Berhanu Gebremedhin - Academia.edu (original) (raw)
Papers by Berhanu Gebremedhin
The European Journal of Development Research
The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in c... more The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in connection with households' level of commercialization. A sample of 469 milk producers are modeled using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Average Technical Efficiency (TE) is estimated to be 80%, with variation among regions and generally reflecting levels of commercialization. Results show that assuming milk producers are rational, TE is increased by increasing the number of cattle, cows, and crossbreeds, and by additinal veterinary and feed inputs. These results support much existing research, and our contribution is the extension of analysis to actions and characteristics of the value chain due to commercial behaviors. We identify both direct and indirect potential effects of commercialization and identify mechanisms for their operation in development programs for commercial value chains. We find that credit access, training, group membership, market participation, and female household all improve TE while non-cattle income would reduce TE. We present subgroups of households to better contrast levels of productivity and compare a limited number of the sub-groups' characteristics and actions. We provide commentary and explanation regarding commercialization and its direct and indirect connections to productivity. Recommendations include partnerships and facilitating actions that support commercialization, in association with improving efficiency in Tanzanian dairy. Keywords Technical efficiency • Dairy farms • Dairy farm development • Stochastic production frontier • Tanzania Résumé Le niveau et les déterminants de l'efficacité technique dans les ménages producteurs de lait sont étudiés par rapport au niveau de commercialisation des ménages. Un
SePR Working Papers contain results of research done by ILRI scientists, consultants and collabor... more SePR Working Papers contain results of research done by ILRI scientists, consultants and collaborators. The Working Papers are not subjected to full refereeing and are disseminated to motivate discussion and comment. It is expected that most of the Working Papers will be published in some other *form. The author(s) alone is (are) responsible for the contents. POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However... more Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However, perceptions are often overlooked in the conservation literature. This study analyzes the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions of soil erosion in northern Ethiopia. Results are based on a survey of 250 farmers managing 900 fields during the 1995-96 cropping season. Farmer perceptions of the severity and productivity impact of soil erosion were measured at plot level as ordinal variables. Ordered probit and ordinary probit statistical regressions were used to analyze the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions. Farmers were more likely both to perceive soil erosion and to perceive resultant yield loss if land degradation in their village was already severe, if they owned fields on steeply sloped land, and if their fields had convex or concave slope shape. On the other hand, farmers were less likely to view soil erosion as a problem or perceive yield loss if they were older...
Agricultural Economics, 2009
This article examines the role of institutional services of credit, input supply, and extension i... more This article examines the role of institutional services of credit, input supply, and extension in the overall commercial transformation process of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. Survey data collected in 2006 from 309 sample households in three districts of Ethiopia are used for the analyses. Tobit regression models are used to measure the effect of access to services on the intensity of inputs use for fertilizer and agrochemicals. A probit model is used to measure these effects on the adoption of improved seeds. Intensity of use of seeds is analyzed using an ordinary least squares model. Logarithmic Cobb-Douglass functions are estimated to analyze the effect of access to services on crop productivity. Heckman's two-stage estimation is used to examine determinants of household market participation and the extents of participation. Results show that access to institutional support services plays a significant role in enhancing smallholder productivity and market orientation. Our results imply that expanding and strengthening the institutional services is critical for the intensification and market orientation of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. In particular, appropriate incentives and regulatory systems are urgently needed to encourage the involvement of the private sector in the provision of agricultural services.
The European Journal of Development Research
The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in c... more The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in connection with households' level of commercialization. A sample of 469 milk producers are modeled using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Average Technical Efficiency (TE) is estimated to be 80%, with variation among regions and generally reflecting levels of commercialization. Results show that assuming milk producers are rational, TE is increased by increasing the number of cattle, cows, and crossbreeds, and by additinal veterinary and feed inputs. These results support much existing research, and our contribution is the extension of analysis to actions and characteristics of the value chain due to commercial behaviors. We identify both direct and indirect potential effects of commercialization and identify mechanisms for their operation in development programs for commercial value chains. We find that credit access, training, group membership, market participation, and female household all improve TE while non-cattle income would reduce TE. We present subgroups of households to better contrast levels of productivity and compare a limited number of the sub-groups' characteristics and actions. We provide commentary and explanation regarding commercialization and its direct and indirect connections to productivity. Recommendations include partnerships and facilitating actions that support commercialization, in association with improving efficiency in Tanzanian dairy. Keywords Technical efficiency • Dairy farms • Dairy farm development • Stochastic production frontier • Tanzania Résumé Le niveau et les déterminants de l'efficacité technique dans les ménages producteurs de lait sont étudiés par rapport au niveau de commercialisation des ménages. Un
Animal Production Science
Context It is widely recognised that village poultry play important roles nutritionally, economic... more Context It is widely recognised that village poultry play important roles nutritionally, economically and socio-culturally in developing countries such as Ethiopia where the sector makes up the largest portion of the national poultry meat and egg production. The importance of socioeconomic environment for improving the contribution of village poultry to household income and diets is receiving little attention in research and development. Aims The present study examined whether and to what extent household, flock, institutional and infrastructural factors enable or constrain village poultry marketing and consumption. Methods The results of the study are based on analysis of data drawn from a cross-sectional survey of 5004 households conducted in four regions of Ethiopia. On the basis of the type of dependent variable, probit and ordinary least squares regression models and marginal effects were used to determine whether and how much the aforementioned factors affect household involve...
Global Ecology and Conservation
NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2016
Chicken production in West Gojjam zone was characterized by using indigenous chicken with low inp... more Chicken production in West Gojjam zone was characterized by using indigenous chicken with low input-output level. Despite its diverse socio economic role for smallholder farmers, production and productivity of village chicken was very low. As the result, chicken producers were not benefited from the sector. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of characterizing chicken rearing practice, flock dynamics and determining the off-take rate of village chicken production system. It was conducted in West Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select representative respondents. A total of 500 farmers were interviewed. In the study area, the average numbers of local and exotic chickens kept by smallholder producers were 8.44+0.42 and 0.49+0.10chicken, respectively with the overall mean 8.93+0.42chicken. The flock structure was highly dominated by young chicks (3.82+0.28) and hen (2.47+0.09). The average chicken migrated into the flock per household per annum was 10.32+ 0.80 birds, whereas the outflow from the flock was 16.62+0.85birds. The number of chicken was higher at the middle of the year than the beginning and end of the year. On average, 2.9+0.12 layer chickens were kept per household. From which, in average 307.2+ 20.2 eggs were produced from local and improved breed in a year. Marketing in the district and PA were important marketing places for egg and live birds with the off-take rate of 34.94%. To improve chicken production in the study area, adaptive improved chicken breed should be introduced. Strategic vaccination, semi scavenging practices should be introduced and promoted in order to reduce chicken mortality. Capacity building through training and intensive follow up should also be made in order to enhance the level of awareness of smallholders on improved small scale poultry keeping practices.
African Research Review, 2016
In Ethiopia, the public extension service has a key role in the introduction and promotion of val... more In Ethiopia, the public extension service has a key role in the introduction and promotion of value chain development interventions to transform the rural sector. The Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project conducted a household baseline survey to assess the current status of the public extension service from a market oriented development perspective. A total of 2502 (2025 male-and 477 female-headed households), randomly selected from LIVES intervention peasant associations (PAs), were interviewed. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis. The survey results show that, while extension services in Ethiopia have recently focused on the production of high value commodities, advice, training and linkage facilitation support on market information, storage, processing and marketing of value chain commodities is not generally strong. The use of innovative extension service delivery methods and tools for market oriented agricultural development has not yet been widely used in Ethiopia.
On farm conservation of crop diversity entails policy challenges, especially when the diversity o... more On farm conservation of crop diversity entails policy challenges, especially when the diversity of crops maintained on farms has both inter-specific (among crops) and infraspecific (within a crop) components. Survey data is used to compare the determinants of inter-and infra-specific diversity on household farms in the highlands of northern Ethiopia. Physical features of the farm, and household characteristics such as livestock assets and the proportion of adults that are men, have large and significant effects on both the diversity among and within cereal crops grown, varying among crops. Demographic aspects such as age of household head and adult education levels affect only infra-specific diversity of cereals. Though there are no apparent trade-offs between policies that would enhance one type of diversity (richness) versus another (evenness), those designed to encourage infraspecific diversity in one cereal crop might have the opposite effect on another crop. Tradeoffs between development and diversity in this resource-poor system are not evident. Marketrelated variables and population density have ambiguous effects. Education positively influences cereal crop diversity. Growing modern varieties of maize or wheat does not detract from the richness or evenness of these cereals on household farms.
... org Moti Jaleta Post Doctoral Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute POBox 568... more ... org Moti Jaleta Post Doctoral Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute POBox 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia e-mail: m.jaleta@cgiar.org _____ ...
Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However... more Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However, perceptions are often overlooked in the conservation literature. This study analyzes the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions of soil erosion in northern Ethiopia. Results are based on a survey of 250 farmers managing 900 fields during the 1995-96 cropping season. Farmer perceptions of the severity and productivity impact of soil erosion were measured at plot level as ordinal variables. Ordered probit and ordinary probit statistical regressions were used to analyze the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions. Farmers were more likely both to perceive soil erosion and to perceive resultant yield loss if land degradation in their village was already severe, if they owned fields on steeply sloped land, and if their fields had convex or concave slope shape. On the other hand, farmers were less likely to view soil erosion as a problem or perceive yield loss if they were older, had fields far from the homestead, or had contact with the extension service. Farmers were more likely to perceive soil erosion (but not associated yield loss) if they had managed their fields for a longer period or had larger fields. Perceived yield loss was reduced on fields that had benefited from public conservation campaigns. Educational programs to raise awareness of soil erosion should be an integral component of conservation extension services. A focus on technology transfer alone will not necessarily result in awareness of the erosion problem and enhanced adoption of conservation technologies. Educational programs need to target older household heads. Stable land tenure can facilitate conservation investment through its impact on erosion perception, in addition to its effect through tenure security.
Commercial transformation of subsistence agriculture is an indispensable pathway to-wards economi... more Commercial transformation of subsistence agriculture is an indispensable pathway to-wards economic growth and development for many agriculture dependent developing coun-tries. Commercialisation entails market orientation (agricultural production destined for market based on market ...
2010 Aaae Third Conference Aeasa 48th Conference September 19 23 2010 Cape Town South Africa, 2010
... Evidence from Crop-Livestock Mixed Systems in Ethiopia Moti Jaleta * Postdoctoral Scientist, ... more ... Evidence from Crop-Livestock Mixed Systems in Ethiopia Moti Jaleta * Postdoctoral Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PO Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia E-mail: m.jaleta@cgiar.org ... Moti Jaleta is corresponding author. Email: m.jaleta@cgiar.org Page 3. ...
Eptd Discussion Paper Environment and Production Technology Division International Food Policy Research Institute, 2003
This paper explores the patterns and determinants of empowerment, income generation, and environm... more This paper explores the patterns and determinants of empowerment, income generation, and environmental sustainability under varying degrees of woodlot management in Tigray, Ethiopia. Our analysis is based upon a survey of 120 collectively managed woodlots, devolved to varying degrees, and 66 households that have recently received small plots of community land for tree planting. We find that more devolved woodlot management empowers resource users by providing greater autonomy regarding the management of woodlots, and in particular the ability to make decisions about the harvest of woodlot products. Our economic analysis indicates that grass is by far the most important product being harvested from woodlots. There has been very limited harvesting of higher value products such as poles and fuelwood, which are in very short supply in the region. Labor inputs declined, and average annual net benefits improved as woodlots were more devolved, indicating that devolved woodlots are more economically efficient. Woodlots were generally perceived to be associated with positive changes in environmental conditions such as the slowing of erosion and gully formation, and the maintenance of biodiversity. However, greater environmental benefits were associated with less devolved woodlots. This study highlights the trade-offs inherent in varying levels of woodlot management. Though woodlots are perceived to provide significant environmental functions, restrictions regarding harvesting high value products are limiting the potential for smallholder income diversification and empowerment, two critical components of poverty alleviation in Ethiopia.
The European Journal of Development Research
The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in c... more The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in connection with households' level of commercialization. A sample of 469 milk producers are modeled using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Average Technical Efficiency (TE) is estimated to be 80%, with variation among regions and generally reflecting levels of commercialization. Results show that assuming milk producers are rational, TE is increased by increasing the number of cattle, cows, and crossbreeds, and by additinal veterinary and feed inputs. These results support much existing research, and our contribution is the extension of analysis to actions and characteristics of the value chain due to commercial behaviors. We identify both direct and indirect potential effects of commercialization and identify mechanisms for their operation in development programs for commercial value chains. We find that credit access, training, group membership, market participation, and female household all improve TE while non-cattle income would reduce TE. We present subgroups of households to better contrast levels of productivity and compare a limited number of the sub-groups' characteristics and actions. We provide commentary and explanation regarding commercialization and its direct and indirect connections to productivity. Recommendations include partnerships and facilitating actions that support commercialization, in association with improving efficiency in Tanzanian dairy. Keywords Technical efficiency • Dairy farms • Dairy farm development • Stochastic production frontier • Tanzania Résumé Le niveau et les déterminants de l'efficacité technique dans les ménages producteurs de lait sont étudiés par rapport au niveau de commercialisation des ménages. Un
SePR Working Papers contain results of research done by ILRI scientists, consultants and collabor... more SePR Working Papers contain results of research done by ILRI scientists, consultants and collaborators. The Working Papers are not subjected to full refereeing and are disseminated to motivate discussion and comment. It is expected that most of the Working Papers will be published in some other *form. The author(s) alone is (are) responsible for the contents. POLICIES FOR SUSTAINABLE LAND MANAGEMENT IN THE HIGHLANDS OF TIGRAY, NORTHERN ETHIOPIA
Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However... more Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However, perceptions are often overlooked in the conservation literature. This study analyzes the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions of soil erosion in northern Ethiopia. Results are based on a survey of 250 farmers managing 900 fields during the 1995-96 cropping season. Farmer perceptions of the severity and productivity impact of soil erosion were measured at plot level as ordinal variables. Ordered probit and ordinary probit statistical regressions were used to analyze the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions. Farmers were more likely both to perceive soil erosion and to perceive resultant yield loss if land degradation in their village was already severe, if they owned fields on steeply sloped land, and if their fields had convex or concave slope shape. On the other hand, farmers were less likely to view soil erosion as a problem or perceive yield loss if they were older...
Agricultural Economics, 2009
This article examines the role of institutional services of credit, input supply, and extension i... more This article examines the role of institutional services of credit, input supply, and extension in the overall commercial transformation process of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. Survey data collected in 2006 from 309 sample households in three districts of Ethiopia are used for the analyses. Tobit regression models are used to measure the effect of access to services on the intensity of inputs use for fertilizer and agrochemicals. A probit model is used to measure these effects on the adoption of improved seeds. Intensity of use of seeds is analyzed using an ordinary least squares model. Logarithmic Cobb-Douglass functions are estimated to analyze the effect of access to services on crop productivity. Heckman's two-stage estimation is used to examine determinants of household market participation and the extents of participation. Results show that access to institutional support services plays a significant role in enhancing smallholder productivity and market orientation. Our results imply that expanding and strengthening the institutional services is critical for the intensification and market orientation of smallholder agriculture in Ethiopia. In particular, appropriate incentives and regulatory systems are urgently needed to encourage the involvement of the private sector in the provision of agricultural services.
The European Journal of Development Research
The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in c... more The level and determinants of technical efficiency in milk-producing households are examined in connection with households' level of commercialization. A sample of 469 milk producers are modeled using Stochastic Frontier Analysis (SFA). Average Technical Efficiency (TE) is estimated to be 80%, with variation among regions and generally reflecting levels of commercialization. Results show that assuming milk producers are rational, TE is increased by increasing the number of cattle, cows, and crossbreeds, and by additinal veterinary and feed inputs. These results support much existing research, and our contribution is the extension of analysis to actions and characteristics of the value chain due to commercial behaviors. We identify both direct and indirect potential effects of commercialization and identify mechanisms for their operation in development programs for commercial value chains. We find that credit access, training, group membership, market participation, and female household all improve TE while non-cattle income would reduce TE. We present subgroups of households to better contrast levels of productivity and compare a limited number of the sub-groups' characteristics and actions. We provide commentary and explanation regarding commercialization and its direct and indirect connections to productivity. Recommendations include partnerships and facilitating actions that support commercialization, in association with improving efficiency in Tanzanian dairy. Keywords Technical efficiency • Dairy farms • Dairy farm development • Stochastic production frontier • Tanzania Résumé Le niveau et les déterminants de l'efficacité technique dans les ménages producteurs de lait sont étudiés par rapport au niveau de commercialisation des ménages. Un
Animal Production Science
Context It is widely recognised that village poultry play important roles nutritionally, economic... more Context It is widely recognised that village poultry play important roles nutritionally, economically and socio-culturally in developing countries such as Ethiopia where the sector makes up the largest portion of the national poultry meat and egg production. The importance of socioeconomic environment for improving the contribution of village poultry to household income and diets is receiving little attention in research and development. Aims The present study examined whether and to what extent household, flock, institutional and infrastructural factors enable or constrain village poultry marketing and consumption. Methods The results of the study are based on analysis of data drawn from a cross-sectional survey of 5004 households conducted in four regions of Ethiopia. On the basis of the type of dependent variable, probit and ordinary least squares regression models and marginal effects were used to determine whether and how much the aforementioned factors affect household involve...
Global Ecology and Conservation
NJAS - Wageningen Journal of Life Sciences
Current Research in Agricultural Sciences, 2016
Chicken production in West Gojjam zone was characterized by using indigenous chicken with low inp... more Chicken production in West Gojjam zone was characterized by using indigenous chicken with low input-output level. Despite its diverse socio economic role for smallholder farmers, production and productivity of village chicken was very low. As the result, chicken producers were not benefited from the sector. Therefore, this study was conducted with the aim of characterizing chicken rearing practice, flock dynamics and determining the off-take rate of village chicken production system. It was conducted in West Gojjam Zone of Ethiopia. Multi-stage sampling technique was used to select representative respondents. A total of 500 farmers were interviewed. In the study area, the average numbers of local and exotic chickens kept by smallholder producers were 8.44+0.42 and 0.49+0.10chicken, respectively with the overall mean 8.93+0.42chicken. The flock structure was highly dominated by young chicks (3.82+0.28) and hen (2.47+0.09). The average chicken migrated into the flock per household per annum was 10.32+ 0.80 birds, whereas the outflow from the flock was 16.62+0.85birds. The number of chicken was higher at the middle of the year than the beginning and end of the year. On average, 2.9+0.12 layer chickens were kept per household. From which, in average 307.2+ 20.2 eggs were produced from local and improved breed in a year. Marketing in the district and PA were important marketing places for egg and live birds with the off-take rate of 34.94%. To improve chicken production in the study area, adaptive improved chicken breed should be introduced. Strategic vaccination, semi scavenging practices should be introduced and promoted in order to reduce chicken mortality. Capacity building through training and intensive follow up should also be made in order to enhance the level of awareness of smallholders on improved small scale poultry keeping practices.
African Research Review, 2016
In Ethiopia, the public extension service has a key role in the introduction and promotion of val... more In Ethiopia, the public extension service has a key role in the introduction and promotion of value chain development interventions to transform the rural sector. The Livestock and Irrigation Value Chains for Ethiopian Smallholders (LIVES) project conducted a household baseline survey to assess the current status of the public extension service from a market oriented development perspective. A total of 2502 (2025 male-and 477 female-headed households), randomly selected from LIVES intervention peasant associations (PAs), were interviewed. Data were analysed using descriptive analysis. The survey results show that, while extension services in Ethiopia have recently focused on the production of high value commodities, advice, training and linkage facilitation support on market information, storage, processing and marketing of value chain commodities is not generally strong. The use of innovative extension service delivery methods and tools for market oriented agricultural development has not yet been widely used in Ethiopia.
On farm conservation of crop diversity entails policy challenges, especially when the diversity o... more On farm conservation of crop diversity entails policy challenges, especially when the diversity of crops maintained on farms has both inter-specific (among crops) and infraspecific (within a crop) components. Survey data is used to compare the determinants of inter-and infra-specific diversity on household farms in the highlands of northern Ethiopia. Physical features of the farm, and household characteristics such as livestock assets and the proportion of adults that are men, have large and significant effects on both the diversity among and within cereal crops grown, varying among crops. Demographic aspects such as age of household head and adult education levels affect only infra-specific diversity of cereals. Though there are no apparent trade-offs between policies that would enhance one type of diversity (richness) versus another (evenness), those designed to encourage infraspecific diversity in one cereal crop might have the opposite effect on another crop. Tradeoffs between development and diversity in this resource-poor system are not evident. Marketrelated variables and population density have ambiguous effects. Education positively influences cereal crop diversity. Growing modern varieties of maize or wheat does not detract from the richness or evenness of these cereals on household farms.
... org Moti Jaleta Post Doctoral Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute POBox 568... more ... org Moti Jaleta Post Doctoral Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute POBox 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia e-mail: m.jaleta@cgiar.org _____ ...
Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However... more Farmers must perceive soil erosion as a problem before they will invest in preventing it. However, perceptions are often overlooked in the conservation literature. This study analyzes the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions of soil erosion in northern Ethiopia. Results are based on a survey of 250 farmers managing 900 fields during the 1995-96 cropping season. Farmer perceptions of the severity and productivity impact of soil erosion were measured at plot level as ordinal variables. Ordered probit and ordinary probit statistical regressions were used to analyze the levels and determinants of farmer perceptions. Farmers were more likely both to perceive soil erosion and to perceive resultant yield loss if land degradation in their village was already severe, if they owned fields on steeply sloped land, and if their fields had convex or concave slope shape. On the other hand, farmers were less likely to view soil erosion as a problem or perceive yield loss if they were older, had fields far from the homestead, or had contact with the extension service. Farmers were more likely to perceive soil erosion (but not associated yield loss) if they had managed their fields for a longer period or had larger fields. Perceived yield loss was reduced on fields that had benefited from public conservation campaigns. Educational programs to raise awareness of soil erosion should be an integral component of conservation extension services. A focus on technology transfer alone will not necessarily result in awareness of the erosion problem and enhanced adoption of conservation technologies. Educational programs need to target older household heads. Stable land tenure can facilitate conservation investment through its impact on erosion perception, in addition to its effect through tenure security.
Commercial transformation of subsistence agriculture is an indispensable pathway to-wards economi... more Commercial transformation of subsistence agriculture is an indispensable pathway to-wards economic growth and development for many agriculture dependent developing coun-tries. Commercialisation entails market orientation (agricultural production destined for market based on market ...
2010 Aaae Third Conference Aeasa 48th Conference September 19 23 2010 Cape Town South Africa, 2010
... Evidence from Crop-Livestock Mixed Systems in Ethiopia Moti Jaleta * Postdoctoral Scientist, ... more ... Evidence from Crop-Livestock Mixed Systems in Ethiopia Moti Jaleta * Postdoctoral Scientist, International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI) PO Box 5689 Addis Ababa, Ethiopia E-mail: m.jaleta@cgiar.org ... Moti Jaleta is corresponding author. Email: m.jaleta@cgiar.org Page 3. ...
Eptd Discussion Paper Environment and Production Technology Division International Food Policy Research Institute, 2003
This paper explores the patterns and determinants of empowerment, income generation, and environm... more This paper explores the patterns and determinants of empowerment, income generation, and environmental sustainability under varying degrees of woodlot management in Tigray, Ethiopia. Our analysis is based upon a survey of 120 collectively managed woodlots, devolved to varying degrees, and 66 households that have recently received small plots of community land for tree planting. We find that more devolved woodlot management empowers resource users by providing greater autonomy regarding the management of woodlots, and in particular the ability to make decisions about the harvest of woodlot products. Our economic analysis indicates that grass is by far the most important product being harvested from woodlots. There has been very limited harvesting of higher value products such as poles and fuelwood, which are in very short supply in the region. Labor inputs declined, and average annual net benefits improved as woodlots were more devolved, indicating that devolved woodlots are more economically efficient. Woodlots were generally perceived to be associated with positive changes in environmental conditions such as the slowing of erosion and gully formation, and the maintenance of biodiversity. However, greater environmental benefits were associated with less devolved woodlots. This study highlights the trade-offs inherent in varying levels of woodlot management. Though woodlots are perceived to provide significant environmental functions, restrictions regarding harvesting high value products are limiting the potential for smallholder income diversification and empowerment, two critical components of poverty alleviation in Ethiopia.