Tropentag, September 20 - 22, 2017 in Bonn "Future Agriculture: Social-ecological transitions and bio-cultural shifts"

Dynamics of Rural Livelihoods and Rainfall Variability in Northern Ethiopia

¹Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Dept. of Agricultural Economics - Environmental Governance Group, Germany
²International Center for Agricultural Research in the Dry Areas (ICARDA), Sustainable Intensification and Resilient Production System, Ethiopia
³University of Kassel, International Agricultural Policy and Environmental Governance, Germany

Abstract

This study examines the association of livelihood dynamics of rural households in Ethiopia with rainfall conditions and socio-economic characteristics, using a 15-year panel data set. The data is collected in two communities in Tigray and Amhara regions. We employed fixed and random-effect conditional logit models to explain household decision-making processes regarding livelihood strategies. Our finding shows that participation of rural households in non-farm livelihoods has been increasing over the years but with great fluctuations. We also found that rainfall conditions during the main rainy season negatively and significantly affects household decisions to pursue non-farm livelihoods. The motivation of farm households to diversify into non-farm livelihoods is mainly driven by low-performance farming outcomes as well as demographic characteristics (specifically adult household size, human capital and education) and degree of access to financial schemes. These findings suggest policy implications for increasing access to financial schemes and improving household-member skills through vocational training and education to enable them to engage in high-return and profitable non-farm livelihoods.

Keywords: Business activities, household, livelihood, non-farm activities, rainfall, wage employment

Contact Address: Muluken Elias Adamseged, Humboldt-Universität zu Berlin, Dept. of Agricultural Economics - Environmental Governance Group, Invalidenstr. 110, Berlin, Germany, e-mail: muluken.adamsegedagrar.hu-berlin.de