Food Insecurity in Ethiopia - Essay Example

Food Security Issues in Ethiopia I. Table of Contents Section Page Number II. Acronyms/Abbreviations 3 III. Executive Summary 4 IV. Introduction 4 A. Background 4 B. Study Objectives 5 V. Findings 5 A. Issues 5 B. Responses/Measures 7 C. Evaluation 9 VI. Conclusions 9 VII. Recommendations 10 VIII. References 11 II. Acronyms/Abbreviations (1) NGOs—nongovernmental organisations (2) FSCO—Food Security Coordination Office (3) ADLI—Agriculture Development Led Industrialisation (4) SAERP—Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Rehabilitation Program (5) PADETES—Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension System (6) CRS—Catholic Relief Services (7) SC—Save the Children (8) REST—Relief Society of Tigray (9) FH—Food for the Hungry (10) FFP—Office of Food for Peace (11) PSNP—Productive Safety Net Program III. Executive Summary Ethiopia is one of the most heavily populated countries in the sub-Saharan region. It is also characterised by unstable rainfall patterns and drastic climates. Because of these factors, Ethiopia has been continuously confronting severe food insecurity. The Ethiopian government, as well as nongovernmental organisations (NGOs) and the international community, are taking steps to alleviate food insecurity in the country. However, there are still weaknesses inherent to these existing programmes, thus the need for newer and more appropriate policies. This paper analyses the causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia, the measures taken by different entities to address the problem, the effectiveness of these policies and strategies, and other possible solutions to the problem. IV. Introduction A. Background Ethiopia has a population of approximately 75 million people, making it the second most heavily populated country in Sub-Saharan Africa. Majority of its population reside in rural areas (Dorosh & Rashid, 2013). It has a diverse topography including searing deserts, warm lowlands, and cold highlands. Ethiopia has a tropical monsoon climate, and with a very unstable rainfall patterns the country is generally vulnerable to intra-seasonal dry climates and famine. Most of the people in Ethiopia rely on agriculture as the main means of subsistence, and the agricultural industry is controlled by smallholder agriculture (ActionAid, 2014). The risk of famine in Ethiopia is extremely high. With the fast increase in population, food shortage has escalated. Furthermore, disruptions in the agricultural market are widespread in Ethiopia. Markets are still weak, with extensive price fluctuations and instability. Besides fast increasing population, the causes of food insecurity include incompetence in the organisational, institutional, policy, market, and production sectors (Gebre, 2012). Food security is defined by the World Health Organisation (WHO) (2015) as a condition “when all people at all times have access to sufficient, safe, nutritious food to maintain a healthy and active life” (para 1). Due to the complexity of the causes of famine, manifold measures are needed to lessen or totally prevent it from occurring. B. Study Objectives The objective of this study is to investigate how best to address the food security issue in Ethiopia; to raise awareness about the specific issues related to food security in Ethiopia; to evaluate how well current measures are working; and to formulate some recommendations for future action. V. Findings A. Issues (causes) Food shortages and hunger have been rampant in the rural areas of Ethiopia for centuries; however, it was not until the 1970s, after the collapse of the imperial government and its displacement by the Derg, a military regime, that food security became a major topic in public policy dialogues, and various programmes were developed and carried out to address the issue (Kumasi & Asenso-Okyere, 2011). A large number of rural dwellers in Ethiopia exist in a condition of enduring food insecurity. According to Rahmato and colleagues (2013), climate change, rapid growth of population, environmental destruction, and poverty are among the primary causes of worsening food insecurity in Ethiopia. Ethiopia has been categorised as a highly problematic society in terms of climate and population, because unstable climate and rapid population growth create serious hazards to food security and human health. Climate change is seriously affecting Ethiopia. Progressively unstable rainfall is catastrophic in a country that relies greatly on farming and food production (Birhane et al., 2014). The recent decades have witnessed a marked increase in the prevalence of famine in Ethiopia, a fatal pattern that is predicted to aggravate (Siyoum et al., 2012). With a population of roughly 90 million and a 3.2% population growth rate in 2011, Ethiopia confronts more severe food insecurity (USAID, 2012, p. 1). If current warming patterns continue, Ethiopia will feel an approximately 1.0° Celsius (°C) rise in temperature (USAID, 2012, p. 3). This continuous increase in temperature will worsen the effects of famine in the country, and could specifically lower the availability of fertile land for important crops, like coffee. Similarly, according to USAID (2012) and Bremner (2012), rapidly increasing population and the growth of pastoralism and agriculture under a warmer climate could significantly raise the number of vulnerable people in Ethiopia in the next two decades. Likewise, environmental destruction has already led to observable and far-reaching food insecurity on Ethiopian communities, both in urban and rural areas. For instance, burning of dung due to degradation of forest resources lowers Ethiopia’s agricultural productivity by roughly 10% whilst degradation in the soil’s humus content contributes further to the decline in crop production of roughly 1% (Birhanu, 2014, p. 28). Soil degradation is the most important and pressing environmental issue confronting Ethiopia. As explained by Kumasi and Asenso-Okyere (2011), the decline in fertility, loss of soil, reduction of moisture storage ability, and reduction of the remaining soils’ productivity all lower the agricultural efficiency of Ethiopia, which, consequently, result in food shortage and malnutrition. Lastly, poverty is the major factor contributing to famine in Ethiopia. Poor people lack the resources to cope with traumas and serious problems, and are vulnerable to uncreative ways of surviving like eating smaller amounts of foods, obliging children to participate in hard labour, or selling things (ActionAid, 2014). Poverty is exacerbated by unjust trading practices and land ownership (ActionAid, 2014). The government buys harvests from small farmers at very low prices. Moreover, people do not own land in Ethiopia, it is allocated based on the number of family members or household size, and reallocated every several years. According to Coll-Black and colleagues (2011), whenever land is reallocated it is partitioned between larger numbers of people hence every farmer obtains a small portion. Such practices contribute further to food insecurity in Ethiopia. B. Responses/measures A recent measure that is highly promising if adequately supported by contributors and the government is the founding of a Food Security Coordination Office (FSCO) in every region (Coll-Black et al., 2011). Programmes prepared or carried out by the FSCOs in accordance to their general goal, which is to improve food security in every region by battling the effects of climate change, rapid population growth, environmental degradation, and poverty, involve upgrading rural infrastructure and promotion, environmental restoration, creation of jobs and other livelihood plans, microfinance, and small-scale irrigation (Von Braun & Olofinbiyi, 2007; Jones, Tafere, & Woldehanna, 2010). As developed in 1994, the government’s policy of Agriculture Development Led Industrialisation (ADLI) regards agriculture as the economy’s mainspring, and demands spending on agriculture as a way of bolstering food security and advancing economic development (Gebre, 2012; Devereux & Guenthe, 2009). As explained by Maxwell and colleagues (2013), the objective of ADLI is to support the implementation of enhanced technological methods and feedback, in order to strengthen the agricultural sector and produce funds for financing other industries. Several agricultural improvement projects have been carried out recently as a response to the growing problem of climate change, rapid population growth, environmental destruction, and poverty. Some of these, as outlined by Siyoum and colleagues (2012) are the Sustainable Agriculture and Environmental Rehabilitation Program (SAERP), which aspires to boost watershed management and small-scale systems, thus reducing environmental damages and sustaining crop harvests; and, the Participatory Demonstration and Training Extension System (PADETES), which raises awareness about agricultural issues. Huge investments in the food assistance campaign were also embarked upon by the Ethiopian government. According to USAID (2014), in collaboration with Catholic Relief Services (CRS), Save the Children (SC), Relief Society of Tigray (REST), and Food for the Hungry (FH), the Office of Food for Peace (FFP) tries to address food insecurity in Ethiopia with long-range development programmes through the Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) of the Ethiopian government to mitigate enduring food insecurity in the country. C. Evaluation Ethiopian governments have made an attempt to resolve the country’s food insecurity. Unfortunately, none of these measures, including ADLI, SAERP, and PADETES, have effectively dealt with the issue (Siyoum et al., 2012). As a result, a huge number of Ethiopians has been greatly dependent on food aid for numerous years. At present, it is approximated that more than eight million Ethiopians acquire food assistance through the PSNP to address food scarcities (Siyoum et al., 2012, para 3). According to Birhane and colleagues (2014), severe famine in the Horn of Africa in 2011 worsened the problem. Most of the people needing food aid in the region were from Ethiopia. In spite of extensive long-term food assistance, food insecurity is still a serious problem. Ethiopia is still one of the most severely food insecure countries in the globe with most of its people suffering from hunger (Amare, 2010). Ethiopia holds one of the biggest food assistance campaigns in the world, yet the least official support per person in the region (Asmelash, 2014). Temporary emergency programmes are not suitable for recurrent or continuous conditions; food allowances that are provided are not really appropriate to actual nutritional requirements (Birhanu, 2014). This creates the impression of a successful solution, whilst covering chronic issues. VI. Conclusion Food insecurity in Ethiopia has been primarily caused by rapid growth of population, environmental destruction, and overexploitation of natural resources, recurring drought, climate change, poverty, and civil conflicts. Ethiopian governments have made an attempt to resolve the country’s food insecurity. Unfortunately, none of these measures have effectively dealt with the issue. In addition, huge investments in the food assistance campaign did not enhance food security in Ethiopia. Therefore, drastically new measures are needed. VII. Recommendations  Since the roots of famine are complex, diverse measures are needed to reduce its prevalence. Primarily, particular programmes without help cannot successful address food insecurity. Micro-level strategies must be taken into consideration alongside macroeconomic measures (Coll-Black et al., 2011). The issue of programme and policy decision making and structuring surfaces in identifying the best strategies for preventing and alleviating food insecurity (Maxwell et al., 2013). A policy discourse must be focused on measures that strengthen other economic activities and enhance agricultural efficiency. It suggests more stable urban-rural connections and resilient migration regulations, alongside improved urban development planning (Mazur, 2012; Philor, 2011). It also indicates agricultural programmes that aid small farmers in enhancing their productivity, instead of marginalising them. For instance, the revenues from cash crops must be spent in raising staple food production by means of more advanced equipment for impoverished farmers, better infrastructure, and broader support networks (De Brauw, Mueller, & Woldehanna, 2013). All of these policy recommendations, with the correct amount of support and cooperation, are likely to improve food security in Ethiopia. VIII. References ActionAid (2014) Food and Famine Ethiopia. [Online] Available from https://www.actionaid.org.uk/sites/default/files/doc_lib/196_1_ethiopia_food.pdf. [Accessed 24 February 2015]. Amare, Y (2010) Urban Food Insecurity and Coping Mechanisms: A Case Study of Lideta Sub-city in Addis Ababa. Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia: African Books Collective. Asmelash, M (2014) Rural household food security status and its determinants: The case of Laelaymychew Woreda, Central Zone of Tigrai, Ethiopia. [Online] http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1400601561_Asmelash.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Assefa, T (2008) Digest of Ethiopia’s National Policies, Strategies and Programmes. Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia: African Books Collective. Bremner, J (2012) Population and Food Security. [Online] Available from http://www.prb.org/pdf12/population-food-security-africa.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Birhane, T et al (2014) Urban food insecurity in the context of high food prices: a community based cross-sectional study in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://www.biomedcentral.com/content/pdf/1471-2458-14-680.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Birhanu, A (2014) Environmental degradation and management in Ethiopian highlands: Review of lessons learned. International Journal of Environmental Protection and Policy, 2(1), pp. 24-34. Coll-Black, S et al (2011) Targeting Food Security Interventions when ‘Everyone is Poor’: The Case of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Programme. [Online] Available from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/esspwp24.pdf. [Accessed 12 March 2015]. De Brauw, A, Mueller, V, & Woldehanna, T (2013) Does Internal Migration Improve Overall Well-being in Ethiopia? [Online] Available from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/esspwp55.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Devereux, S & Guenthe, B (2009) Agricultural and Social Protection in Ethiopia. [Online] http://www.future-agricultures.org/publications/research-and-analysis/106-agriculture-and-social-protection-in-ethiopia/file. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Dorosh, P & Rashid, S (2013) Food and Agriculture in Ethiopia: Progress and Policy Challenges. Philadelphia, PA: University of Pennsylvania Press. Gebre, G (2012) Determinants of Food Insecurity Among Households in Addis Ababa City, Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://www.indecs.eu/2012/indecs2012-pp159-173.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Jones, N & Tafere, Y, & Woldehanna, T (2010) Gendered risks, poverty and vulnerability in Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://www.odi.org/sites/odi.org.uk/files/odi-assets/publications-opinion-files/6250.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Kumasi, T & Asenso-Okyere, K (2011) Responding to Land Degradation in the Highlands of Tigray, Northern Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://www.ifpri.org/sites/default/files/publications/ifpridp01142.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Maxwell, D et al (2013) Resilience, Food Security Dynamics, and Poverty Traps in Northern Ethiopia Analysis of a Biannual Panel Dataset, 2011-2013. [Online] Available from http://reliefweb.int/sites/reliefweb.int/files/resources/Ethiopia%20Resilience-Food-Security-Dynamics.pdf. [Accessed 12 March 2015]. Mazur, L (2012) Taming Hunger in Ethiopia: The Role of Population Dynamics. [Online] Available from http://www.newsecuritybeat.org/2012/05/taming-hunger-in-ethiopia-the-role-of-population-dynamics/. [Accessed 24 February 2015]. Philor, L (2011) Erosion Impacts on Soil and Environmental Quality: Vertisols in the Highlands Region of Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://soils.ifas.ufl.edu/docs/pdf/academic/papers/Philor-Louis.pdf. [Accessed 14 March 2015]. Rahmato, D et al (2013) Food Security, Safety Nets and Social Protection in Ethiopia. Addis, Ababa, Ethiopia: African Books Collective. Siyoum, A et al (2012) Food aid and dependency syndrome in Ethiopia: Local perceptions. [Online] Available from http://sites.tufts.edu/jha/archives/1754. [Accessed 24 February 2015]. USAID (2012) A Climate Trend Analysis of Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://pubs.usgs.gov/fs/2012/3053/FS12-3053_ethiopia.pdf. [Accessed 12 March 2015]. USAID (2014) Food Assistance Fact Sheet—Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://www.usaid.gov/ethiopia/food-assistance. [Accessed 12 March 2015]. Von Braun, J & Olofinbiyi, T (2007) Famine and Food Insecurity in Ethiopia. [Online] Available from http://cip.cornell.edu/DPubS?service=UI&version=1.0&verb=Display&handle=dns.gfs/1200428184. [Accessed 25 February 2015]. WHO (2015) Food Security. [Online] Available from http://www.who.int/trade/glossary/story028/en/. [Accessed 03 March 2015]. Read More