The Role of Agriculture and Non-Farm Economy in Addressing Food Insecurity in Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

In Ethiopia, famine and extreme poverty are a result of insufficient food relief, poor macroeconomic factors, climate shocks, undiversified livelihoods based on low productivity in rain-fed agriculture, coupled with institutional incapacity. To serve as a context, this paper provides a comprehensive review of the conceptual framework of human development and capability paradigm to food security. In addition, it highlights evidence and a comparative analysis of the Asian green revolution experience, and places emphasis on sustainable and intersectoral growth through agricultural transformation and promotion of rural non-farm economy agenda to reverse the trends of protracted food crises in Ethiopia. Rapid, science-led, and employment-intensive agricultural growth, accompanied by the promotion of the rural non-farm sector, is of great importance to the rural economy. These will bring about farm sector competitiveness and enhanced productivity, environmental outcomes, acceleration of human development, new opportunities provided to the small-scale food producers, and desirable changes to the rural landscape. The study further introduces a brief analysis of the prominent role of social protection instruments in strengthening food entitlements and basic capabilities, including individual agencies. It suggests that actualizing sustainable food security and hastening human development under Ethiopia’s exclusive settings require the recognition of the rural economic heterogeneity as well as holistic and pragmatic policies, which promote sustainable and inclusive growth.

Changes in Soil Properties Following the Establishment of Exclosures in Ethiopia: A Meta-Analysis

“…Addressing land degradation has become a major policy objective in Ethiopia, where agricultural growth is an important element of economic and social development (Haregeweyn et al, 2015). About 75% of Ethiopians work in agriculture, producing 80% of Ethiopia's exports and 40% of Gross Domestic Product (Neglo et al, 2021). An 8.35% growth in agricultural value since 2014 has decreased poverty.…”

Mapping stunted children in Ethiopia using two decades of data between 2000 and 2019. A geospatial analysis through the Bayesian approach

“…The overall prevalence of stunting among under-five children in Ethiopia is far below the 2025 global target, which states a 40% reduction of stunting in under-five children through a comprehensive implementation of maternal, infant, and young children. This could be because of high food insecurity, poor socioeconomic status, and lack of adequate knowledge about child nutrition, particularly in the rural parts of Ethiopia [ 30 , 31 ].…”

Does non-farm employment increase rural households’ consumption: Empirical Evidence from West Ethiopia?

“…Non-farm employment has received a lot of attention in recent literature due to its significant impact on improving rural households' well-being John, 2021 andTamrat et.al, 2020).According to Neglo et al,(2021),non-farm employment activities improve rural household consumption by providing job opportunities to a growing rural labor force that cannot find work in agriculture. On the other hand, non-farm activities may boost income growth and creates improvement of consumption among households (Yenesew et al, 2015).…”

“…Poorer farm households that engage in non-farm activities increase their assets, which are needed for children's education, agricultural land ownership, input purchases, and adoption of productivity-enhancing technology, all of which help to increase agricultural production and yields (Ermias, 2019). According to Neglo et al,(2021), the non-farm sector facilitated upward mobility and increased consumption among low-educated households.…”