Vol. 5, Issue 2, Part A (2023)

This study examined the factors influencing dietary diversity among farm households in the Amhara region of Ethiopia, where low dietary diversity is prevalent. Data from 300 households were collected and analyzed using descriptive statistics and an ordered probit model. The findings indicated that 26.8% of households had low dietary diversity, 66.9% had medium dietary diversity, and 6.3% had high dietary diversity. The most commonly consumed food groups were cereals (100%) and pulses (86%). The average household dietary diversity score was 4.42 food items out of 12 food groups. The ordered probit model showed that household head education above the primary level, spouse education at the primary level, weekly contact with extension agents, tropical livestock unit, and land size owned had positive effects on dietary diversity. Family size and spouse age had negative effects on dietary diversity. The marginal effects of the explanatory variables revealed that higher education levels of household heads and spouses decreased the likelihood of low dietary diversity by 18.6% and 13.7%, respectively. Weekly extension contacts decreased the likelihood of low dietary diversity by 17.9%. Larger family size and older spouse age increased the likelihood of low dietary diversity. Larger land size owned and tropical livestock units decreased the likelihood of low dietary diversity and increased the likelihood of medium and high dietary diversity. The study also found that households with high food gap months had lower dietary diversity than households with low food gap months, implying that dietary diversity is a useful proxy for food security in livelihood surveys, but also highlighting the challenges of achieving high dietary diversity for rural households due to limited food availability. The study suggested that improving family education, extension service, asset ownership, and family planning awareness could enhance household dietary diversity.