In response to the reduction in species diversity within agriculture and the pressing issue of food insecurity, farmers in the Dugda Dawa district have been practicing enset-based homegarden agroforestry (EBHAF) and parkland agroforestry (PAF). However, there is a limited understanding of its role in conserving agrobiodiversity and enhancing food production in the semi-arid areas. The present study, aimed to assess the role of EBHAF and PAF in conserving agrobiodiversity and ensuring food production in semi-arid areas of Dugda Dawa district, southern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique, involving stratification, purposeful selection, and random sampling was used for this study. A total of 124 households (63 EBHAF and 61 PAF) were interviewed about food production and income generation, and an inventory of plant species were done on the agroforestry farms of sampled household. A total of 25 plant species belonging to 15 families were recorded in the study area. The results showed that EBHAF had a higher number of plant species, with a total of 23 species from 15 families, compared to PAF, which had 11 species from 6 families. The EBHAF exhibited higher plant species richness (7.5 f 0.26), and diversity (2.53), than PAF where the value of richness (4.9 f 0.25) and diversity (1.59). In terms of livestock species, EBHAF had a higher species diversity compared to PAF. EBHAF showed significantly higher food production in Zea mays (811 f 29 Kg), Phaseolus vulgaris (237 f 24 Kg), milk (1928 f 55 L), and livestock meat (105 f 13.2 Kg) compared to PAF where the values were Zea mays (711 f 29 Kg), Phaseolus vulgaris (165 f 15.9 Kg), milk (1190 f 9.3 L), and livestock meat (47 f 3.9 Kg) respectively. The overall food production sustainability score for EBHAF was 0.751, which exceeds the satisfactory level of (0.75) as per organization for economic co-operation and development classification of Sustainability Indices, while PAF scored only 0.33, falling below that threshold. In conclusion, practicing EBHAF in Dugda Dawa district is more preferred compare to PAF in promoting agrobiodiversity and sustainable food production. Therefore, it is recommended for farmers to scale up EBHAF as it promotes agrobiodiversity and sustainable food production.