Abstract:
In this thesis, the researcher assessed the growth determinants of micro and small enterprises
and its linkages with food security in Mecha woreda in the Amhara region. The objectives of
the research were: to identify the determinant factors of micro and small enterprises growth,
to assess the household food security status of micro and small enterprises operators, to
assess the support service provisions for micro and small enterprises and, to examine the
associations of micro and small enterprises growth with households food security status.The
research was mixed research and conducted through concurrent triangulation design. The
data collection methods were questionnaire, key informant interview and focus group
discussions. The researcher implemented stratified sampling method and purposive sampling
method to select samples. The data was analyzed through chi-square test and binary logistic
regression using SPSS 20 software. The findings of the study shows that the factors that
significantly determines the MSEs growth (at 5% level of significance) were government
support, work premise accessibility, training, previous work experience, record keeping,
possession of license and lack of market linkages. Except lack of market linkages, all other
factors have a positive relationship with MSEs growth.
The chi-square test of independence result indicates that, there is a significant relationship
between MSEs growth and the households food security status (at 1% level of significance).
Hence, as the MSEs grow, the operators’households’ food security status improves. The
findings indicate that the food security status of operators working in a survival MSEs did not
show improvement.
