Livelihood Profile Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

Size: px

Start display at page:

Download "Livelihood Profile Oromiya Region, Ethiopia"

Tiffany Wade
5 years ago
Views:

1 Livelihood Profile Oromiya Region, Ethiopia Agarfa, Gasera, Ginir & Gololcha Fruit, Coffee & Chat (AFC) Livelihood Zone 1 May 2008 Zone Description The Agarfa, Gasera, Gini rand Gololcha Fruit Coffee and Chat (AFC) Livelihood Zone is located in Shirka, Robe and Seru woredas of Arsi and Ginir, Gassera, Gololcha and Agarfa woredas of the Bale zone. The livelihood zone is predominantly lowland or kola though some parts are midland or woinadega. The major category of livelihoods is mixed farming, mainly crop and livestock production. The main types of crops grown are maize, teff, sorghum and wheat and horticultural crops such as sugar cane, bananas, chat, oranges and coffee. Livestock such as cattle, goats and donkeys are also reared to support the livelihoods of the people. Chickens and beehives are other activities that generate income. Valleys, gorges and rugged terrain dominate the zone. The vegetation coverage includes bush and indigenous trees such as acacia and juniper. The main rivers are Wabe, Weyib, Inzara and Melka Qore rivers. The main towns are Gobessa, Ginir, Jara, Gassera, Agarfa and Robe. The asphalt road that from Addis Ababa connects Assela and Bale towns passes through the zone. Dire Sheka Hussein is a famous religious site located in the zone and many people visit this historical place every year. Melka Wakena hydroelectric plant, one of the country s main power plants is located here. Other unexploited natural resources in the area include stone for construction, sand and iron-ore. Cactus or shonka is a wild food that is sometimes consumed by people in the area. The area is sparsely populated and temperatures are warm. There are two rainy seasons, Ganna and Arfasa. Ganna rains starts in mid June and ends in September while Arfasa rains start in March and end in mid-may. The soil is relatively fertile sandy loam soil and generally the livelihood zone is moderately productive for agriculture. Despite this, the AFC livelihood zone is a food deficit zone every year, though the area benefits from the sale of horticultural crops in an attempt to close the deficit. Cereal crop production is rain-fed. Traditional irrigation is practiced for horticulture crops. The principle food crops are maize, teff, sorghum and wheat. Crops grown to sell include sugar cane, bananas, chat, oranges, mangos, avocados, haricot beans and coffee. Generally, food crops are grown during the long rainy season Ganna (some few pocket areas use Arfasa rains for food crops). In their order of importance, the main crops grown for consumption are maize, sorghum, wheat and teff while the main crops sold are sugar cane, bananas, chat, fruits such as avocados, mangos and oranges and coffee. Plow-oxen are used to prepare fields for planting staple food crops. Hand digging is used to prepare land for horticultural crops. Weeding and harvesting are the agricultural activities that require the most labor. Middle and better-off households employ members of very poor and poor households in the zone (both men and women) to work in their fields during harvesting and weeding times. Fruit rust, weeds (worqeshe), aphids, stalk borer and African ball worm are the pests and diseases that affect crop production. Fruit rust affects banana and oranges; aphids affect chat; stalk borer affect maize and sorghum and parasites affect all horticulture crops. All crop pest and diseases are treated or prevented using integrated pest management (IPM). The source of treatment for all types of pest and diseases is from BoARD for free. The use of agricultural inputs is not practiced by all wealth groups- only the better-off purchase fertilizer. The main 1 Field work for the current profile was undertaken in May The information presented refers to November October 2007 (EC November 1999 to October 2000), a normal year by local standards. Provided there are no fundamental and rapid shifts in the economy, the information in this profile is expected to remain valid for approximately five years (i.e. until 2012). The exchange rate January USD = 8.88TB.

2 factors that affect yields are related to timely and effective weeding. The main types of livestock are cattle, goats and donkeys. The most important inputs for livestock production are feed, drugs and water. The method of feeding for these livestock is free grazing. The sources of feed are grass, browse and crop residue. During the wet season, the source of water for livestock is major and minor rivers and ponds within the livelihood zone. In dry season, major rivers are the only source of water for livestock. Cow and goats are milked. Cattle, goats and chickens are sold to generate income. Livestock products such as butter, eggs, honey and skins are also sold to draw additional income. Oxen and cows are replaced mainly from within the herd and rarely through purchase. Boys and girls look after goats while cattle and donkeys tended to by men. Prevalent livestock diseases are blackleg, pasteurellosis, sheep and goat pox and anthrax. Blackleg mainly affects cattle and donkeys while pasteurellosis affects only cattle. All livestock diseases are treated using vaccination and different treatments. The sources of treatment are MoARD (for free) and local markets (for purchase). Humans and animals share the same source of water. There are no payments related to water for humans. Markets Generally, market access is bad in the AFC livelihood zone. This is due to the rugged topography and poor road conditions. These conditions are made worse by the fact that PAs in the zone tend to be quite distant from the urban centers. The main crops sold are sugar cane, bananas and chat. The trade route for sugar cane and bananas is from to Robe, Goba and Ginir then to Delo Serbo and Tereta through Gobessa and Birbirsa and finally Adaba; chat is traded from Jara to Robe, Goba, Harar and Ginir and finally Emi (in the Somali region). All of these cash crops are sold throughout the year, but the highest amounts are sold in October and April. The main livestock sold are goats. The trade route for goats is from Agarfa to Robe, Goba and Tereta on to Asela and Adama and also from Robe and Ginir to Birbirsa and Adaba. The main grains purchased from local markets are maize, sorghum and wheat. These grains are bought in the months of April to September. Out of the total casual labor, 9 is performed in local rural areas while the remaining 1 is done in local towns. Seasonal Calendar

Ganna, the long rainy season starts in June ends in September. Bona or dry season extends from October to January. Arfasa rainy season starts in February and ends in May.

3 Ganna, the long rainy season starts in June ends in September. Bona or dry season extends from October to January. Arfasa rainy season starts in February and ends in May. The consumption year starts in the months of November and ends in October. Teff is a short cycle crop grown from March to June. Maize, sorghum and wheat are long cycle crops planted in March and April and harvested from October to December. Maize and chat are usually intercropped. The main cash crop, sugar cane is harvested in March and October. The peak month for harvesting bananas and chat is April. Petty trade is done throughout the year while local labor is highest in the months of July, August, Sept, December and April, corresponding to the main harvesting and weeding times. Wealth Breakdown Land, livestock and asset holdings including the number of beehives owned determine wealth in the livelihood zone. Better-off and middle households are the only ones growing coffee and haricot beans and producing honey. The very poor are the only wealth group that does not cultivate oranges, mangos and avocados. Shortage of land, lack of oxen and limited knowledge of input utilization are the main constraints limiting production. Arrangements that are in place between the wealth groups to deal with these constraints are crop rotation, short variety plantation and hand digging. Similarly, the middle and better-off do not produce more crops because of limited land holding size, limited knowledge of input utilization and limited irrigation facilities. The better-off households overcome these constraints by efficient utilization of land, intercropping, timely planting of crops following the start of rain and through use traditional irrigation. The better-off households do not increase livestock holdings because of a lack of animal feed, labor and the prevalence of animal diseases in the area. The better-off overcome these constraints through utilization of various crop residues during dry season, hiring of labor from the poorer household groups and through the use of vaccination and medication provided by local veterinary services. Sources of Food A normal year ( ) The main crops consumed by all 12 households are maize, sorghum and wheat. The main sources of food are own crop production and purchase. There is also a small amount from livestock products being used as a source of food. The main 8 livestock products consumed are milk and butter from both cows and goats. The share 6 of crop production as a source of food increases as it moves from the very poor 4 (40-5), poor (50-6), middle (60-7) to the better-off (65-75%) wealth 2 groups. On the other hand, the share of purchase as a source of food declines as it moves from the very poor (50-6), poor (35-45%), middle (35-4) towards the better-off (30-35%) wealth group. gifts, other food aid purchase payment in kind livestock products crops In the graph, food access is expressed as a percentage of minimum food requirements, taken as an average food energy intake of 2100 kcals per

4 person per day. Sources of Cash A normal year ( ) Annual income (ETB) other petty trade, safety nets self-employment (e.g. firewood) employment & remittances livestock sales livestock product sales The major sources of income for all wealth groups are crop sales, livestock sales and agricultural employment. The share of crop sale, livestock sale and livestock products sale as a source of income increases as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups. The share of employment as a source of income declines as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups. Cash crop sales are the primary source of income for all households in the livelihood zone (food crops are not sold). The main crops sold by all households are sugar cane, chat and bananas, with sugar cane being the most important source of income. Middle and better-off households also sell a small amount of coffee and haricot beans. All households except for the very poor sell oranges, mangos and avocados. The main livestock sold are goats and cattle. Chickens and livestock products such as butter and eggs are also sold as sources of cash. Honey is produced and sold only by the middle and better-off wealth groups. There is a difference between each wealth groups in price obtained for livestock. Because the poor and very poor sell their livestock at early age, they will get a lower price for their animals than the middle and better-off who are able to sell bigger animals and get higher prices. Local labor, weeding and harvesting is an important source of income for poor and very poor households, who will work on farms owned by the middle and better-off wealth groups. The poor and the only wealth group to engage in petty trading such as retailing of sugar cane and fruits. Expenditure Patterns A normal year ( ) The main staple foods purchased are maize, sorghum, wheat and pulses. The better-off are the only group purchasing fertilizer, both middle and better-off spend on labor to weed and harvest their crops. All households spend on the purchase of seeds. The share of expenditure on staple food declines as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups while the share of expenditure on tax, clothes, social services, inputs, households items and non-staple food increases as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups. Hazards Other clothes social serv. inputs water HH items non-staple food staple food The graph provides a breakdown of total cash expenditure according to category of expenditure. Drought and pests are the main chronic hazards in the AFC livelihood zone. Drought occurs once in every three years while crop pests and diseases occur in every year. Land degradation is also an issue in some areas.

5 Coping Strategies The response strategies practiced by households in the AFC livelihood zone differ by wealth group. Poor and very poor households will deal with hazards by engaging in petty trade and increasing the amount of chickens, eggs and other livestock they sell. They will also seek labor in nearby towns and forage for wild foods such as cactus. Middle and better-off households will responds to hazards by increasing the sale of livestock and by engaging in petty trading activities. Summary The major category of livelihoods in the AFC livelihood is mixed farming, mainly cash crop production. The main types of crops grown are maize, teff, sorghum and wheat and horticultural crops such as sugar cane, bananas, chat, oranges and coffee. Livestock such as cattle, goats and donkeys are also reared to support the livelihoods of the people. Chickens and beehives are the other activities that generate income. The zone is dominated by valleys, gorges and rugged terrain. The soil is relatively fertile sandy loam soil and generally the livelihood zone is moderately productive for agriculture. Despite this, the AFC livelihood zone is a food deficit zone every year but benefits from the sale of horticultural crops which closes the deficit. Cereal crop production is rain-fed. Traditional irrigation is practiced for horticulture crops. The principle food crops are maize, teff, sorghum and wheat. Crops grown to sell include sugar cane, bananas, chat, oranges, mangos, avocados, haricot beans and coffee. Plow-oxen are used to prepare fields for planting staple food crops. Hand digging is used to prepare land for horticultural crops. Generally, market access is bad in the AFC livelihood zone. This is due to the rugged topography and poor road conditions. These conditions are made worse by the fact that PAs in the zone tend to be quite distant from the urban centers. Land, livestock and asset holdings including the number of beehives owned determine wealth in the livelihood zone. Better-off and middle households are the only ones growing coffee and haricot beans and producing honey. The very poor are the only wealth group that does not cultivate oranges, mangos and avocados. The main crops consumed by poor and better of households are maize, sorghum and wheat. The main sources of food are own crop production and purchase. There is also a small amount from livestock products being used as a source of food. The major sources of income for all wealth groups are crop sales, livestock sales and agricultural employment. The share of crop sale, livestock sale and livestock products sale as a source of income increases as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups. The share of employment as a source of income declines as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups. Local labor, weeding and harvesting is an important source of income for poor and very poor households, who will work on farms owned by the middle and better-off wealth groups. The poor and the only wealth group to engage in petty trading such as retailing of sugar cane and fruits. The main staple foods purchased are maize, sorghum, wheat and pulses. The share of expenditure on staple food declines as it moves from the very poor to the better-off wealth groups. The better-off are the only group purchasing fertilizer, both middle and better-off spend on labor to weed and harvest their crops. All households spend on the purchase of seeds. Drought and pests are the main chronic hazards in the AFC livelihood zone. Drought occurs once in every three years while crop pests and diseases occur in every year.

Livelihood Profile Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

Livelihood Profile Oromiya Region, Ethiopia 1 April 2008 Zone Description The Bale Agro-pastoral livelihood zone is located Goro, Ginir, Sawena, Legahida, Berbere, Guradamole and Meda- Aelabu woredas of