Choice of Livelihood Strategies and Its Determinants in Pastoralist Area of Bale Zone: The Case of Sawena District, Oromia, South East Ethiopia

doi:10.7176/jnsr/13-3-01

Abstract

The carrying capacity of pure pastoralist livelihood strategies only to attain food and livelihood security is extremely declining from time to time. Diversifying livelihood strategies at current time become a common phenomenon in the study area. The general objectives of this study are, therefore, to characterize the existing livelihood strategies adopted by pastoral households and its determinants in the Sawena district, Oromia National Regional State, Southeast Ethiopia. To examine this general objective, the study employed descriptive statistics and bivariate probit model. Both primary and secondary data sources were used for the study. For the purpose of this study primary data collected from 350 sample households through face-to, face interview. In addition, focus group discussions and personal observation are used. Relevant secondary data were also obtained from concerned zonal and district government office. Descriptive statistics was applied to characterize livelihood strategies of the sample households. The finding of the survey result indicates that about 66.57 % of households engaged on pure pastoralist activities, whereas about 33.43 % were relying only on agro pastoralist activities to achieve their livelihood goal(s).This result indicates that most of the pastoral household heads are engaged in pure pastoralist activities rather than diversifying toward agro pastoral and related non-pastoral livelihood activities. Bivariate probit model applied to investigate factors influencing the households’ choice of livelihood strategies. The Econometric model result indicated that age, family size, dependency ratio, tropical livestock unit of holding, access to mass media, distance from the nearest market, access to rural electrification, access to irrigation, total farm land size and access to rangeland were determining pastorals’ choice of livelihood strategies. The results of this study suggests that development interventions, policies and capacity-building activities should be designed to suit the felt needs and circumstances of different groups of pastorals households. Keywords: Livelihood capital asset, Livelihood strategies, pastoralist, Bivariate Probit models, South East Ethiopia DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/13-3-01 Publication date: February 28 th 2022

Highlights

Pastoralists in Ethiopia live in the arid or semi-arid lands, which cover about 63% of the country (REGLAP, 2012)
The finding of the survey result indicates that about 66.57 % of households engaged on pure pastoralist activities, whereas about 33.43 % were relying only on agro pastoralist activities to achieve their livelihood goal(s).This result indicates that most of the pastoral household heads are engaged in pure pastoralist activities rather than diversifying toward agro pastoral and related non-pastoral livelihood activities
The Econometric model result indicated that age, family size, dependency ratio, tropical livestock unit of holding, access to mass media, distance from the nearest market, access to rural electrification, access to irrigation, total farm land size and access to rangeland were determining pastorals’ choice of livelihood strategies

Summary

Introduction

Pastoralists in Ethiopia live in the arid or semi-arid lands, which cover about 63% of the country (REGLAP, 2012). Pastoralists have found distributed over 122 districts of the country Most of these districts are located in very remote and marginalized areas of the country, whose livelihoods depend on their intimate knowledge of the surrounding ecosystem and on the wellbeing of their livestock (EEA, 2005). Despite their economic contribution, there has been a fundamental misunderstanding of the pastoral production system in Ethiopia (like in many other countries in Africa).But, the pastoralists are contributing to the national economy in form of domestic and international export of livestock and livestock products. About 50 percent of livestock value added comes from these zones; overall, livestock accounts for about 30% of national agricultural GDP (PFE, 2010)

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