Ethiopia is confronting a severe food insecurity crisis, with 15.8 million of its citizens facing acute hunger, according to a joint report by the United Nations Food & Agriculture Organisation (FAO) and the World Food Program (WFP). Over 6.2 million children face acute malnutrition, with 1.7 million at severe risk.

The grim report attributed the crisis to a confluence of erratic weather patterns, ongoing conflicts, and economic difficulties. A three-year catastrophic drought beginning in 2020 left communities vulnerable, followed by devastating floods the past two years. Macroeconomic headwinds and reduced humanitarian assistance have aggravated the situation, placing Ethiopia among 16 global hunger hotspots identified by the two UN agencies.

It now ranks the fourth most food-insecure country globally, trailing Nigeria, Sudan, and Yemen. Nigeria tops the list with 31.8 million food-insecure individuals, but Ethiopia's predicament is particularly alarming. The anticipated deterioration of the primary Meher harvest, mainly in southern and southeastern pastoral areas, feared to worsen conditions.

"Disposable income is out of the question," said Dida Kanchora, a farmer in the Borena Zone whose teff yield was halved due to insufficient rain and fertiliser shortages.

As a father of three, he now struggles to sustain his family. He is hardly alone, as only one-third of the Zone's land was ploughed this year due to inadequate rainfall, leaving six out of 10 districts uncultivated. Farmers in towns like Yabelo, Gomole, Elowoye, and Tettale farmed only 23,000hct, abandoning plans for wheat entirely.

"We harvest only 15pc of our plan," said Kare Dursih, a Oromia Regional State Agriculture Bureau senior official.

The proliferation of conflicts remains the main driver of food insecurity, affecting 14 out of the 16 hunger hotspots globally. One in seven people worldwide experienced armed violence by mid-2024, a 64pc increase from four years ago. The escalation undermines stability, diminishes coping capacities, and heightens vulnerability to natural disasters.

In Ethiopia, ongoing conflicts in the Oromia and Amhara regional states have displaced communities, disrupted livelihoods, and restricted humanitarian access. Intense fighting, shifting conflict zones, and bureaucratic hurdles impede aid delivery. The destruction extends to croplands and livestock, crippling agricultural productivity and forcing communities into dependency on dwindling humanitarian aid.

Farmers are often unable to access markets, while displacement interrupts education and healthcare, creating a vicious cycle of poverty and food insecurity.

Despite these, federal authorities remain optimistic.

"We've cultivated over 20.4 million hectares of land, yielding 53 million quintals of crops," said Esayas Lemma, head of crop development at the Ministry of Agriculture (MoA), downplaying concerns over below-average rainfall.

Government representatives argue that the nationwide yield would suffice to address food needs if distributed effectively. However, logistical constraints, impeded by ongoing conflicts and regional disparities, make equitable distribution a monumental task. Given the magnitude of the crisis, efforts to scale up irrigation-based agriculture and modernise farming practices remain inadequate.