The economy of Ethiopia in general and in Oromia in particular is dominated by smallholder farmers, which accounts for about 89% of the total population engaged in agriculture. Consequently, food insecurity has been frequent whereby vulnerability and variability of access to food, including low intake of food is seen commonly. This situation is mainly attributed to the following factors:

• Fragmented farmland holding, thus low yields at household level that would be impacting negatively on the supply side of food. This is because of the extensive farming system accustomed to for subsistence not commercialization, which requiring intensive type for increasing yields.
• Population increases, reducing farmland holding, further affecting environmental situation as a resulting of claiming new extensive farmland, and thus carrying out deforestation influencing ecosystem and climate change – increased local warming and decreased seasonal rainfall amount, counter acting agro crop production and productivity.

These circumstances are affecting livelihood of farming community and causing food insecurity, which has been frequently visible situation in the country that called upon OSRA and other Civil Society Organizations engaged in similar interventions to improve the livelihood of the rural communities

Consequently, OSRA is implementing different programs that contribute to the food security and livelihood of rural communities in its intervention areas.

This intervention targets resource poor rural community members, women and land less youth. The overall objective is to improve income and build household asset of resource poor people. Oromo Self Reliance Association believes that small ruminant fattening and marketing through zero grazing approach will help improve the livelihood of the poor. At present, this intervention is being implemented in five selected rural villages of Adea berga district.

In OSRA’s operational areas, like much of rural Ethiopia, agriculture—both crop and livestock—is the main source of livelihood. However, communities rely heavily on traditional, unsustainable practices in utilizing local resources. This has led to declining land productivity, shrinking pasture areas, reduced crop yields, and falling livestock output over time.

Rapid population growth and urban expansion have changed land-use patterns, with most farmland now devoted to crops, leaving little to no grazing space. Additionally, as children—traditionally tasked with herding—attend school, managing livestock the traditional way has become more difficult. During dry seasons, cereal crop residues are often the only feed available, worsening feed shortages.

Despite being vital to household incomes, traditional livestock practices yield minimal returns due to poor knowledge of improved methods, low genetic quality of local breeds, and limited access to services and inputs. These challenges have highlighted the need to adopt improved breeds and promote better livestock management through zero grazing.

Zero grazing shifts the focus from quantity to quality—reducing herd size to match available resources while improving animal productivity. In partnership with stakeholders, OSRA is implementing zero grazing and improved heifer production in 20 kebeles in Akaki and Ada districts, aiming to boost household income and food security through more sustainable livestock systems.

Despite their significant contributions to economic development, women often remain disadvantaged, with limited authority and decision-making power over resources and community affairs. While OSRA mainstreams gender across all its programs, it also recognizes the need for targeted initiatives that specifically empower marginalized and disadvantaged women.

To address this, OSRA adopts the Self-Help Group (SHG) approach, which builds on the inner potential of women by promoting a culture of saving and enabling access to internal loans among group members. These groups can also connect with external financial institutions to access additional resources that support their needs.

OSRA supports the formation of SHGs and provides capacity-building trainings in business management, entrepreneurship, savings, and credit. It also supplies inputs for launching income-generating activities. As a result, many women have successfully engaged in small businesses, improved their household incomes, strengthened their savings habits, and contributed to the overall well-being of their families.

Small scale vegetable crop production at household level is being promoted with the main purpose of improving the livelihoods of the rural households. It specifically aimed at improving the nutritional requirements of the households and increase income from sales of vegetable crops.

This program mainly targets poor women and provides them skill training on improved agronomic practices of vegetable production and management, training and demonstration of food preparation from various vegetable crops, and provides them inputs such as seeds and links them with input suppliers and markets.