The Significance of Linkage of Productive Safety net and Household Asset Building Programmes towards Household Food Security Achievement: A case study of Enebse Sar Midir Woreda, East Gojam Zone

Abstract

As part of the wider food security programme PSNP and OFSP/currently HABP/was launched in 2005. The objective of PSNP is to help households to smooth their consumption and build productive community assets through public works, and HABP objective is to diversify „Income sources‟ and to increase „productive assets‟ to food insecure households in CFI woredas‟. Both programmes are designed in such a way that they complement one another so as to ensure enhanced food security at household and community level. However, due to low attention on the allocation of HABP budget and poor linkage of PSNP and HABP components of food security programme, the households are not able to bring a sustainable food security situation. Hence, the purpose of this study was , to identify and examine the contribution and significance of linkage of PSNP and HABP towards household‟s food security achievement and thus enhancing the resilience of rural households of Enebssie Sar medir woreda of E/Gojjam zone. These research objectives were realized by using a range of both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods. The data were collected from 96 households drawn from three kebelles that represent the conventional agro-ecology of the woreda. The household questionnaire includes: demographic features, educational status, hazard exposure, coping and recovery strategies, linkage of PSNP and HABP, crop production, livestock, income, expenditure and other relevant data. The collected data were organized; analyzed and properly interpreted. For the purpose of data analysis different models such as descriptive, general linear models were deployed. Descriptive statistics were employed to analyze the significance of linkage of PSNP and HABP towards household‟s food security. xiii The study result has shown that, households with relatively better access to resources, on-farm and off-farm income and coping mechanisms proved to be food secure than others. In the study woreda relatively better- off households were found in woinadega agro-ecology than those living in dega and kola areas. Those households who have no adequate access to farm land, plowing oxen, livestock, off-farm opportunities, better coping mechanisms, access to credit, veterinary service, drugs, improved agricultural inputs, pasture and with larger family size were proved to be food insecure. The interventions on linkage of PSNP and HABP have brought considerable improvements in various aspects. Major areas of improvements include: food security status of target population, access to various important socio-economic infrastructures such as water facilities, school, human health and veterinary institutions, local markets, credit sources, feeder roads and means of transport. Similarly, average annual income and food availability have been improved after the effective implementation of linkage of PSNP and HABP at household level. It is, therefore, suggested that among other things, focus on education and family planning, diversifying the rural economy, promoting proper and well organized farm management practices, feed resources improvement and management, genetic resource improvement, control and prevention of animal disease, development of marketing facilities for animal and animal products through improving extension and other regular services to enhance livestock productivity and production, improve farmers access to productive inputs connected with skill upgrading so that farmers could purchase the needed income diversification inputs such as improved farming tools, beehives, improved technologies, promote HHs income diversification by emphasizing both on and off-farm opportunities, encourage local level saving and credit association as well as microfinance institutions to improve farmer access to credit sources, food storage handling xiv techniques to minimize pre-and post harvesting losses, linkage of PSNP with HABP and backing up some of the traditionally known coping mechanisms must receive policy attention to reduce household food insecurity. Policy instruments, such as skill training and credit, particularly, paying more emphasis to the dega and kola areas could help develop off-farm income for food insecure households. Moreover, a well designed and planned linkage of PSNP with HABP programmes should be seen as an instrument for ensuring sustainable livelihood and food security of vulnerable households in Enebssie SarMidir.