Opportunities and Challenges of Jatropha Development on the Livelihoods of Local Community in Ethiopia. The Case of off A Woreda
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Abeba university
Abstract
modern energy sources such as petroleum fuels is increasing with increase in population
and economic growth. Even though the share of petroleum fuels is about 7% of the total
consumption, the increasing demand for it and the associated price hike have hit the
national economy very hard. As a net importer of petroleum, Ethiopia is highly
vu lnerable to price shocks and supply problems of oil in the world market. It is therefore
the government's priority agenda for alternative fuels to partially substitute imported
petroleum. This is the major reason for the government to include large scale
commercial production of bio fuels as part of the range of other development programs
proposed to insure supply of modern energy services.
Bio fuels have a great potential for a number of countries worldwide and have a number
of benefits economically, environmentally and socially. On the other hand, it has created
a large degree of controversy relating to the issues of its usage and the likely
consequences such as loss of biodiversity, deforestation, increased use of fertilizers,
which results in green house gas emissions, and also its effect on food security.
This study made a thorough investigation on the existing opportunities and threats of
Jatropha plantation on the livelihood of rura l community, particularly Offa
Woreda,Wolaita Zone. For this purpose adequate data was generated from both
primary and secondary sources using various techniques. In the primary data collecting
process 100 households and other stakeholders were administered by way of survey
questionnaire. The process was backed by discussion; interview and observation in the
study area where the author believed that factual information make the paper more
meaningful.
As has been seen from the practices of bio-fuel development in the study area, almost
all lands cultivated for Jatropha plantation are mostly farm lands and forest lands.
Productivity in degraded land is low and as a result developers can hardly be sustained
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in such situations. The major reason for Sun bio-fuel to leave the plantation site in Offa
is that the land is not suitable for Jatropha. This situation leads the developers to use
farm lands which get biannual rainfall. Likewise, many out-growers use their crop lands
for the production of Jatropha hoping that they will get better income. As a resu lt the
price of food crops is increasing because the supply of food crops decreased due to the
introduction of Jatropha plantation. The inappropriate use of fertilizers and pesticides
are also affecting the fertility of the land though it needs further research. On the other
hand, Jatropha plantation has big job opportunities for those farmers who do not have
enough farmlands. Given all the uncertainties in the benefits and consequences of bio
fuel development, large scale development is likely to cause harmful impacts if
adequate monitoring methods are not put in place
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Keywords
Livelihoods of Local Community