Does microcredit use helps farmers win battle against food insecurity: evidence from Jimma zone of Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract Background Lack of access to credit precludes smallholder farmers from making investment that generates greater level income, consumption and wealth. To reverse this limit, Oromia Credit Saving Share Company has been providing microcredit for rural households the last two decades in study area. Yet, there is limited knowledge on impact service household food security Jimma zone. Therefore, research aims at generating location-specific data utilization A multistage sampling procedure was employed select 360 sample households. Data were generated through survey, focus group discussion key informant interview. Both descriptive econometric analysis techniques (binary logit model Propensity score matching) used. Results The results reveal educational level, family size; land size non/off-farm income influenced positively, whereas livestock ownership farm negatively it. status indicate large proportion are secure. matching result expose a positive significant security. Conclusions Efforts towards scaling out services institutions should target improving financial literacy poor their current need basis other resources such as they owned with ultimate goal ensuring It also imperative realize labour force capacity process expanding service.