Livelihood Profile Oromiya Region, Ethiopia

Transcription

1 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 the Bale zone. The agro-ecology is divided into dry midlands or woinadega and lowland or kola. The zone is dependent on both crop and livestock production. It is mainly the poor and very poor wealth groups who are dependent on crop production. The middle and better-off wealth groups are supported by livestock production in addition to crop production. All wealth groups harvest honey from traditional beehives. Plains and undulating hills cover a large part of the topography. The main crops grown are wheat, maize and teff. The main types of livestock are cattle, goats and sheep. The area is located between the Genale and Wabe-Shebele river basins. Robe is the zone s main urban center. The main road from Robe to Negele crosses towns such as Dolo-Mene and Medawelabu. The main natural resources that are available in the zone are cultivable land, rivers including the Welmel and Weib, forests, wildlife and sand. The mixed vegetation in the area includes bush, shrub, scattered forest and deciduous trees which are favorable for goat and camel browsing and honey production. The density of population is scattered. There are two rainy seasons are Ganna and Hageya. Ganna is the long rainy season that extends from March to May. Hageya is the short rainy season that extends from mid September to mid November. The soil type is dominated by clay and sandy soils. Its fertility is poor as compared to Arsi-Bale wheat zone. Every year, the area is known as a food deficit zone. Crop production is entirely rainfed. Crops are grown in two seasons. Land preparation is done using plow oxen. Wheat, maize and teff are the main staple food crops. The principle crops sold are teff and wheat. Teff production requires the most labor at all phases of production from land preparation to weeding and harvesting. The main types of crop pest or disease are army worms, rust and locusts. The crops that are affected by these pests or diseases are teff, wheat and maize. Army worms are treated using pesticide while locusts are treated using traditional methods. The sources of treatment are from MoARD and communities for free. Cattle, goats and camels are the main livestock reared. The method for feeding animals is free browsing or grazing. The main source of feed for cattle is grass while that of goat and camel is browsing. The main sources of water for livestock in wet season are minor rivers, ponds in different water points that are located in the area. The main sources of water for livestock in dry season are major rivers and traditional communal ponds. There are no payments for water for livestock. Cows, camels and goats are all milked. Livestock and livestock products are important income sources. Cattle at the ages of 3-4 years and goats at the ages of 8-12 months are the only animals that are sold. Butter is the only livestock product sold. Sale of animal skins is not common; rather skins are kept and used by households for different purposes. Oxen and milking cows are replaced from within the herd. Children above seven, both male and female are responsible for looking after livestock. During livestock migration, household heads and young men are responsible for moving with and looking after livestock. The known types of animal disease common in the area are trypanosomiasis, blackleg and other infectious diseases. Trypanosomiasis and blackleg affect cattle while goats are affected by other infectious disease. Vaccination is the main 1 Field work for the current profile was undertaken in March The information presented refers to June July 2007 (EC June 1998 to July 1999), a good 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 = 9.1ETB.

2 type of prevention used for trypanosomiasis and blackleg. The source of treatment is from MoARD (for free). Other important activities are honey production and seasonal agricultural labor. Honey is harvested from traditional hives. Men hang the hives on trees in June and July and harvest the honey in November and December. The source of seasonal agricultural labor is neighboring livelihoods zones and irrigated farming activities in Dolo Mena woreda. Men are engaged in agricultural labor during harvest times in July and August. Humans and animals share the same water sources. In the wet seasons, the source of water for human is minor rivers and ponds while in dry season, the source of water for humans are ponds and major rivers. In both seasons, there is no payment of water for humans or animals. Credit facilities are limited in the zone. The poor and very poor households are targeted to receive this credit services. The amount of credit ranges from Birr per individual. The repayment period for this credit ranges from 2 5 years. This credit service began in 1997/1998EC. The loan is repaid with out interest. At times of drought, the condition of repayment reduces 15% from the total repayment. Poor and very poor households in this livelihood zone participate in the PSNP program. The program provides cash for labor as well as food aid (grain and oil). Markets Generally, market access is considered bad in the AAP livelihood zone. The road infrastructure is poor and most areas are far from the urban town centers. In addition to these, most woreda markets lack stores and traders there do not have adequate capital to expand trade. The main crops sold in the market are wheat and teff. Both crops are traded from Ginir, Robe and Bidire to Adama, Negele Borena and Shashemene from July to September. The main grains purchased are maize and wheat. Both crops are bought from January to May in Shashemene and traded to Robe and local market centers. The main livestock are cattle, shoats and camels. The trade route for cattle is from local markets to Robe, Mojo and Harar. The trade route for shoats is from local markets to Robe and Mojo. The trade route for camels is from local markets to Ginir and Harar. All livestock are traded from February to June. With regard to labor, 100% of the total casual labor performed by people is in local rural area. There is no labor migration into the livelihood zone. Seasonal Calendar

3 There are four seasons in the AAP livelihood zone: the long rainy season (Ganna), short dry season (Adolesa), short rainy season (Hageya) and long dry season (Bona). The consumption year starts in June and ends in May. The types of short cycle crops grown are wheat (from April to July), teff (from April to June and from September to December) and maize (from April to July). During long dry season in a bad year, cattle and camels migrate in search of water and pasture along the major rivers within the zone. Under normal circumstances, poor households migrate to the nearest highland areas to participate in crop harvesting and to woreda towns to get daily labor. The pattern of labor migration is the same in bad years. Wealth Breakdown

4 Wealth in the livelihood zone is determined by family size and ownership of livestock (plow oxen, cattle, goats and camels), land cultivated and beehives. Crop production is not considered as a major determinant of wealth. The betteroff wealth groups are the only who have camels. The very poor are the only households not producing sorghum and teff. The main constraints to crop production by all wealth groups are shortage of rains (drought), lack of plow oxen and lack of money to purchase inputs. During land preparation and planting time, the poorer wealth groups borrow plow oxen from relatives in the middle and better-off wealth groups. The main reasons the middle and better-off do not produce more crops is associated with shortage of rain (drought), infestation of pests and diseases and poor land fertility. Similarly, livestock production is constrained by shortage of rain, lack of money and livestock diseases. Bush encroachment is another factor hampering livestock production. The middle and better-off wealth groups overcome some of these constraints by migrating to areas where adequate water and pasture is available, and through timely vaccination and treatment for animals. Sources of Food A good year ( )

5 The main crops consumed by all wealth groups are maize, wheat and teff. The major source of food for all wealth groups is own crop production. The share of food sources from crop production increases as it moves from the very poor (45-55%), poor (50-60%), middle (65-75%) to the better-off (80-85%). The share of food purchase declines as it moves from the very poor (30-40%), poor (32-36%), middle (25-30%) to the better-off (15-20%). Very poor and poor households depend on food aid from the PSNP program to meet about 10% for their food needs. Livestock products (milk and butter) also contribute somewhat to food needs for all households in the zone. 120% 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% gifts, other food aid purchase payment in kind livestock products 0% V.Poor Poor Middle Better-off 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 person per day. Sources of Cash A good year ( ) The graph provides a breakdown of total cash income according to income source. 100% 80% 60% 40% 20% 0% Annual income (ETB) V.Poor Poor Middle Better-off safety nets employment & remittances livestock sales livestock product sales crop sales The main crops sold by all wealth groups are wheat, teff and maize. The main types of livestock and livestock products sold by the better-off wealth groups are shoats, cattle, camels and butter while by the poorer wealth groups are shoats, cattle and eggs. The very poor and poor tend to sell younger animals and therefore fetch a lower price at market. In general, the source of livestock sale increases as it moves from the very poor (4%) to better-off wealth groups (50%). The sale. of livestock product is insignificant for the very poor, poor and middle of wealth groups The very poor and poor also draw their cash income from petty trade/productive safety net program, employment and remittances. Expenditure Patterns A good year ( ) The main staple foods purchased are maize 100% and wheat. Very poor and poor households other also purchase sorghum. The share of 80% clothes expenditure on staple food is highest for social serv. poorer households, with the very poor 60% inputs spending 35-45% and poor spending 30-35% of their total incomes on staple food HH items 40% purchase compared to the better-off who non-staple food spend less that 5%. The middle and betteroff households spend much more on non- staple food 20% staple foods such as oil, sugar and pepper. It 0% is only households in the better-off and V.Poor Poor Middle Better-off middle wealth groups who spend on The graph provides a breakdown of total cash expenditure according to category of expenditure. agricultural labor, livestock investment and cooking oil. Setting aside staple food purchase, the over all trend is that as wealth increases, there is an increase in the absolute as well as the proportion of money spent. Hazards

6 The main chronic and intermittent hazards that affect the livelihood of people in the zone are drought (which is associated with shortage of rains), crop pests, livestock diseases and bush encroachment. Drought occurs once in every three years. Crop and livestock diseases are prevalent every year and bush encroachment is one of the hazards that remain always as serious threat in the area. Coping Strategies The main coping or response strategies practiced by households include expanding the migration of livestock and increasing sales of livestock. The very poor and poor will also leave the area in search of migratory labor in order to cope with hazards. Summary The AAP livelihood zone is dependent on both crop and livestock production. It is mainly the poor and very poor wealth groups who are dependent on crop production. The middle and better-off wealth groups are supported by livestock production in addition to crop production. All wealth groups harvest honey from traditional beehives. Drought which is associated with shortage of rains, crop pests, livestock diseases and bush encroachment are the major hazards identified. Migration of livestock, sale of livestock and migratory labor outside the zone are the main coping strategies used by all wealth groups during lean seasons. There are two rainy seasons are Ganna and Hageya. Ganna is the long rainy season that extends from March to May. Hageya is the short rainy season that extends from mid September to mid November. The soil type is dominated by clay and sandy soils. Its fertility is poor as compared to Arsi-Bale wheat zone. Every year, the area is known as a food deficit zone. Crop production is entirely rainfed. Crops are grown in both seasons. Wheat, maize and teff are the main staple food crops. The principle crops sold are teff and wheat. Cattle, goats and camels are the main livestock reared. Other important activities are honey production and seasonal agricultural labor. Poor and very poor households in this livelihood zone participate in the PSNP program. The program provides cash for labor as well as food aid (grain and oil). Generally, market access is considered bad in the AAP livelihood zone. The road infrastructure is poor and most areas are far from the urban towns. Wealth in the livelihood zone is determined by family size and ownership of livestock (plough oxen, cattle, goat and camel), land cultivated and beehives. Crop production is not considered as a major determinant of wealth. The better-off wealth groups are the only who have camels. The very poor are the only households not producing sorghum and teff. The main crops consumed by all wealth groups are maize, wheat and teff. The major source of food for all wealth groups is own crop production, this is complement by purchase and a small amount is coming through consumption of livestock products. The main staple foods purchased are maize and wheat. Very poor and poor households also purchase sorghum. The share of expenditure on staple food is highest for poorer households. The main chronic and intermittent hazards that affect the livelihood of people in the zone are drought (which is associated with shortage of rains), crop pests, livestock diseases and bush encroachment. Drought occurs once in every three years. Crop and livestock diseases are prevalent every year and bush encroachment is one of the hazards that remain always as serious threat in the area. The main coping or response strategies practiced by households include expanding the migration of livestock and increasing sales of livestock. The very poor and poor will also leave the area in search of migratory labor in order to cope with hazards.