity situation in Ethiopia is frequently aggravated by
vulnerability associated with excessively smallholdings [28]. (unexpected) shocks such as drought. During the normal
El Niño was expected to last at least until April/May 2016, years, on average, over 5 million people have been affected
exacerbating the food insecurity caused by the upcoming lean by drought related factors. On the other hand the transitory
season. Over 15 million people are expected to be in need of food insecurity is aggravated by a sharp reduction in
humanitarian assistance in 2016. Poor households in affected domestic or imported supply of food because of crop failure,
areas in southern Afar and Sitti (former Shinile) zone in civil war and interruptions in food trade.
Somali region, in East and West Hararghe zones in Oromiya, The food insecure situation in Ethiopia include: the urban
and in Wag Hemra and North Wollo in Amhara region, are unemployed, people in areas of conflict, destitute peasants,
expected to remain in Emergency [49]. There is no doughty pastoralists who depend on markets for cereal supply and the
that drought is the main driving forces in food insecurity refugees from neighboring countries, mainly from Somalia
problems in Ethiopia, many more other disaster that and South Sudan. A number of studies have confirmed that
contribute to food deterioration related to currently weather there is severe food insecurity in Ethiopia covering a wide
and climate changes. range of areas and affecting a large number of people [28].
The [21] were reviewed different studies that have been Food security situation in Ethiopia deteriorated by intra-and-
done on deteriorating situation of food insecurity in Ethiopia. inter-state military conflict and war, different studies
These are population pressure, drought, shortage of farmland, indicated that Ethio-Eritrea war and recurrent drought eroded
soil erosion, lack of oxen, deterioration of food production the country resources which become the main causes of food
capacity, outbreak of plant and animal disease, poor soil security problems during 1999-2000, pastoralist community
fertility, frost attack, chronic shortage of cash income, poor in the country come into the conflict due to the control over
farming technologies, weak extension services, high labor the pasture and water resources.
wastage and poor social and infrastructural facility and pre Ethiopia has relative political stability in Horn of Africa,
and post-harvest crop loss. To scope the problem, the however several areas are insecure. UNICEF, 2016 reports
households respond to the problems caused by seasonal and suggest that from clashes between government forces and the
disaster related food insecurity through sale of livestock, Ogaden National Liberation Front which was persisted since
agricultural employment, and migration to other areas, 1994 in Somali region up to mid-December 2016, the resent
requesting grain loans, sales of wood or charcoal, small scale violent protests broke out in the Oromiya region, against the
trading and limiting size and frequency of meal. urban planning strategy of the government to expand the
A number of factors can explain the trend towards the Addis Ababa city’s urban territory many millions of
increasing food insecurity situation in Ethiopia. The Ethiopian citizens faced difficult to get food from market and
interaction between environmental degradation, high through their own production. This indicates that conflict and
population growth, diminishing land holdings and lack of on- civil unrest is the major sources of food insecurity problems
farm technological innovations led to a significant decline in and lead to serious disaster in Ethiopia, by disturbing the
the productivity per households and cause food security country ongoing economic growth and development
problems. These trends have combined with the repeated progress.
effects of drought over years, to substantially erode the In recent studies by [31] found that Ethiopia has
93 Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed: Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study

experienced an unprecedented inflation of food prices, Combinations of natural and man-made have resulted in this
particularly concerning cereal prices, which have been serious and growing food insecurity problem in many parts
among the highest in Sub-Saharan Africa. Rising food prices of the country.
hit especially poor people rural part of the country, because Food insecurity is a critical challenge for rural households
they have to spend a higher share of their income on food in Ethiopia, different studies on different parts of the country
items. Rising food prices therefore decreases their real indicate that the main sources of food insecurity in the
income substantially, often with negative consequences for country are drought and weather related shocks and disasters.
their food and nutritional status. [1] the most common causes of food insecurity problem in
In the past history of Ethiopia, food price inflation was Sub-Saharan African countries which Ethiopia is the first and
associated with high variations in agricultural outputs mainly other third world countries were; drought and other extreme
caused by recurring droughts. However, the empirical study weather events, pests, livestock diseases and other
of [37] reveals contrary findings, by stating that: “growth of agricultural problems, climate change, military conflicts, lack
food prices in Ethiopia is determined by external sector. In of emergency plans, corruption, and political instability, cash
other words, the exchange rate and international prices crops dependence, aid and rapid population growth. These
explain a large fraction of Ethiopia’s inflation”. While the factors deplete the productive assets of rural households and
debate on the causes for the hike of food prices in Ethiopia is cause adverse effects on household’s food security status and
still ongoing, [56] report indicate that food price has all are endemic in Ethiopia.
significant impact on food consumption status of Ethiopian Studies and discussions about causes of Ethiopian food
population. insecurity problem is very complex concept to be addressed;
[40] cited in [21] argue that immediate causes of food this is why different scholars and researchers given those
insecurity in Ethiopia include frequently recurring droughts multiple factors such as Environmental degradation, rapid
and erratic rainfall patterns, ecosystems degradation, rapid population pressure, and conflict are deteriorating food
population growth, the low levels of technology employed in security situation in the country. However, different
agriculture and the resulting low productivity of the sector, researchers agreed on drought remain one of the key drivers
poor rural infrastructure and legacies of the past policy of food insecurity in Ethiopia. Since 1950, the country
constraints are also considered as basic causes of food experienced more than twelve drought-induced food security
insecurity and widespread poverty in the country. crises [50].
Table 2. Chronology of drought-related food security crises in Ethiopia.

Year of event Major relative incidences

1953 Food security crisis in Wollo and Tigray. Raya Azebo is the most vulnerable from Tigray.
Food security crisis in Tigray, Wollo, and south-central Shewa. About 1 million farmers in Tigray might have been affected, with about
1957-58
100,000 being displaced.
1962-66 Many parts of the northeastern Ethiopia suffered from droughts and Food security crisis. Tigray and Wollo were severely hit.
This was one of the most significant food security crises which affected parts of eastern Harare, SNNPR and the Bale lowlands. About
1973-74
100,000 to 200,000 people died as a result of this extensive crisis.
Most parts of the Wollo were severely hit by food security crisis owing to erratic rainfall, pest damage, and frost actions. About 500,000
1977-78
farmers were affected.
This was the most serious one by affecting over eight million people and causing the death of one million Ethiopian’s. Most parts of
1984-85 Ethiopia including relatively food secure areas like Wolayta, Kambata and Hadiya were affected by severe food insecurity. Drought and
crop diseases were the main drivers of the food security crisis in this case.
1987-88 Tigray, Wollo and Gonder were severely affected due to drought and civil wars.
1990-92 Rain failure and regional conflicts resulted in approximately 4,000,000 people being affected.
Widespread food insecurity, but few deaths or cases of displacement were reported because of early responses by the government and
1993-94
international aid organizations.
1999-2000 Three years of successive poor rains in Somali region was led to 100,000 deaths of citizens.
2003-04 Over 13 million people affected, but the response mitigated the worst potential outcomes.
2008-09 Almost 3 million people were affected in which majority from pastoral areas of the country.
Severe food security crisis occurred in the south-eastern lowlands. In pastoralist area of Afar, Somali and Borana (Oromiya) the quality
2011-13
and quantity of livestock was decreased.
Consecutive failure of two rainy seasons has had profound impact on the lives and livelihoods of millions. Due to El Niño drought more
than 27 million people become food insecure and total population of 18.1 million people required food assistance in 2016 and totally over
2015-16
40 percent of Ethiopian population have been affected. This was the strongest drought that has been faced in Ethiopian history. But
numbers of deaths due this shock were not reported.

Taken from: [Catleyet al., (2016), DFID (2014), Webb et al., (1992)]

From the above table we can conclude that in every two or The 1984/85 was serious drought as reported by different
three years Ethiopia faces one drought year that leads to huge agencies like [45]. However, that of 2015/16 is the strongest
food crises and loss of millions of livestock numbers but also drought in the history of the country this indicates vulnerability
human death in different drought-prone parts of the country. to drought in Ethiopia increasing from time to time.
 International Journal of Health Economics and Policy 2017; 2(3): 86-96 94

2.4. Household’s Coping Strategies Practiced in Ethiopia consumption of wild plants, reliance on relief assistance,
relying on remittances from relatives, selling of clothes, and
Coping strategy is defined by different scholars in different dismantling of parts of their houses for sale [14]. Some of the
contexts. The most common recently used is the definition of coping strategies are likely to be implemented only after the
coping strategy as a mechanism by which household or possibilities of certain other options have been pursued.
community members used to meet their relief and recovery In Ethiopia vulnerability of food insecurity and other
needs and adjust to future disaster related risks and shocks by disasters has strong geographical dimensions which indicate
themselves without depending on any external support [46]. that variation between different parts of the country.
Household’s coping strategy determined by level of However, different researches in different regional
household food security situation, when individual or administrations of the country show that food insecure
households faced extreme hunger and starvation for long households in Ethiopia use almost the same food insecurity
period of time it may lead to adopting negative coping and other disasters coping mechanisms irrespective to their
strategies of food insecurity like minimizing food frequency geographical variation and livelihood strategies.
and going without food for two up to three days as indicated
by many research findings in Ethiopia.
Pastoral and Agro-pastoral areas of the country are more 3. Conclusions and Recommendations
vulnerable to drought, weather related shocks, livestock and Ethiopia is facing a massive drought and food insecurity
human diseases than other parts of the country because of crisis over the years. Drought, recurring food shortage and
this; they move from one place to others specially in dry famine are great challenges faced by Ethiopian people.
seasons in order o find water and pasture for their Different studies on current food security situation in the
livestock’s which leads them same times to come into country show that there is a growing consensus that food
conflict with other border flood community. [3] made a insecurity, famine and poverty problems are closely related in
research on agro-pastoralists in Babile district of Somali the Ethiopian context in which drought and weather related
regional state and he found that agro-pastoral community in shocks are the main driving forces.
that area use alternative coping mechanisms such as: A large portion of the country’s population has been
moving from one place to other in dry season, sale of more affected by chronic and transitory food insecurity. More than
livestock than usual, borrowing of food, reduce number of 41 percent of the Ethiopian population lives below the
meal, reduce size of meal, sale firewood and charcoal, poverty line and above 31 million people are undernourished.
seasonal migration, seeking alternative or additional job, The situation of chronically food insecure people is
rely on less preferred and less expensive food, seeking becoming more and more severe. Similarly, the number of
relief assistance, becoming temporary trade, household food insecure people in the country recently increasing;
splitting, consume wild food, remittance, participating in which was estimated to 2.9 million in 2014 and 4.5 million in
cash basis project works. August, 2015 and more than doubled to 10.2 million at the
[47] research findings in Gera Keya Woreda of Amhara end of the same year. Consequently, 27 million Ethiopian
regional state(Giragn and KimirDinagykebeles) argues became food insecure as a result of 2015 El Niño drought
that majority of the farm households in this area have and 18.1 million dependent on relief food assistance in 2016
responded the reduction in the number of meals per day as out of this 7.9 million supported by Ethiopian government
their major coping mechanism at times of moderate level Productive safety net program (SNP).
of food shortage 82 percent and 90.1 percent respectively. A number of factors can explain the trend towards the
This study indicated that coping strategies practiced at the increasing food insecurity situation in Ethiopia. The
moderate stage of food shortage in general includes, sale interaction between environmental degradation, high
of small ruminants and buy grain, sale fire wood and buy population growth, diminishing land holdings, outbreak of
grain, engage in wage labor, cultivate and sale of plant and livestock disease, chronic shortage of cash income,
vegetable crops, sale wool and carpets and buy grain, poor social and infrastructural facility, instability and armed
engage in petty trading, sale oxen/cows and buy grain, conflicts, pre and post-harvest crop loss and lack of on-farm
reduce the number and type of meals, go hungry for up to technological innovations led to a significant decline in the
two days, sale property, eat crops reserved for seed, productivity per households and cause food insecurity and
borrow same money or grain from acquaintances(relatives, starvation. These trends have combined with the repeated
neighbors), move to other place to search of temporary effects of drought over years, to substantially erode the
employment, migrate to other area permanently were productive assets of rural households. To cope with these
practiced at the severe stage. disasters households response to the problems through sale of
Coping mechanisms used by rural farm households in livestock, agricultural employment, and migration to other
Ethiopia includes livestock sales, agricultural employment, areas, requesting grain loans, sales of wood or charcoal,
certain types of off-farm employment and migration to other small scale trading and limiting size and frequency of meal.
areas, requesting grain loans, sale of wood or charcoal, small Almost, in all nine regional administrations of Ethiopia rural
scale trading, selling cow dung and crop residues, reduction of households use the same coping strategies to cope with food
food consumption, consumption of meat from their livestock, insecurity and harsh life.
95 Abduselam Abdulahi Mohamed: Food Security Situation in Ethiopia: A Review Study

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