The impact of vegetables and durum wheat value chains to alleviate unemployment and migration in selected woredas of oromia regional state, ethiopia.

Abstract

Poor countries, like Ethiopia, at this time are highly attached with different problems like poverty, unemployment, backward culture, famine, illiteracy, and high population growth rate. The study was to contribute creating evidence from the government and NGOs intervention experience for further supporting durum wheat and vegetable value chains players in strengthening, expanding and in creating jobs for vulnerable youth in the target areas. With the specific objectives of this research was identify elements of the intervention that shall be further promoted, adjusted or discontinued, identify a range of market-driven non-farm business and income generation opportunities for youth groups and cooperatives, within the durum wheat and vegetable value chains and across interconnecting markets and identify the COVID-19-related impact on youth and women in the target value chains. Sample size includes vegetable traders 123, for wheat trader 261 and for wheat and vegetable producers 384. Cross-tabulation, charts, figures, percentages, and graphs used along with narrative accounts to present the findings. Qualitative data collected via KII narrated and interpreted to supplement data obtained through questionnaire. Wheat processing private companies in the study areas has been creating job opportunities for a number of unemployed youths. The majority of the durum wheat producers 90 (35.86%) and 62 (35.06%) in the study areas were supplied their product to whole seller and local collectors. Both wheat and vegetable target producers were asked about the possible impact of the current pandemic Covid-19 on their farm production. Creating strong linkages among different actors and/ sectors in the value chain for developments of both durum wheat and vegetable value chain developments and through creating job for youth and stemming irregular migration is crucial recommended.