SOCIO-ECONOMIC CONTRIBUTIONS OF SMALL-SCALE PLANTATIONS IN ETHIOPIA

In order to enhance the attention given by farmers, government and concerned bodies, the socio-economic contributions of small-scale plantations should be studied. This study identified the socio-economic benefits of small-scale plantations in the Godera Woreda of Gambella Region, Ethiopia. Data were collected through questioners and key informant interviews from 208 farmers and 8 key informants. Descriptive statistics and a regression model were used to analyse the data. The results of the study revealed that of the average 1.72 ha of land possessed by small-scale farmers 0.81 ha was used for tree plantations. The main types of plantations were coffee, eucalyptus, banana and avocado. The mean annual production was 645 kg, 290 kg and 271 kg for coffee, banana and avocado, respectively. Small-scale farmers earned a mean of 4675.56 Birr from plantations which was 32.37 % of the total income. The Woreda government gained 365,022 Birr royalty payment during 2015/16.The regression results show income from plantations significantly affects the annual income of small-scale farmers (β = 0.436, p < 0.01). Access to basic services, land use change, expenditures, population growth, employment opportunities, and migration are social changes supported by small-scale plantations. The availability of a favourable environment, extension service, land, and peace are opportunities of plantations. In contrast, challenges of small-scale plantations are disease, low prices for product, lack of improved plantation varieties, shortage of land, lack of demand, climate change and rainfall reduction, lack of government support, and high transportation costs. It is recommended to strengthen the small-scale plantations for better positive socio-economic contributions of the sector through supporting the opportunities and management of identified challenges

The Effect of Shocks: An Empirical Analysis of Ethiopia

Besides striving for the increase of production and development, it is also necessary to reduce the losses created by the shocks. The people of Ethiopia are exposed to the impact of both natural and man-made shocks. Following this, policy makers, governmental and non-governmental organizations need to identify the important shocks and their effect and use as an input. This study was conducted to identify the food insecurity shocks and to estimate their effect based on the conceptual framework developed in Ethiopia, Amhara National Regional State of Libo Kemkem District. Descriptive statistical analysis, multiple regression, binary logistic regression, chi-squared and independent sample t-test were used as a data analysis technique. The results showed eight shocks affecting households which were weather variability, weed, plant insect and pest infestation, soil fertility problem, animal disease and epidemics, human disease and epidemics, price fluctuation problem and conflict. Weather variability, plant insect and pest infestation, weed, animal disease and epidemics created a mean loss of 3,821.38, 886.06, 508.04 and 1,418.32 Birr, respectively. In addition, human disease and epidemics, price fluctuation problem and conflict affected 68.11%, 88.11% and 14.59% of households, respectively. Among the sample households 28,1 % were not able to meet their food need throughout the year while 71,9 % could. The result of the multiple regression models revealed that weed existence (β = –0,142, p < 0,05), plant insect and pest infestation (β = –0,279, p < 0,01) and soil fertility problem (β = –0,321, p < 0,01) had significant effect on income. Asset was found significantly affected by plant insect and pest infestation (β = –0,229, p < 0,01), human disease and epidemics (β = 0,145, p < 0,05), and soil fertility problem (β = –0,317, p < 0,01) while food production was affected by soil fertility problem (β = –0,314, p < 0,01). Binary logistic regression model revealed that food availability of the households was highly affected by the asset (Exp(B) = 1,00, p < 0,1), and food production (Exp(B) = 1,379, p < 0,01)

Determinants of urban household income diversification and its relation to food security: lessons from Yejube town in Ethiopia

This study was conducted to analyze the determinants of urban household income diversification and its relation to household food security status in Ethiopia. A cross-sectional research design and mixed research method of the sequential transformative strategy were used. A multistage sampling procedure was used to select 200 households. Primary data were collected with the aid of household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. The study used descriptive statistics, Simpson diversity index, per-capita calorie consumption, ordered logistic regression model, and simple linear regression model to analyze the socio-economic data, level of income diversification, food security status, determinants of income diversification, and the effect of income diversification on household food security respectively. The overall mean of household income was 70,241.5 birr. The Simpson diversity index result showed that 8%, 24%, 53.5%, and 14.5% of the households were no, less, average, and high diversifiers respectively with a mean of 0.36. The per-capita calorie consumption result indicated that 53% of households were food secure and 47% of households were food insecure. The ordered logistic regression model revealed that education level (B = 0.72, p < 0.01), access to credit (B = 2.9, p < 0.01), information access (B = 0.7, p < 0.05), landownership (B = 2.1, p < 0.01)and access to training (B = 1.1, p < 0.01) had positive effect while access to market (B = −1.1, p < 0.05) had negative effect. The result of simple linear regression analysis result revealed that income diversification (B = 0.2, p < 0.01) has a positive and significant effect on food security. To improve urban food security, the government and scholars should consider the livelihoods of the urban poor, and further studies should be conducted in urban areas

Determinants of livelihood diversification and its contribution to food security of rural households in Gozamin Woreda, Ethiopia

This study was conducted to assess the determinants of rural households’ livelihood diversification and its contribution to household food security status in Gozamin Woreda, Amhara region, Ethiopia. A cross-sectional research design and mixed research approach were used. Primary data were collected with the aid of household surveys, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions. A multi-stage stratified random sampling method was used to select 218 households. The Simpson diversity index result showed that 22.94%, 11.93%, 44.5%, and 20.64% of the households were no, low, average, and high livelihood diversifiers. The food consumption score result indicated that 41.28%, 10.09%, and 48.62% of households were found in poor, borderline, and acceptable food security status respectively. In addition, the ordered logistic regression model revealed that education level, agroecology, memberships of cooperative, access to training, access to transport, access to credit, agricultural risk, and total annual income positively affect while sex negatively affect the status of livelihood diversifications. The ordered logistic regression analysis also revealed that the status of livelihood diversification with has a positive and highly significant effect on the status of food security. The study concluded that when the status of households’ livelihood diversification increased, the status of food security also highly increased in the study area. Therefore, to improve the status of food security, extension workers, local governmental and non-governmental organization and policymakers should give higher attention to increasing the status of livelihood diversification of rural households. Finally, policy implications were made according to the finding of the study