Livelihood Strategies of Landless Ruralhouseholds and Determinants of Choice of Strategies: The Case of Wolmera Woreda of Oromia Region of Ethiopia
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Date
2019-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Landlessness is very common in the study area. The objective of this study is to identify landless
households‟ livelihood strategies and determinants of households‟ choice of strategies. To
undertake this study, three rural kebeles of the Woreda and 174 sample landless household were
selected randomly from the selected rural kebeles. Mixed method research approach was
followed. Primary data was collected by household sample survey, focus group discussion, key
informant interviews, field observation, and case study as well as secondary data was collected
from different offices. The analysis of quantitative data was done by descriptive and inferential
statistics (multivariate probit model). The qualitative data was analyzed following thematic
analysis methods. According to the results of this study, landless rural households of the study
area on average accounts to about 18.7 % of total households. Regarding livelihood assets, the
important assets being utilized to pursue livelihood strategies are human capital and financial
capital. Livelihood strategies pursued by landless rural household respondents were farming,
engaging in nonfarm activities and diversification of livelihood strategies. When analyzed
independently, without overlap of livelihood strategies, 18 (10.34%) of the landless households
pursue only farming livelihood strategies. While 4(2.3%) of respondents pursue only nonfarm,
152 (87.36%) pursue diversified livelihood strategies. Regarding the determinants of
households‟ choice of livelihood strategies, it was found that Land access, Credit, Livestock
possession (measured in Tropical Livestock Unit), Distance from urban, Education, Inheritance
of livelihood strategies and Skills, generally determine the choice of livelihood strategies in the
study area. Although various studies identified other variables like sex, age, household labour
size, dependent family member, institution, and training as determinants of the choices of
livelihood strategies, this study found they are not determinants to the choice of livelihood
strategies. Therefore, giving special support for skilled landless groups, giving emphasis on how
to best pursue diversified livelihood strategies, improving the accessibility of capital, improving
educational status, as well as improving infrastructures like road, electricity and water supply,
are recommended by this study
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Keywords
rural landless households, livelihood assets, livelihood strategies, determinants of choice, Wolmera Woreda