1,720,959 research outputs found
The level of food insecurity among urban households in southern Ethiopia: A multi-index-based assessment
No full textFood insecurity is a growing concern worldwide, particularly in urban areas of developing countries. However, it is a problem that is less discussed in Ethiopia. Therefore, this study has aimed to assess the level of food insecurity among urban households that benefit from the urban productive safety net program. The study included 310 household heads selected through a multi-stage sampling procedure. A survey questionnaire, focus group discussions, field observation, and key informant interviews were used to collect data. Descriptive and inferential statistics were employed to analyze the collected data. The multi-index approach was used to assess the level of food insecurity among households. The results showed that nearly 89% had varying levels of food insecurity. The study also revealed that the majority of households consumed vegetation (79.7%), roots (76.5%), cereals (74.8%), fruits (68.4%), and pulses (53.5%). On the other hand, a lower proportion of households consumed fish (2.3%) and meat (14.8%). The chi-square result shows that cereals, pulses, fruits, and meat were significant at P < 0.01, respectively. Milk and milk products, oil or butter, sugar or honey, and coffee or tea were statistically significant at P < 0.00. This indicates that there are meaningful associations between the consumption patterns of different food groups and the variables being investigated in the study. We recommend categorizing households based on the severity of food insecurity. This will enable policymakers and organizations to tailor their support mechanisms to address the specific needs of each category more sustainably, enabling the victimized households to be self-sufficient
Patterns and probabilities of dry spells and rainfall for improved rain-fed farming in Northwestern Ethiopia
No full textAbstract Dry spells and rainfall variability significantly impact rain-fed agriculture in Ethiopia, necessitating targeted adaptation strategies. This study used rainfall data from Ethiopia's Meteorological Institute (1992–2021) to evaluate the likelihood of rainfall and dry spells lasting more than 7, 10, 15, and 20 days in northwestern Ethiopia. Markov chain modeling assessed the probabilities of these events, while Modified Mann–Kendall tests examined trends in dry days at a significance level of P < 0.05. The area has a Kiremt-dominated monomodal rain, with 80–100% rainfall probability following dry days in July–August. June (40–67%) and September (37–60%) experienced high dry days with moderate to high variability (CV: 26–45%), underscoring the need for monitoring dry day risks during planting and crop maturation. In contrast, July (10–19%) and August (10–29%) had lower frequencies of dry days. The Belg (77–89%) and Bega (79–95%) seasons showed high dry day frequencies with low variability, indicating that rain-fed agriculture is impractical during these times. Trend analysis revealed significant increases in dry days at Ebenat and decreases at Simada, with most stations showing rising dry day patterns. Dry spell analysis found minimal (0–10%) likelihood during Kiremt, but a 100% risk from late September to February. Spatial analysis revealed a high risk of extended dry spells: 20–40% in August, 40–60% in July, 100% in October, and 75–100% in September-June. May has a 60–80% chance of a 7-day dry spell, likely delaying the growing season to June and reducing yields for rain-fed crops, suggesting targeted interventions, like using drought-tolerant crops or mitigation strategies
Determinants of urban household vulnerability to food insecurity in southern Ethiopia
No full textAbstract Food insecurity is a global problem in both urban and rural areas. However, urban food security in Ethiopia has received little attention. Therefore, this study aims to identify the determinants of urban household vulnerability to food insecurity in selected towns in Southern Ethiopia. The study employed a mixed research design, incorporating a household survey, key informant interviews, and focus-group discussions. A multi-stage sampling technique was used to select 310 survey households. Data were collected using a pretested structured questionnaire. The household vulnerability to food insecurity indicator was used to assess the level of vulnerability to food insecurity. An ordered logit model was used to identify the determinants of vulnerability to food insecurity in the urban setup. The results showed 41.3% of households in the study to be highly vulnerable to food insecurity, 48.3% moderately vulnerable, and 10.6% not vulnerable. Among the 16 variables, household ownership of houses, health status, urban agriculture, socio-cultural practices, asset ownership, age, and average monthly income were found to be significant in determining the vulnerability to food insecurity. The study recommended that food security interventions demand due attention, particularly for low-income urban households benefit from the urban productive safety net program. Policymakers and development professionals should implement a multiple approach to address urban food insecurity in Ethiopia. This should include targeted interventions beyond urban productive safety net program for highly vulnerable households
Rural farm households’ food security and the role of livelihood diversification in enhancing food security in Damot Woyde District, Southern Ethiopia
No full textAbstractFood insecurity becomes severe in areas where agriculture is households’ sole income source. Accordingly, this study looked into food security and the role of livelihood diversification in the Damot Woyde district in Southern Ethiopia. Data were gathered using a structured survey questionnaire, focus group discussion, key informants interview and field observation. The household food balance model (HFBM) and HFIAS (household food insecurity access scale) methods were employed to assess food security (availability and access respectively). The data was analyzed using Simpson’s index of diversity, binary logistic regression, multiple linear regression, and the independent sample t-test. The findings revealed that 69% of Woina Dega and 77% of Kolla (HFBM) households were food insecure. HFIAS also showed that only 22.2% of Woina Dega and 11.5% of Kolla households have been food secure. But in other, households, 26.6% of Woina Dega and 36% of Kolla were severely food insecure. Both the binary logistic and linear regression results indicated that livelihood diversification has a positive and important influence on food security in the study area. Hence, we posit that livelihood income diversification lessens the threats of food shortages in rural farm households
The influence of household size on socioeconomic conditions of rural farm households in Damot Woyde District, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia
No full textThere is little debate about the relationship between rising fertility and declining income. Rapid population growth can have serious implications for people’s standard of living—their incomes, savings, health, education, and general well-being. Thus, the objective of this study is to analyze the impacts of household sizes on rural farm households’ savings, consumption spending, and financial capacity to cover the expenses of children’s education and the health of household members. 346 rural farm household heads took part in the study, which used a multistage sample technique. Along with the survey results, six focus group discussions, 27 key informant interviews, and personal observations were done. The outcomes showed that the savings-to-income ratios of rural households decreased with increasing household size, whereas consumption-to-income ratios increased due to a portion of the income that was not saved being spent on supporting the consumption demands of the additional household member. The MANOVA post hoc analysis also revealed that the large household size group’s average yearly savings were significantly lower than the small household size group, whereas consumption expenses grew with increasing household size. Furthermore, ordinal logistic regressions show that increasing household size without increasing income diminishes rural farm households’ existing financial capacity to afford the expenditures of their children’s education and healthcare for household members. Thus, it is preferable to advocate that rural households have access to quality reproductive health-care services, like safe and effective family planning alternatives, and that households strive to diversify their income sources to promote savings
Contributions of urban productive safety net program to enhancing food security and livelihood diversification: an in-depth analysis of household-Level perceptions among urban populations in Ethiopia
No full textAbstract The Urban Productive Safety Net Program is one of Africa’s most ambitious social protection initiatives, and it has achieved measurable successes. However, existing literature focusing on the role of programs in improving people’s lives, especially in ensuring food security and income diversification, gives more focus to rural areas and depends on data from individuals beyond those directly targeted by the program. Hence, this study examines beneficiaries’ perceptions of the program’s contribution to food security and livelihood diversification in the South Ethiopia Regional State. The study used a mixed research approach that included a questionnaire, interviews, observation, and focus group discussions. To select 310 survey household heads, a multistage sampling procedure was employed. We analyzed the quantitative data using SPSS version 27, while the qualitative data was analyzed through narration and summarization. The findings indicate that the selection process for beneficiaries, activities performed by public work groups, and beneficiaries graduating with reliable sources of income are generally positive, whereas negative assumptions exist regarding the adequacy and timeliness of cash transfers and the overall living status of residents. Therefore, the program managers and zonal-level team leaders should collaborate closely to directly engage with beneficiaries, monitor the support system, and raise awareness
Spatial assessments of landslide hazard vulnerability using decision support system in the Sile-Sago Watershed, Lake Chamo Rift Valley Basin, Ethiopia
No full textLandslide hazard (LSH) is a widespread geographical problem, threatening lives and destroying property and infrastructure globally. The focuses of this study were to identify, analyze, and prioritize LSH potential triggering factors and map the vulnerability levels in the Sile-Sago watershed. The data were obtained from satellite images like Sentinel-2, Landsat 8/9, and elevation, key informant interviews, field observation, and ground truth points. Multi-criteria decision-making, weighted, and analytical hierarchy process (AHP) were used to analyze the data in ArcGIS 10.8.2, Terrset 20, and AHP. The individual parameters were identified, analyzed, and ranked in relative importance, ranging from very low, low, moderate, high, to very high. Among the LSH conditioning variables, population density, average rainfall, drainage density, land use/cover, elevation, and vegetation density have a higher magnitude in posing LSH. In contrast, lineament density and rock types have less contribution to the LSH based on AHP, literature, and experts’ opinions. Of the total area (55,468.8 ha), 12.4 % are highly and 6.9 % are very highly vulnerable to LSH. The model performance was checked with field survey data, consistency ratio, and area under the curve (AUC) from receivers operating characteristics (ROC). The CR and ROC-AUC were 3.4 % and 89 %, which are acceptable for the analysis results. The western and higher slopes of the watershed are categorized as highly vulnerable to LSH. Concerted efforts are needed to coordinate conservation of ecosystems, integrated watershed development, sustainable land use, and population settlement planning to mitigate the risk and adverse effects of LSH in the Sile-Sage watershed
Going Beyond Counting First Authors in Author Co-citation Analysis
Get PDFThe present study examines one of the fundamental aspects of author co-citation analysis (ACA) - the way co-citation
counts are defined. Co-citation counting provides the data on which all subsequent statistical analyses and mappings
are based, and we compare ACA results based on two different types of co-citation counting - the traditional type that
only counts the first one among a cited work's authors on the one hand and a non-traditional type that takes into
account the first 5 authors of a cited work on the other hand. Results indicate that the picture produced through this non-traditional author co-citation counting contains more coherent author groups and is therefore considerably clearer. However, this picture represents fewer specialties in the research field being studied than that produced through the traditional first-author co-citation counting when the same number of top-ranked authors is selected and analyzed. Reasons for these effects are discussed
Variations on the Author
Get PDF“Variations on the Author” discusses two of Eduardo Coutinho’s recent films (Um Dia na Vida, from 2010, and Últimas Conversas, posthumously released in 2015) and their contribution to the general question of documentary authorship. The director’s filmography is characterized by a consistent yet self-effacing form of authorial self-inscription: Coutinho often features as an interviewer that rather than express opinions propels discourses; an interviewer that is good at listening. This mode of self-inscription characterizes him as an author who is not expressive but who is nonetheless markedly present on the screen. In Um Dia na Vida, however, Coutinho is completely absent form the image, while Últimas Conversas, on the contrary, includes a confessional prologue that moves the director from the margins to the center of his films. This article examines the ways in which these works stand out in the filmography of a director who offers new insights into the notion of cinematic authorship
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