Haile Firafis, Mohamed Jema Haji, Aweke Chanaylew Seyoum, Muleta Terefe Tolessa
School of Rural Development and Agricultural Innovation, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
School of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia.
Curr Dev Nutr. 2024 Dec 10;9(1):104521. doi: 10.1016/j.cdnut.2024.104521. eCollection 2025 Jan.
Food and nutrition insecurities continue to be significant issues for communities in developed and developing countries, even when there are plentiful harvests. In Ethiopia, climate change and other human-induced challenges are key factors contributing to this insecurity. Research and development experts suggest that implementing sustainable livelihood diversification strategies could be a viable solution.
The objective of the study was to analyze the determinants of choice of livelihood diversification strategies and its impact on food and nutrition security among smallholder farmers in the West Shoa zone, Oromia region, Ethiopia.
The research employed quantitative approaches for data gathering and analysis. A multistage sampling method was utilized to choose the study locations. A total of 385 smallholder farming households (215 diversifiers and 170 nondiversifiers) were randomly chosen as participants from the 2 districts and 7 rural villages in the area. Descriptive statistics (frequencies, percentages, and cross-tabs) and econometric models [multinomial logit model and multinomial endogenous switching regression (MESR) model] were employed to analyze the quantitative data.
More than half (56%) of the farming households were able to diversify their livelihoods, whereas the remaining 44% were unable to do so, indicating a lack of means to engage in any form of livelihood diversification activity beyond agriculture. The results of the multinomial logit regression model revealed that various factors such as gender, age, family size, education level, farm experience, social norms, land ownership, livestock possession, access to credit, access to extension services, working capital, government policies, climate variability, livelihood training, and proximity to markets significantly influenced smallholder farming households' choices and adoption of diversification strategies. The MESR model demonstrated that engaging in farming and off-farming activities could increase food and nutrition security for farm households by 74.6% and 33.3%, respectively. Similarly, participating in farming and nonfarming activities was associated with a 71.3% improvement in food security and a 42.3% enhancement in nutrition security. However, combining farming with both nonfarm and off-farm activities did not have a significant impact on food security, but it did lead to a 15.2% increase in nutrition security.
Involving smallholder farmers in livelihood diversification reduces poverty, food insecurity, and unemployment. This study shows that diversifying livelihoods positively impacts food and nutrition security by enabling farmers to produce more for consumption and income generation.
即使在丰收的情况下，粮食和营养不安全问题对于发达国家和发展中国家的社区而言仍然是重大问题。在埃塞俄比亚，气候变化和其他人为引发的挑战是造成这种不安全状况的关键因素。研究与发展专家认为，实施可持续生计多样化战略可能是一个可行的解决方案。
本研究的目的是分析埃塞俄比亚奥罗米亚州西绍阿地区小农户生计多样化战略选择的决定因素及其对粮食和营养安全的影响。
本研究采用定量方法进行数据收集和分析。采用多阶段抽样方法选择研究地点。从该地区的2个区和7个乡村中随机选取了385个小农户家庭（215个多样化经营者和170个非多样化经营者）作为参与者。采用描述性统计（频率、百分比和交叉表）和计量经济学模型[多项logit模型和多项内生转换回归（MESR）模型]来分析定量数据。
超过一半（56%）的农户能够实现生计多样化，而其余44%的农户则无法做到，这表明他们缺乏从事农业以外任何形式的生计多样化活动的手段。多项logit回归模型的结果显示，性别、年龄、家庭规模、教育水平、农场经验、社会规范、土地所有权、牲畜拥有量、获得信贷的机会、获得推广服务的机会、营运资金、政府政策、气候多变性、生计培训以及与市场的距离等各种因素，对小农户家庭选择和采用多样化战略有显著影响。MESR模型表明，从事农业和非农业活动分别可使农户的粮食和营养安全提高74.6%和33.3%。同样，参与农业和非农业活动与粮食安全提高71.3%以及营养安全提高42.3%相关。然而，将农业与非农业和非农活动相结合对粮食安全没有显著影响，但确实使营养安全提高了15.2%。
让小农户参与生计多样化可减少贫困、粮食不安全和失业。本研究表明，生计多样化通过使农民能够生产更多用于消费和创收的产品，对粮食和营养安全产生积极影响。
