Farm size, food security, and welfare

Chapter 6, “Farm Size, Food Security, and Welfare,” looks at the association of farm sizes with food security and welfare. This is an important issue in Ethiopian agriculture given that a growing rural population combined with limited scope for further land expansion and slow movement out of agricul...

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Main Authors: Abay, Kibrewossen, Hirvonen, Kalle, Minten, Bart
Format: Book Chapter
Language:Inglés
Published: International Food Policy Research Institute 2020
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143251
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author Abay, Kibrewossen
Hirvonen, Kalle
Minten, Bart
author_browse Abay, Kibrewossen
Hirvonen, Kalle
Minten, Bart
author_facet Abay, Kibrewossen
Hirvonen, Kalle
Minten, Bart
author_sort Abay, Kibrewossen
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Chapter 6, “Farm Size, Food Security, and Welfare,” looks at the association of farm sizes with food security and welfare. This is an important issue in Ethiopian agriculture given that a growing rural population combined with limited scope for further land expansion and slow movement out of agriculture means that average (mean) farm sizes are decreasing in Ethiopia. Using cross-sectional data for the Ethiopian highlands, the authors find—surprisingly—small differences between owners of small and large farms in key welfare and food security outcomes. For example, a 20 percent increase in owned land area is associated with only a 0.7 percent increase in food consumption (measured in calories). Five adjustments are made by households residing on small farms to assure similar calorie intake as those residing on larger farms.12 First, they participate actively in land rental markets and, as a result, are able to double their cultivated land area on average. Second, they compensate their small landholdings with other income sources, mainly livestock and nonfarm businesses, permitting additional food purchases. Third, they cultivate their land more intensively, obtaining higher yields. Fourth, they favor more calorie-dense crops that are mostly used for their own consumption. Fifth, they produce as well as consume cheaper food items.
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spelling CGSpace1432512025-11-06T04:01:07Z Farm size, food security, and welfare Abay, Kibrewossen Hirvonen, Kalle Minten, Bart agricultural production policies nonfarm income agricultural policies welfare farm income agriculture agrifood systems food security food consumption farm size Chapter 6, “Farm Size, Food Security, and Welfare,” looks at the association of farm sizes with food security and welfare. This is an important issue in Ethiopian agriculture given that a growing rural population combined with limited scope for further land expansion and slow movement out of agriculture means that average (mean) farm sizes are decreasing in Ethiopia. Using cross-sectional data for the Ethiopian highlands, the authors find—surprisingly—small differences between owners of small and large farms in key welfare and food security outcomes. For example, a 20 percent increase in owned land area is associated with only a 0.7 percent increase in food consumption (measured in calories). Five adjustments are made by households residing on small farms to assure similar calorie intake as those residing on larger farms.12 First, they participate actively in land rental markets and, as a result, are able to double their cultivated land area on average. Second, they compensate their small landholdings with other income sources, mainly livestock and nonfarm businesses, permitting additional food purchases. Third, they cultivate their land more intensively, obtaining higher yields. Fourth, they favor more calorie-dense crops that are mostly used for their own consumption. Fifth, they produce as well as consume cheaper food items. 2020-09-01 2024-05-22T12:12:45Z 2024-05-22T12:12:45Z Book Chapter https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143251 en https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896296916 https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896296930 Open Access application/pdf International Food Policy Research Institute Abay, Kibrewossen; Hirvonen, Kalle; and Minten, Bart. 2020. Farm size, food security, and welfare. In Ethiopia's agrifood system: Past trends, present challenges, and future scenarios, eds. Paul A. Dorosh and Bart Minten. Part One: Natural Resources and Production, Chapter 6, Pp. 147-173. Washington, DC: International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI). https://doi.org/10.2499/9780896296916_06.
spellingShingle agricultural production
policies
nonfarm income
agricultural policies
welfare
farm income
agriculture
agrifood systems
food security
food consumption
farm size
Abay, Kibrewossen
Hirvonen, Kalle
Minten, Bart
Farm size, food security, and welfare
title Farm size, food security, and welfare
title_full Farm size, food security, and welfare
title_fullStr Farm size, food security, and welfare
title_full_unstemmed Farm size, food security, and welfare
title_short Farm size, food security, and welfare
title_sort farm size food security and welfare
topic agricultural production
policies
nonfarm income
agricultural policies
welfare
farm income
agriculture
agrifood systems
food security
food consumption
farm size
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/143251
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AT hirvonenkalle farmsizefoodsecurityandwelfare
AT mintenbart farmsizefoodsecurityandwelfare