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Role of Underutilized Crops in Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of the Households: A Case Study in GutoGida District, Ethiopia

Received: 7 September 2023     Accepted: 25 September 2023     Published: 14 October 2023
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Abstract

This study was examined how agricultural diversification using underutilized crops could increase household food security and livelihoods in Ethiopia's GutoGida district. Staple crops are what are raised. Regardless of their nutritional content, productivity and production sustainability, the majority of farmers plant reliable food crops. Farmers still experience food insecurity since the crops are not productive enough to lower household food insecurity. Additionally, despite of the fact that underutilized crops improve nutritional quality and boost household purchasing power, their nutritional role, productivity, and stress tolerance were not universally recognized and promoted in this region. On a sample of 120 smallholder farmers, multistage sampling approaches were used. Households are divided into non-producers and producers. The Food consumption score and coping strategy index were used to gauge the level of household food security. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple leaner regression models, and ordinary least squares. In comparison to non-producers of underutilized crops at alpha 5%, the diversified producers of underutilized crops had significantly higher levels of crop production (22.48%), consumption (11.73%), total annual sale (19.32%), and total income generation (26.67%). Based on this finding, we draw the conclusion that a crop diversification using neglected crop is a practical strategy that can greatly improve household food security and economic well-being. The survey's overall findings show that the Ethiopian government current agricultural policy should pay enough attention to diversify and promoting underutilized crops, and that this has to change in light of the country's ongoing threat from hunger and food insecurity.

Published in World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology (Volume 1, Issue 4)
DOI 10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12
Page(s) 83-97
Creative Commons

This is an Open Access article, distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution 4.0 International License (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/), which permits unrestricted use, distribution and reproduction in any medium or format, provided the original work is properly cited.

Copyright

Copyright © The Author(s), 2023. Published by Science Publishing Group

Keywords

Underutilized Crops, Food Security, Food Consumption Score, Cropping Strategy Index, GutoGida District

References
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    Dhaba Mengesha Adula, Messay Mulugeta Tefera, Bogale Ayana. (2023). Role of Underutilized Crops in Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of the Households: A Case Study in GutoGida District, Ethiopia. World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology, 1(4), 83-97. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12

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    ACS Style

    Dhaba Mengesha Adula; Messay Mulugeta Tefera; Bogale Ayana. Role of Underutilized Crops in Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of the Households: A Case Study in GutoGida District, Ethiopia. World J. Agric. Sci. Technol. 2023, 1(4), 83-97. doi: 10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12

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    AMA Style

    Dhaba Mengesha Adula, Messay Mulugeta Tefera, Bogale Ayana. Role of Underutilized Crops in Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of the Households: A Case Study in GutoGida District, Ethiopia. World J Agric Sci Technol. 2023;1(4):83-97. doi: 10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12

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  • @article{10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12,
      author = {Dhaba Mengesha Adula and Messay Mulugeta Tefera and Bogale Ayana},
      title = {Role of Underutilized Crops in Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of the Households: A Case Study in GutoGida District, Ethiopia},
      journal = {World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology},
      volume = {1},
      number = {4},
      pages = {83-97},
      doi = {10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12},
      url = {https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12},
      eprint = {https://article.sciencepublishinggroup.com/pdf/10.11648.j.wjast.20230104.12},
      abstract = {This study was examined how agricultural diversification using underutilized crops could increase household food security and livelihoods in Ethiopia's GutoGida district. Staple crops are what are raised. Regardless of their nutritional content, productivity and production sustainability, the majority of farmers plant reliable food crops. Farmers still experience food insecurity since the crops are not productive enough to lower household food insecurity. Additionally, despite of the fact that underutilized crops improve nutritional quality and boost household purchasing power, their nutritional role, productivity, and stress tolerance were not universally recognized and promoted in this region. On a sample of 120 smallholder farmers, multistage sampling approaches were used. Households are divided into non-producers and producers. The Food consumption score and coping strategy index were used to gauge the level of household food security. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple leaner regression models, and ordinary least squares. In comparison to non-producers of underutilized crops at alpha 5%, the diversified producers of underutilized crops had significantly higher levels of crop production (22.48%), consumption (11.73%), total annual sale (19.32%), and total income generation (26.67%). Based on this finding, we draw the conclusion that a crop diversification using neglected crop is a practical strategy that can greatly improve household food security and economic well-being. The survey's overall findings show that the Ethiopian government current agricultural policy should pay enough attention to diversify and promoting underutilized crops, and that this has to change in light of the country's ongoing threat from hunger and food insecurity.},
     year = {2023}
    }
    

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  • TY  - JOUR
    T1  - Role of Underutilized Crops in Improving Food Security and Livelihoods of the Households: A Case Study in GutoGida District, Ethiopia
    AU  - Dhaba Mengesha Adula
    AU  - Messay Mulugeta Tefera
    AU  - Bogale Ayana
    Y1  - 2023/10/14
    PY  - 2023
    N1  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12
    DO  - 10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12
    T2  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
    JF  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
    JO  - World Journal of Agricultural Science and Technology
    SP  - 83
    EP  - 97
    PB  - Science Publishing Group
    SN  - 2994-7332
    UR  - https://doi.org/10.11648/j.wjast.20230104.12
    AB  - This study was examined how agricultural diversification using underutilized crops could increase household food security and livelihoods in Ethiopia's GutoGida district. Staple crops are what are raised. Regardless of their nutritional content, productivity and production sustainability, the majority of farmers plant reliable food crops. Farmers still experience food insecurity since the crops are not productive enough to lower household food insecurity. Additionally, despite of the fact that underutilized crops improve nutritional quality and boost household purchasing power, their nutritional role, productivity, and stress tolerance were not universally recognized and promoted in this region. On a sample of 120 smallholder farmers, multistage sampling approaches were used. Households are divided into non-producers and producers. The Food consumption score and coping strategy index were used to gauge the level of household food security. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, simple leaner regression models, and ordinary least squares. In comparison to non-producers of underutilized crops at alpha 5%, the diversified producers of underutilized crops had significantly higher levels of crop production (22.48%), consumption (11.73%), total annual sale (19.32%), and total income generation (26.67%). Based on this finding, we draw the conclusion that a crop diversification using neglected crop is a practical strategy that can greatly improve household food security and economic well-being. The survey's overall findings show that the Ethiopian government current agricultural policy should pay enough attention to diversify and promoting underutilized crops, and that this has to change in light of the country's ongoing threat from hunger and food insecurity.
    VL  - 1
    IS  - 4
    ER  - 

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Author Information
  • Crop and Processing Department, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Food Security Departments, Addis Ababa University Centre for Food Security and Development Studies, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia

  • Plant Protection Department, Ethiopian Institute of Agricultural Research, Holeta Agricultural Research Centre, Holeta, Ethiopia

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