Tree planting for poverty reduction in less-favoured areas of the Ethiopian highlands |
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| Authors: | Stein Holden Samuel Benin Bekele Shiferaw John Pender |
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| Institution: | 1.Department of Economics and Social Sciences,Agricultural University of Norway,?S,Norway;2.International Livestock Research Institute (ILRI),Addis Ababa,Ethiopia;3.International Crops Research Institute for the Semiarid Tropics (ICRISAT),Hyderabad,India;4.International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI),Washington, DC,USA |
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| Abstract: | This paper assesses the potential impact of planting of eucalypt trees as a strategy to reduce poverty in a less-favoured
area of the highlands of Ethiopia. Results from simulations with a bio-economic model for a less-favoured case study area
in the highlands are combined with survey data at community, household and plot level to assess how general the results of
the bio-economic model are. Application of the bio-economic model shows clearly that land degradation, population growth,
stagnant technology and drought threaten food security. Household welfare and land quality are deteriorating rapidly in the
area and interventions are urgently needed to avoid human disaster. Planting of eucalypts on land unsuitable for crop production
may substantially increase household incomes if market outlets for trees can be found. Tree planting will not have severe
negative effects on food production or land conservation. A policy combining promotion of tree planting and conservation of
cropland may achieve win-win benefits in terms of increased household incomes as well as more sustainable land-use. Analysis
of survey data from the Amhara Region of Ethiopia reveals that there is a large area of land that is unsuitable for crop production
located close to all-weather roads in the less-favoured areas of the region. Few trees have been planted on this type of land
up to now. The past policy seems to have discouraged tree planting except on homestead plots that are more suitable for food
crops.
This paper reports part of the IFPRI/ILRI project ‘Policies for Sustainable Land Management in the East African Highlands’.
These two agencies have provided funds and logistical support for the work. The Norwegian Ministry of Foreign Affairs has
provided funds for this research in the Amhara Region in Ethiopia. The authors also draw on earlier work funded by Research
Council of Norway. Any correspondence should be directed to the first author. |
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