Livelihood Diversification as a Strategy for Economic and Environmental Sustainability in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Livelihood Diversification as a Strategy for Economic and Environmental Sustainability in the Amhara Region of Ethiopia

Joseph K. Assan, PhDResearch Group on Global Development and Sustainability Heller School for Social Policy and ManagementBrandeis University, MA, USA And Fikirte Beyene, HOERC, Addis, Ethiopia

Introduction Poor rural households in Africa rely disproportionately on local environmental resources for their livelihoods and well-being

A livelihood that guarantees access and entitlement to a range of reliable economic resources, assets and opportunities is essential to achieving human wellbeing (Chambers, 1997). 2Objective The objective of the paper is to ascertain the effect of income diversification interventions introduced through environmental conservation programs on the livelihoods and economies of rural holds in the Amhara region of Ethiopia.

33Introduction of neo-liberal policies Privatisation and divestiture of state control Liberalisation of trade and reduction in Foreign Direct InvestmentPost Structural Adjustment Programme in AfricaRemoval of subsidies in the agricultural sectorImpact: Removal of safety nets Economic Liberalisation455Conceptualising Livelihood Divrsification and Economic SustainabilityThe integration of livelihood diversification into environmental conservation programs has been considered as an effective strategy in achieving household food security, opportunities for investment, development of local business and economic stability (Kulindwa et al. 2006) .

55661. Primary Environmental Care ApproachThis is a people-centred approach and argues that human activity is not necessarily or inherently detrimental to nature and if humans are given the opportunity, people will often manage their environment sustainably because it is in their best interest (UNRISD, 1994). 66Salafsky (2000) refers to this approach as economic substitution:livelihood and conservation are indirectly linked this approach enables local people to continue to meet their livelihood needs while protecting their environment7882. Market Based Policies Approach The introduction on of market-based policies with the intention of creating incentives for positive or neutral behaviours for the environment is argued could create disincentives for environmentally destructive behaviour (UNRISD, 1994).

88The goal of this approach is: balance the trade-offs between human activities and achieve maximum economic efficiencythereby ensure sustainable development.

991010Environment and land degradation in Rural EthiopiaRural livelihoods, are exposed to the precarious effects of climatic variability and extreme weather conditions Precipitated by several years of environmental degradationNegatively impacting on household economies (MoWRMA, 2007) Land degradation is an alarming challenge in the Amhara region Loss of approximately 2 to 4 billion tones of top soil annually through erosion20,000 to 30,000 hectares of land unproductive (Taffa, 2009).

1010Ethiopia 11

Poverty in the Amhara region is still high (7.3 million) in spite of recent achievements in poverty reduction. 12

13Bosona Worena Woreda (District) of Ethiopia Socio-economic CharacteristicsBasona Worena WoredaLand Area (sq. km)1,399Elevations (metre above sea level)1,980 3,000ClimateAverage annual rainfall (mm)Temperature (oC)1,1006-20Population (2002/'03 est.)Total populationPopulation density (persons per sq. km)% of working age population (15 - 64 years)Rural population (%)165,7161185295Rural farm householdAverage family sizeAverage land holding (ha)Male-headed Female-headed

4.51.7HH 27,918 HH 8,796 Land use (%) - Cultivated land - Grazing land - Forest, shrub, bush land - Others including waste land

13.1 47.38.5 31.113Causes of environmental degradation in Amhara natural factors coupled with the effects of a long history of settlement prevailing farming methods and increasing population pressure forces people to cultivate even steeper slopes have exacerbated the devastating land and resource degradation in the region(Belay, 2010)1415The Tree Gudifecha ProjectIn an attempt to tackle environmental degradation and secure the livelihood of rural households in the Amhara region, an environmental conservation project called Tree Gudifecha (adoption) has been implemented.

15The Tree Gudifecha project involvedTree plantations AND soil and water conservations activities:the construction of check dams, terraces, trenches, micro basins, water harvesting and spring developments

Livelihood diversification activities income generating activities, financial support, capacity development and training, input support, groups formation)

161717Project implementation

Integrated Rural Development Association (ADHENO) a local NGO with the help of international donors sought to integrate livelihood sustainability and conservation programmes as a development strategy in the Amhara Region

1717This was followed by the implementation of various soil and water conservation interventions and livelihood activities in the North Shoa Zone, Basona Worena Woreda (District) in 2005 and expanded into 12 village in 2007.

18

1919Project Implementation

The Global Environment Fund (GEF) funded the integrated project in Enchelele Village

the project in Workegur village was funded by the Swedish International Development Agency (SIDA)

the implementation was done in partnership with Consortium of Christian Relief and Development Association (CCRDA), a local Non-Governmental Organization.

19192020Field Strategy and Sampling Procedure 100 rural households located in Enchelele village (in Metkoria Kabele) and Workegur (in Goshe Bado Kebele) village of Basona Worena Woreda (District) in the Amhara Region participated in the environmental conservation rehabilitation and livelihood enhancement intervention projects.

2020Our study sampled 50 households25 households from each villageIndividual households served as the unit of analysisFieldwork Strategy Economic active members of the sampled householdsInterviews, focus groups, questionnaires Small Sample Scoping Study2122Key Findings of the Study23Tree PlantationVillage NamesTotalEncheleleWorkegurPrivate Land13,86231,37645,238Government Land1502,0502,200Communal Land10003501,350Family Land5,1911105,301Total20,203 (3,741 are other tree species)33,836(20,350 is eucalyptus)54,089Number of Trees Planted at Village Level

Households Trained in Soil and water conservation practices24

Benefits Benefits

Home ownership: the average number of households who owned their of homes within the sample increased

Transport access: the availability and access to transport through the use of donkeys also improved as more individuals were able to own a donkey after the project

2929Livestock Production

There was high mortality rate for poultry, sheep and goat production due to poor management techniques and low skill levels of participants

This pattern was also due to the lack of veterinary services within close proximity of the sampled communities

2929Livestock ProductionThe lack of adequate personnel and medication is still the biggest challenge for the veterinary office, especially in times of epidemics. Many households had lost their animals and could not gain much benefit from their production.

30Livestock ProductionThe Lack of proper management also causes the death of animals. For example the chicks we distributed are hybrids and needed more intensive level of care which is different from the local stock. (District Agricultural Officer)

313232Livestock Production

Ayeeee [expressing frustration], most of my sheep and hens died and Im currently left with only two sheep out of ten. Because of their death, I lost significant income not to mention the wasted time and energy managing the activities. (Alemitu, a female participants in Enchelele village) 323233Households Source of FuelBefore the ProjectAfter the ProjectEncheleleWorkegurEncheleleWorkegurCollection from communal lands and/or wood lot25252525Kerosene1216Dung22222525Households Source of Fuel in the Two Villages3434

34343535

35353636

36363737Conclusion

Rise in Household Income:There was a rise in household income after the project. This also introduced a rise in income disparities between households

Increase in Household savings:The study observed a mean increase in the total household savings with an associated increase in the disparity between the two communities

3737Synthesis 38