The Determinants of Livelihood Diversification Strategies in Qecha Bira Woreda, Kambata Tambaro Zone, Southern Ethiopia

Tariku Lorato

doi:10.7176/jesd/10-9-02

Abstract

Rural households engage in to livelihood diversification activities to ensure their food needs. The livelihood diversification is determined by different factors. This study investigated the determinants of these strategies in Qecha Birra woreda. Multistage sampling technique was employed to select 355 household heads of study area. The descriptive statistics result indicated that majority of the rural households (41.6%) engaged into on farm activity. However, the rest 22.54%, 21.41% and 14.37% combine on farm with off farm, non-farm and off farm plus non-farm livelihood activities respectively. This shows that agriculture is still dominant livelihood activity in the study area. Multinomial logistic regression model result demonstrated sex of the household heads, age, education status, training, and extension service, credit access, livestock ownership and market access are found to be significant determinants of the diversification. Therefore due attention should be given to strengthen livelihood diversification strategies so as to improve food security. Keywords : Livelihood, Diversification, Determinants, multinomial Logit model, Food security DOI : 10.7176/JESD/10-9-02 Publication date :May 31 st 2019

Highlights

Agriculture is an important sector for the majority of the rural populations’ livelihood
Rural households in the study area engaged into different combination of livelihood diversification activities
As key informants explained that, households in the study area engaged in different livelihood activities like on farm, off farm activities, and non-farm activities (Handicraft activities, carpentry and house mudding), petty trade, selling of local drinks, trading of small ruminants and cattle, wheelbarrow, Cart and remittance transfers within and across nations)

Summary

Introduction

Agriculture is an important sector for the majority of the rural populations’ livelihood It has been the predominant activity for most rural households in Sub-Saharan African countries which offers a strong option for stimulating growth, overcoming poverty and improving food security (WB, 2008). The farming as a primary source of income has become failed to guarantee a sufficient livelihood for farming households (Babatunde, 2013) This is because the agricultural sector in the region is highly characterized by drought, erratic rainfall, decreasing farm sizes, low levels of output per farm, and a high degree of subsistence farming (Jirstrom et al, 2011). This has led to decline in agricultural productivity and food security. As stated in Workneh (2008) and Shitarek (2012) the causes of food insecurity in Ethiopia are drought, frequently occurring poverty, population growth, environmental degradation, diminishing of land holdings, lack of on-farm technological innovations and lack of non-farm/off-farm income generating sources

Methods

Results

Conclusion