Food insecurity in Ethiopia derives directly from dependence on undiversified
livelihoods based on low-input, low-output rainfed agriculture. Ethiopian farmers
do not produce enough food even in good rainfall years to meet consumption
requirements. Given the fragile natural resource base and climatic uncertainty,
current policy emphases on agricultural intensification are misguided, while
institutional constraints such as inflexible land tenure and ethnic federalism
perpetuate this unviable livelihood system. Inappropriate food aid interventions
by donors add another layer of dependence, at both household and national
levels. This paper concludes by proposing a range of options for consideration
by donors and government to redress chronic and transitory food insecurity.
Recommendations for immediate action include improved food aid targeting and
safety nets programming. Medium-term interventions focus on recapitalisation of
assetless households, plus agricultural yield stabilisation. Long-term strategies
must involve diversification away from rainfall-dependent livelihoods.