Abstract:
Urban food insecurity is a growing concern due to the toxic combination of high rates of urban poverty. Food security is a complex phenomenon that manifests itself in numerous physical conditions resulting from multiple causes. High food prices have emerged as a major global challenge, especially for poor and urban households in low-income countries such as Ethiopia. This study aims to address this gap by investigating the urban food security challenges and its coping strategies of urban households of Holeta town. To achieve the objective of the study, cross sectional survey was employed. Then, Holeta was selected purposefully due to its accessibility to Addis Ababa. Furthermore, from eight kebeles of Holeta town three kebeles were randomly selected following probability proportional sampling procedure to proportionate number of kebeles. Finally 133 sample households were selected using systematic sampling procedure. Data collection instruments like structured household survey questionnaire, focus group discussions, key informant interviews and observation were used and analysed using descriptive statistics and explanatory research method. This study followed a consumption based calorie deprivation indicator to measure the household food security status using seven days recalling. Therefore, the survey result showed that about 27% and 73% of sample respondents were food secure and insecure respectively. In addition The findings of the study revealed that, the major challenges of urban households in Holeta town are: lack of land, lack of job opportunity, Lack of own house, lack of credit and family size, high dependency ratio have direct influence on food security while household incomes and educational status of household heads were minor problems The most commonly used set of coping mechanisms were reducing food intake, in terms of quantity, quality, diversity and frequency. Policy directions needs to encourage the food security intervention programs, on creating off/non- farm income generating activities, promoting family planning through integrated health and education services and promoting safety-net programs, and also facilitate credit access, one of income generating activity and which influences the state of urban household food security.
