Analysis of Food Security Situation in Ethiopia

Introduction

Food protection is a 'flexible term,' as expressed in a variety of studies and policy-making attempts. The continued development of food security as an organizational term in public policy has represented a broader understanding of the scope of the technological and policy concerns involved.

In general, Africa is making slow strides in meeting regional hunger goals. The country has been plagued by war and natural disasters and one in four people are undernourished in sub-Saharan Africa. Africa remains the region with the largest incidence of undernourishment, with around one in four citizens undernourished out of an estimated one billion. While sub-Saharan Africa has the highest prevalence of undernourishment, there has been some improvement over the last two decades.

The key focus of the research was on the evaluation of the food security situation in Ethiopia, with the basic goal of examining the causes of food insecurity, food safety determinants, food security situation in Ethiopia, and dealing with strategies practiced in Ethiopia. However, its total population is over 90 million; agriculture is the pillar of its economic development. Poverty is still a huge challenge to be solved in Ethiopia. Consequently, persistent, and acute food malnutrition is prevalent. The declining food security situation in Ethiopia is triggered by population pressure, drought, shortage of agriculture, lack of oxen, depletion of food production capacity, outbreaks of plant and animal diseases, low soil productivity, frost attacks, lack of cash income, poor agricultural technology, weak extension systems, high labor loss, poor social and infrastructure facilities and pre-and pre-establishment services. Sales of timber or charcoal, small-scale commerce, income distribution schemes, food size and frequency limits, livestock sales, agricultural jobs, and relocation have been the main coping mechanisms. Based on the document examined, to resolve food security concerns in Ethiopia, household administrators and household members should participate in a range of income-generating practices for livelihoods and coping mechanisms; the Government of Ethiopia should provide various research outcomes to improve initiatives to address food insecurity.

Background

Food insecurity is described by the UN FAO as a 'situation in which people lack adequate access to appropriate amounts of safe and nutritious food for normal growth and development and for a productive and balanced existence. Food insecurity may be caused by a variety of causes, including a lack of supply of food, cheap food, and inconsistent distribution of food among household members. Food deficiency is one of the primary causes of low diet.

Food insecurity is calculated by FAO using the global comparison rate of its Food Insecurity Perception Scale (FIES). Food insecurity can be based on a lack of quality or quantity of food. Moderate food deficiency is usually synonymous with the failure to consume balanced, nutritious foods daily. The high prevalence of moderate food insecurity is therefore a significant predictor of low dietary quality and of the production of health outcomes such as micronutrient deficiencies. Extreme food insecurity is most closely connected to a lack of food (energy) and is thus directly related to under-nutrition or hunger.

The prevalence of childhood stunting – a primary predictor of persistent malnutrition – is closely linked to family income and prosperity. Usually, the prevalence of stunting among the poorest families in each country is greater than those with higher wages. This difference between rich and poor families ranges in magnitude; nations with the highest rate of stunting appear to have the biggest disparity in income levels.

Ethiopia's economy relies on agriculture, accounting for 40% of GDP, 80% of exports, and an estimated 75% of the country's population. However, only 5% of the land is irrigated and small-scale crop yields are below the regional average. Market ties are poor, and the use of improved crops, fertilizers, and pesticides remains restricted. Despite these difficulties, agricultural-led economic development linked to better livelihoods and nutrition will become a long-lasting solution to Ethiopia's persistent poverty and food insecurity. (https://www.newsecuritybeat.org)

The relationship between population growth and food security is not limited to growing food production. Population growth may also affect production and access to food. In several nations, population expansion has been associated with soil loss and resettlement projects in fragile habitats that have a direct effect on food production. In particular, land degradation leads to inefficient and disruptive agricultural activities and increased cultivation of marginal land, which also reduces food production. Due to population development and land allocation policies, the average farm size in Ethiopia dropped from 1.2 hectares to 0.8 hectares in the 1990s. 

Structures of age are also significant. Almost half of the population in Ethiopia are 'dependent' – under the age of 14 or over the age of 65. This high dependency ratio decreases productivity in agriculture and other industries because there is a smaller share of the population in the workforce. In Ethiopia, population growth and migration are rising pressure on overcrowded land, causing food shortages.

Technologies That Can Reduce Hunger and Improve Food Security

Ethiopia should use technologies to reduce malnutrition and enhance food security. Exploring issues ranging from seed rotation to effective water conservation, Digital Green seeks to improve farmer extension services by integrating the strength of digital technologies with the reputation of local community leaders who can accelerate the speed of implementation of these innovative tools and principles.

It is a new spin on existing initiatives such as the WFP Buy 4 Progress Initiative, which helps smallholder farmers increase their crop quality and raise agricultural productivity through improved financial preparation, resources, and assistance. WFP then imports these excess crops to feed projects in neighboring areas, thereby creating a steady supply, and combating local poverty at the same time.

Cause of food security technology in Ethiopia: A study conducted in Ethiopia identified multiple factors causing food insecurity. These include deterioration of food production capability (due to drought and land degradation), demographic pressure and unrest, and armed conflict. This includes drought (erratic rainfall, scarcity of farmland due to population pressure, soil degradation, shortage of oxen, low price of sheep and sheep diseases, frost, waterlogging, and insect and plant diseases.

Low soil fertility, land scarcity, freeze attacks, persistent cash income shortages, poor agricultural technology, limited extension programs, high work losses, poor social and infrastructural conditions have caused food insecurity. Thus, a mixture of factors has contributed to a severe and rising issue of food insecurity in Ethiopia.

Specific Factors in Chosen Developing Country

In Ethiopia, one of the reasons that disrupt the flow of food from source to people in most of the infrastructure that is critical to the country's food security needs is strongly lagging, road, energy, and telecommunications networks. Access to food despite recent attempts to speed up the development of new highways, Ethiopia appears to have one of the lowest road densities in the country.

Many of the country's agricultural areas have a strong capacity for surplus production, but there are road access challenges for successful food movements between surplus areas and deficit areas. Weak infrastructure significantly raises marketing prices due to the absence of private competition in the transport industry and the poor quality it offers. In other words, most rural people do not have access to a modern and reliable transport infrastructure, which is a significant restriction on their ability to enter grain markets. In addition, the seamless movement of produce, resources, and labor through the country needs not only transport facilities, but also marketing infrastructure, as well as customs, wholesale markets, weighbridges, and warehouses.

Conclusion

Several demographic influences play an important role in the rising and evolving dynamics of food demand, while at the same time restricting availability and access to food. The position of the population is often neither direct nor easy, and its impacts can vary from local to global. However, several demographic patterns affecting food supply and demand, especially rapid population growth, urbanization, rural poor population density, and migration for jobs, are projected to continue. In the absence of substantial policy changes and technical transition, these demographic trends are expected to continue to influence food security in the coming decades. East Africa is expected to face much of the population-related food security threats.