The Impact of Food Security Projects on Human Health in Rural Ethiopia

The Impact of Food Security Projects on Human Health in Rural Ethiopia Much of Ethiopia’s rural population lives in a state of chronic food insecurity. Recurrent drought, degradation of natural resources and rapid population growth are the main causes of declining per capita food production and ultimately leads to household food insecurity. Average daily energy intake is far below the recommended rate. Other health indicators like maternal and child health, life expectancy, sanitation and hygiene of Ethiopian rural people is precarious condition. The major health problems of rural people are said to be communicable diseases that are caused by mainly poor sanitation and malnutrition. Realizing this fact both government and several non-governmental organizations have been involved in the implementation of food security projects across all over rural Ethiopia. Though, lack of comprehensive data, there are scattered evidences that indicate positive changes occurred as a result of these food security project interventions. Thus, the purpose of this paper is to indicate empirical and insightful evidences how the government and non-government food security projects bring about the health well being of the rural people. Document review and key informant interview were the major instruments to collect the relevant data. Results showed that there have been positive and negative health changes and impacts on the rural people. As positive side, the nutrition status of the household improved as a result of water harvesting, small scale irrigation and ponds construction that enable theme nutritious rich vegetables and fruits, and diversification of income was also achieved that enhance the rural households that improve the hygiene and poor sanitation by constructing modern houses, buying new clothes and using pit latrine. On the contrary, the water harvesting scheme poses problems to rural people health as it was caused for water borne diseases and water- vector diseases.