Browsing by Author "Seyoum, Mesfin"

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    An Assessment of the Contributions and Challenges of Rural Non-Farm (RNF) Activities in Doba wereda, W/Hararghe Zone
    (Addis Ababa University, 2009-06) Seyoum, Mesfin; Hassen, Ali (PhD)
    A blend of qualitative and quantitative methods was employed to gather data from sample households. The result of these findings points out that the younger household members engage in non-fann income-earning opportunities and found out age is a factor to move into the non-fann sector more broadly. While there is no one that cannot read and write in the participants, the number of illiterate in non-participants is high and it increase, as agroecology is getting unfavorable. It is also observed that family size and structure affect the ability of a household to supply labor to the non-fann sector. Larger families supply more labor to the RNF sector, as sufficient family members remain in the home or on-the fann activities to meet labor needs on agriculture. Regarding gender distribution, majority of business operators in the study wereda are male households that shows the dominance of male over female in rural non-fann activities. The study also revealed the non-availability of government supportive structures such as credit and training programs to start and expand RNF activities. Lack of capital and market, business awareness and poor infrastructure were also among the constraining factors. RNF diversification, while generally limited, was dominated by chat and fattening ox and selling with equib and own saving as initial source of capital. The study also showed business partlclpants in the study kebeles exceed the nonparticipants by their annual income, food security, type of food stuff consumed, housing condition and source of light, hence the study conclude RNF activities are important. Generally, the main conclusion to be drawn is the importance of helping the poor to overcome the constraints and thus enable them to participate in RNF activities. This entails diagnosing the kinds of asset constraining the poor with respect to entrance into the more dynamic and remunerative RNF activities. The policy implications forwarded are, promoting different RNF income generating activities, improving the asset bases of the poor and Social capital are important in addition to education, health and financial services that facilitate access to RNF income sources.