Food insecurity is one of the top-standing scourges that all countries of the worldrnhave been suffering. However, its scale varies in time and place. This studyrntherefore, atlempts to identifY level and key determinants of as well as copingrnmechanisms adopted at local level (by the householders of Lemo Woreda) against it.Household sample survey, which I'as fill"ther triangulated by key informantrninterviews and focus group discussions as well as reinforced by researcher's directrnobservation, was the principal means of generating data from primary sources.rnSecondary data sources were published and unpublished as well as hard and sofirncopies of difJerent organizations. Data ji"om ali sources were analyzed using bothrnqualitative and quantitative methods.Overall, the study finds out that the sample households in particular and the studyrnworeda at large were in a low level of food security. Moreover, out of eighteenrnindependent variables that were regressed on per capita food availability forrnconsumption (a dependent variable), Ihe slalistically significant ones (the majorrndeterminants of household food insecllrity) in the study area were eight. Tolal cropsrnproduction was found Ihe strongest positively influencing determinant whilernhousehold size was the strongest negalively influencing one, with the stamina of thernlatler excelling the former. The sample households were practicing various measuresrnto cope up against the occurrence offuod insecllrily.Finally, the study recommends sl1orl-, medilllll-, and long-Ierm solutions likernimprovement of the agricultural prodllclivity, access to farm credit as well as off-farmrnand non-farm employment, parlicipalolY reselliement programs, natural resourcernmanagement, effective implemenlalion of pop lila lion policy, etc.Key words: rural; household; food insecurity; level;rndeterminants; coping strategies