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RURAL LIVELIHOOD VULNERABILITIES, COPING STRATEGIES AND OUTCOMES: A CASE STUDY IN CENTRAL RIFT VALLEY OF ETHIOPIA
Sime, G & Aune, JB
Abstract
Extensively vulnerable mixed rain-fed farming system is the underlying mainstay of
livelihoods of farmers in the central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. This study aimed to assess
determinants of farmers’ livelihood vulnerabilities to shocks, their coping strategies and
outcomes. Cross-sectional data were collected from farmers, agricultural experts, and
other development workers through formal and informal focus group discussions, key
informant interviews and complemented by field observations. Results showed that
natural, institutional, and physical factors are the overriding determinants triggering rural
livelihood vulnerabilities to frequent food shocks. Particularly, unpredictable rainfall
timing and severity, and ineffective early warning system had practically escalated
livelihood vulnerabilities to food shocks. Farmers varied in their assets and
socioeconomic capabilities, including wealth status, livestock and poultry holding size,
farm size and its soil fertility status, participation in local social networks, and financial
capital and access to credit facilities. Farmers also varied in their vulnerability to
encountering food shocks and capability to coping. Strategies practiced by households
to increase livelihood resilience to rainfall variability include selection of appropriate
crop variety, selection of appropriate calendar for planting, intercropping, crop rotation
and indigenous in situ rainwater harvesting. Sharing grains among households
themselves, selling small ruminants, engaging in off-farm activities and migration were
key ameliorative strategies to handle small-scale and temporary food shocks. While,
institutional interventions with Food Aid and Safety Net programs were commonly used
as the underlying coping strategies for severe and large-scale food shocks. The livelihood
outcomes were characterized by continued endeavors to avert the inappropriate land
management system, to adapt to the recurrent drought and dry spells, and to improve the
inadequate early warnings condition for seasonal agro-meteorology. Therefore, authors
suggest concerted efforts of stakeholder institutions and local communities to improve
the livelihood outcomes that should enhance household capabilities, activities, assets and
accesses; reduce vulnerabilities to shocks; and ensure sustainable agricultural production
system in central Rift Valley of Ethiopia.
Keywords
sustainable livelihood approach; asset; rainfall variability; food shock; outcome; semi-arid Ethiopia
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