Traditional storage pit, polota, for storing sorghum as a long-term survival strategy in Dirashe special Worenda, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

ABSTRACTSeventy percent of the African continent is categorized into arid and semi-arid zones with a harsh climate. As a result of difficulties in securing a reliable food supply, it is thus quite rare to see the accumulation of food in rural villages in Africa. On the other hand, the Dirashe people living in southern Ethiopia own traditional storage pits called “polota” that can store sorghum for several years. This study investigates how the people utilize polota in their daily lives in order to secure a sufficient supply of food at both the individual and community levels. Participant observation and interviews were conducted to ascertain the roles of polota, the management of crops, and the historical background of polota. Moreover, climate data were analyzed to understand the climate over a span from several years to several decades, as this has a great influence on food production. Ultimately, the polota enables the villagers to prepare for a year of harvest failure by strategically storing crops harvested in a year of large yield. Additionally, those who own a number of polotas voluntarily open them and share the stored sorghum with villagers during the time of food security.