Impacts of Soil and Water Conservation Practices on Households’ Food Security: The Case of Sekota Zuria Woreda, Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACT Food security remains a critical concern for rural households in Ethiopia, particularly in drought-prone and land-degraded areas. This study aimed to evaluate the impacts of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices on household food security in Soqota Zuria Woreda, Ethiopia. A mixed-methods research approach with a cross-sectional survey design was employed. Data were collected from 208 sampled households using household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. Food Consumption Score (FCS), Household Food Insecurity Access Scale (HFIAS), Multivariate Probit (MVP), and Propensity Score Matching (PSM) models were used for analysis. The findings revealed that soil bunds (50%) and tree planting (56%) were the most widely practiced SWC measures, while stone bunds (33%), compost application (40%), water harvesting (14%), and agroforestry (7%) had lower adoption rates. Food security analysis showed that only 15.48% of households were food secure, whereas 54.33% and 30.19% were categorized as borderline and poor food secure, respectively. Similarly, HFIAS results indicated that 49.04% and 19.71% of households experienced moderate and severe food insecurity, respectively. The MVP model showed that male-headed households were more likely to adopt physical SWC practices (Coef = 0.76, p < 0.05), while age negatively affected adoption. Education, livestock ownership, and extension services significantly increased adoption, with secondary education showing the highest positive effect (Coef = 1.14, p < 0.01). The PSM results indicated that agronomical SWC practices increased FCS by 16.61 points (18.18%), physical practices by 16.68 points (10.16%), and biological practices by 13.45 points (8.96%). The study concludes that SWC practices significantly improve household food security. Therefore, the Sekota Zuria Woreda Agriculture Office, the Regional Agriculture Bureau, and development partners should strengthen extension services and training, improve access to financial resources, and enhance soil and water conservation practices, with priority given to drought-prone communities to improve household food security and livelihoods.