Role of Socio Economic Factors and Perception towards Agriculture, for Food in-security: A study of KelafoWoreda of Somali State of Ethiopia.

Present study deals with the role of socio-economic factors for the problem of food in security in KelafoWoreda of Somali State of Ethiopia; it also underlines the significance of peoples’ perception for crop cultivationand its impact on food insecurity in the study area. Living in the same environment, why the kebele (kebele: Lowest level of Administrative division) inhabited by different sub tribe of Somali, falls distinctly under food secured and food in secured category. The descriptive research design with survey method was used for the study. Information was collected from both primary and secondary sources. World Food Program (2012-13) classification map for identification of Food Secured and Food insecuredkebeles was used as a base map. Purposively one kebele each from Food Secured and Food insecuredkebele was selected and further census survey was employed for household survey. Schedules, interview, FGD and field observations were the tools used for collection of primary information. Data of family profile shows high female headed households particularly in FinSkebele of Ogaden tribe (33.9%), due to the high number of male youth causality during ongoing insurgency and conflicts among the tribal sub groups. The food in-secured kebele shows very less percent (1.6%)of HHHs at higher age category (65 and above ) in FinSkebele due to the malnourishment clubbed with a strong culture of chewing chat (an stimulant vegetation) among Ogadens leads to the early deaths. Malnourishment among babies and mothers also responsible for the high infant and child mortality, and comparatively smaller family size in Fins kebeles The poor situation of education which reflects in very high percentage devoid off with even any formal education in both kebeles (90.3% and 61.3% respectively).Having a high position in Somali social order and looking down to the agriculture activity is a bone of contention for achieving food security. This attitude is reflected in their extreme negligence for owning the land and participation in agriculture operations. In FS kebele almost 90% HHs owns land while FinSkebele it goes down to 71%. Again 22.2 % HHs of FS kebele acquire land for cultivation on rent mostly from FinSkebeleHHs. This negative attitude and negligence is further reflected in use of modern inputs; in FS it is more than 4/5th of HHs goes for it while in case of FinSkebeley it is applicable for only 1/5th of the HHs that too largely for insecticides only. There is a big difference in their major economic activity, which is an outcome of their past social legacy and ends up with a extremely poor perception for agriculture particularly the crop cultivation. Food secured kebeles are largely agro- pastoralist, while food in secured kebeles are largely pastoralist. It is not because of the variation in their natural resources or climatic conditions but their attitude towards crop cultivation, among OgadenSomalies having the high number of animals particularly the camels is a matter of pride and high social status while crop cultivation is suppose to be the act of people with lower social order. Study recommends that maintaining peace and security is the prime pre-requisite for any developmental activity in the area. Change in the negative perception for agriculture among FinSOgadenkebele is very much needed which could be achieved by massive awareness and training program run jointly by Federal-state and NGOs. Improving status of formal education supported by nourishment incentive like Mid-Day Meal program could be of duel benefit.