ADOPTION OF URBAN VEGETABLE PRODUCTION PRACTICE AND ITS IMPACT ON HOUSEHOLD FOOD SECURITY IN META DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE, OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Urban agriculture is crucial in providing affordable food and improving nutrition security for the growing urban population, particularly for poor residents. Hence, identifying the factors influencing the adoption of urban vegetable production practice and its impact on household food and nutrition security in Chelencko and Kullubi towns within the Meta district, east Hararghe zone, Ethiopia’ was the aim of study. The research collected information from both primary and secondary data sources. Primary data were gathered from 232 sample households in the study area towns using a random sampling technique. Descriptive statistics and econometric models, specifically binary logit models, were used to identify the factors influencing the adoption of urban vegetable production practices. A propensity score matching (PSM) model was employed to measure the impact of these practices on household food and nutrition security. Food security and nutrition security were assessed using the dial Kcalories intake and household dietary diversity score, respectively. The result showed that 45.69% of the sample households were food secure, while 54.31% were food insecure. Regarding nutritional levels of households were categories 24.14% as low, 41.38% as medium and as high. The results of the logit model showed that such as educational level, contact to extension, farming experience, training, and off/non-farm activities were positively and significant associated with the likelihood of adoption vegetable production. In contrast, household size and dependency ratio showed a significant and negative association with it. The average treatment effect on the treated analysis revealed that adopters were better-off dial kcalories intake by 343.3 and 0.892 household dietary diversity score, respectively, over very non-adopter households. The results of the study indicate that urban vegetable production practices significantly improves household food and nutrition security. This indicates the role of participation in urban vegetable production in improving household food and nutrition security. Therefore, policymakers should focus on the identified factors to enhance the adoption of urban vegetable production practices by urban farmers, thereby improving their food and nutrition security.