Abstract
Trees on farms are a widespread feature of landscapes across a large part of Ethiopia with an important role in enhancing the resilience of smallholder livelihoods through the provision of ecosystem services. Despite their importance, little is known about what trees are planted or retained from natural regeneration by different types of farmers that results in the pattern of tree cover found in the region. We address this knowledge gap through analysis of household survey data from semi-arid and sub humid areas of Oromia regional state. A set of composite variables that represent distinctive patterns of tree cover on farms were derived from principal component analysis and Pearson correlation analysis. This revealed two major tree adoption strategies: farmer managed natural regeneration (FMNR) of trees to meet subsistence needs as well as contributing to other ecosystem services; and, high value agroforestry (HVAF) involving planted trees used largely to produce fruits, timber and fodder. Regression analysis further identified fine-scale variation in ecological and socio-economic factors that affect which of these two broad strategies are adopted by farmers. Favorable climatic conditions coupled with institutional arrangements to control free grazing were pre-conditions for HVAF, whereas poor biophysical potential and sloping land provided a positive incentive for farmers to adopt FMNR. Farmers with preferences for tree species with multiple utilities and locational flexibility favored FMNR while adoption of HVAF was more asset-driven. Our findings reveal that farmers integrate many native and exotic tree species on their farms to meet their variable farm conditions, needs and asset profiles in stark contrast to most tree promotion efforts that focus on a few, usually exotic, tree species. We recommend that future agroforestry promotion should embrace a diversity of tree species appropriate to matching the fine scale variation in ecological conditions and farmer circumstances encountered in the field.
Highlights
Ethiopia’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture which supports 83 % of the population mainly through production of rain-fed grain, predominantly teff, maize and wheat as well as livestock, principally cattle, sheep and goats (Deressa et al 2009)
Our findings reveal that farmers integrate many native and exotic tree species on their farms to meet their variable farm conditions, needs and asset profiles in stark contrast to most tree promotion efforts that focus on a few, usually exotic, tree species
Trees on farms are characteristic of a large part of the Ethiopian agricultural landscape today, while tree species distribution and management intensity varying with agro-ecological conditions principally defined by rainfall, altitude, and soil type (Poschen 1986; Teklay et al 2007; Gelaw et al 2014)
Summary
Ethiopia’s economy is heavily dependent on agriculture which supports 83 % of the population mainly through production of rain-fed grain, predominantly teff, maize and wheat as well as livestock, principally cattle, sheep and goats (Deressa et al 2009). Farmers usually retain between 1–20 trees of selected species per hectare and minimize impact on the companion crops through occasional lopping and pollarding of trees (Poschen 1986). Examples of this practice include Cordia africana intercropping with maize in sub-humid zones (Yadessa et al 2009), Faidherbia-based agroforestry in teff-wheat zones (Poschen 1986) and a diverse range of Acacia species such as A. tortilis and A. senegal in fields in low lying savanna regions (Degefu et al 2011). It is common for farmers to deliberately plant and manage trees on their farms, such as fast growing timber woodlots predominantly using Eucalyptus spp. or fruit orchards (Deininger and Jin 2006)
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