Household Livelihood Security: Resources, Vulnerability and Coping Strategies Among Peasants in Tach Gayint Woreda, Amhara Region, Ethiopia.
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Date
2008-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Studies on household livelihood security ojien explain what and how households make their
livelihoods within the realm of prevailing contexts. This research explores livelihood
resources, vulnerability and coping strategies of households in the three selected kebeles of
Tach Gayint Woreda. To this end, household livelihood security approach was used to provide
an explicit focus on what matters to rural livelihoods in the studied areas. The study findings
were drawn .liĀ·om data generated' through the combination of hath qualitative research
methods and quantitative household survey method
Participatory Rural Appraisal (PRA) techniques involved participants from various socioeconomic
groups with the view of gelling holistic views and a better picture of the prevailing
contexts through the participation of the peasants in the study.
Results obtained reveal that livelihood systems in the study areas are dominated by
subsistence - oriented small holder agriculture in which households practiced mixed farming
where both animal and crop production are carried out concurrently. In addition, the studied
households also pursued non-farm activities although the activities were often low paid type.
On the other hand, the stock of productive assets held by households such as holdings of land,
livestock and other assets are low and possibly deteriorating.
Evidences ji-om the data also showed that the studied households have been suffering ji-om
frequent and severe disasters for many years which include drought, jloodl', insects and pests,
and epidemics. As a result, livelihoods in the area are linked to persisting vulnerability which
is the result of combination of factors constraining the options and opportunities open to the
households. Ever increasing population growth which has placed extreme pressure on scarce
land resources, increasing environmental degradation, low and erratic rainfall, depletion of
asset base, declining land productivity and lack of appropriate technologies that are needed
for intensifYing production together with the lack of viable livelihood diversification
opportunities were among the major causes for their vulnerability.
More than hail' of the households do not produce enough food to cover their needs for six
months and those that can produce enough food to feed themselves year round were about 15
percent. In this regard, repeated occurrences of drought and adverse weather pattern, food
price injlation, inability to produce sufficient food crops and rear livestock due to various
facto rs, and failure to properly utilize own production and other earnings were among the
main reasons of households for being food insecure. The overall result is that the households
have to cope with the persisting vulnerabilities to feed themselves and thus they have adopted
coping strategies in response to the different risks and shocks to their livelihoods.
This paper argues that effective ways to deal with household livelihood insecurity in Tach
Gayint must address the underlying causes of increased vulnerability for most households in
the area.
Key Words: Household, livelihood, vulnerability, and coping strategies.
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Keywords
Household, livelihood, vulnerability, and coping strategies