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Browsing School of Social Sciences by Author "Ali, Ahmed"
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Publication Open Access Analysis of Socio-economic determinants of household food insecurity in Juba river basin, Somalia(Mount Kenya University, 2024-05) Ali, AhmedDespite much evidence supporting Somalia as food sufficient in the 1960s and 1970s, with every indication that it has the potential to be food secure, 70% of its vulnerable households remain hungry. The cornerstone of discourse on the determinants of this reality has focused on environmental factors and the political conflicts in the country over the past three decades. Virtually no studies have been conducted on alternative factors such as household economy and social structures, which may play a greater role in situations where ecological and political factors are favorable. Thus, the purpose of this study was to examine socio-economic determinants of household food insecurity in Juba Valley Basin of Southern Somalia focusing on barriers to access through the family structure and income variables. Specifically, the study was guided by four objectives: i. to establish the state of household food insecurity in Juba River Basin ii. to investigate the influence of household structure on food insecurity in Juba River Basin iii. to examine the effect of income on household food insecurity in Juba River Basin, and iv. to identify strategies that can enhance household food security Juba River Basin. The target population entailed the household residents of Juba Valley Basin lying along the belt of 2km radius from the river boundaries with a representative sample of 368 households. A pragmatic approach involving collecting both qualitative and quantitative data, with a mixed method research design was employed. Data collection involved household survey, key informant interviews, focus group discussions (FGDs) and observation. The severity of hunger, the state of food security and vulnerability of the households were measured using the standard Household Food Security Access Scales (HFIAS). Socio- economic determinants of household food security in the area were analyzed using mixed regression methods. The results indicate that the majority of households are severely food insecure. Likewise, a measure of household food security access-related domains revealed that most of the households fall in domain 1of worry and anxiety about food due to lack of resources. A large number of the respondents fall in domain 2 of insufficient quality food and as a result, eat less preferred foods. Further, most of the households’ experience hunger (domain 3) where they reduce their meals per day. The majority of the respondents face severe hunger according to the household hunger scale. The gender of household head, age, and marital status were found to be the critical determinant household structure variables. Moreover, credit acquisition for food, the primary source of food, and seed shortage were significant variables. The study concludes that the main socio-economic factors influencing household food security are the gender of the household head, age, marital status, and households’ weak income base. The result of this study is significant because it addresses not only existing knowledge gaps in the field of international development but also contributes theoretically and conceptually grounded knowledge of the causes of household food security. Further, the primary knowledge contribution of this thesis is empirical and likely to improve our understanding that underpins food insecurity discourse as one of the global challenges. Further, the results provide strategies that can be applied by Somali Government and its International development partners to develop strategies and interventions for enhancing food security for the targeted household beneficiaries who have demonstrated not only similar income base and livelihoods but also face similar constraints to access food.