Household determinants of food security in rural western Uganda. A case study of Bushenyi district

Abstract

The study was about household determinants of food security in Bushenyi District. The main objective of the study was to find out the household determinants of food security. The study was based on secondary data collected by the Uganda National Bureau of Statistics in the Uganda National Household Survey 2019/20. A binary logistic regression model was used to assess factors that affect food security in Bushenyi. The findings revealed that among the interviewed people 33.2% and 66.8% were female and male-headed households respectively. From Table 4.2, variables that had a p-value less than 0.2 were selected for further analysis at the multivariable level. For example; access to credit facilities, education level of the household head, household income, occupation of the household head, and growing of food crops, were significant at p-value (p<0.2). Results from Table 4.4 presented that household income and access to credit facilities by households had a significant effect on household food security (p-values of 0.006 and 0.004) respectively. Growing food crops also had a significant effect on household food security (p-values of 0.048). On average, households growing food crops are 0.1 times (AOR: 0.09; 95% CI: 0.01-0.98) likely to be food secure compared to households that did not grow food crops. The study recommended the government should advise households to grow food crops that resilient to pests and diseases and adverse weather conditions as well as encourage the cultivation of a variety of crops to reduce the risk of crop failure. Reduction in interest rates given to households accessing credit.