A Survey of Agricultural Productivity and Nutritional Status in Rural South Wollo, Ethiopia
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University of Nebraska - Lincoln DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations Anthropology, Department of 4-2011 A Survey of Agricultural Productivity and Nutritional Status in Rural South Wollo, Ethiopia Anne M. Cafer University of Nebraska-Lincoln, [email protected] Follow this and additional works at: https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthrotheses Part of the Anthropology Commons Cafer, Anne M., "A Survey of Agricultural Productivity and Nutritional Status in Rural South Wollo, Ethiopia" (2011). Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations. 15. https://digitalcommons.unl.edu/anthrotheses/15 This Article is brought to you for free and open access by the Anthropology, Department of at DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. It has been accepted for inclusion in Anthropology Department Theses and Dissertations by an authorized administrator of DigitalCommons@University of Nebraska - Lincoln. A SURVEY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRTIONAL STATUS IN RURAL SOUTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA by Anne M. Cafer A THESIS Presented to the Faculty of The Graduate College at the University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of Requirements For the Degree of Master of Arts Major: Anthropology Under the Supervision of Professor Mary S. Willis Lincoln, Nebraska May 2011 A SURVEY OF AGRICULTURAL PRODUCTIVITY AND NUTRITIONAL STATUS IN RURAL SOUTH WOLLO, ETHIOPIA Anne M. Cafer, M.A. University of Nebraska, 2011 Advisor: Mary S. Willis Although many studies have focused on the plight, poverty, and severe malnutrition of rural Ethiopians, few have managed to incorporate qualitative and quantitative data to examine connections between health status and food production. This project is unique in that both types of data are combined and anthropometric measurements and a structured questionnaire are used to explore the link between agriculture, development, and nutrition. Additionally the research design incorporated feedback from local development agents, faculty and staff at an Ethiopian university, and community leaders. A survey of 120 households in seven villages within two districts of South Wollo revealed that a majority of households suffer from severe malnutrition. Anthropometric measures showed wasting and stunting to be prevalent, particularly in children. As part of the holistic approach, this project utilized farmers’ perceptions, and as a result, gaps between extension and health worker education services were uncovered. Additionally, further light was shed on the impact of agricultural inputs and livestock ownership on household well-being. Specifically it was determined that, although oxen are important to household well-being, they are not the single best predictor of health status. Instead, their influence appears to be limited to a correlation with the amount of food stored annually by households. ii TABLE OF CONTENTS ABSTRACT ............................................................................................................... ii ACKNOWLEDGMENTS ......................................................................................... iv CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION ......................................................................... 1 CHAPTER TWO: REVIEW OF THE LITERATURE .............................................. 11 Nutrition ....................................................................................................... 11 Drought, Food Security, and Food Aid .......................................................... 13 Natural Resources and Conservation ............................................................. 17 Agriculture .................................................................................................... 20 Economic, Social and Political Issues ............................................................ 27 CHAPTER THREE: METHODS ............................................................................. 31 Study Site ..................................................................................................... 34 Literature ...................................................................................................... 41 Internal Review Board and Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative ..... 42 Obtaining Local Permission .......................................................................... 43 Data Collection and Field Experiences .......................................................... 43 Quantitative Assessment ............................................................................... 45 Qualitative Assessment ................................................................................. 47 Nutritional Questionnaire .............................................................................. 48 Agriculture Questionnaire ............................................................................. 50 Economic Questionnaire ............................................................................... 50 Analysis ........................................................................................................ 51 CHAPTER FOUR: RESULTS ................................................................................. 52 Anthropometric and Household Demographics ............................................. 52 Health and Nutrition...................................................................................... 63 Food Security and Food Aid Issues ............................................................... 74 iii Agriculture and Economics ........................................................................... 82 Significant Influences on Nutritional Status................................................... 99 Implications of Male and Female Heads of Household ................................ 101 CHAPTER FIVE: DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSION ........................................ 105 Anthropometric and Household Demographics ........................................... 105 Health and Nutrition.................................................................................... 109 Food Aid and Food Security Issues ............................................................. 112 Agriculture and Economics ......................................................................... 117 Significant Influences on Nutritional Status................................................. 128 Conclusions ................................................................................................ 129 Limitations of the Study .............................................................................. 131 APPENDICIES ...................................................................................................... 133 Appendix A-Informed Consent ................................................................... 133 Appendix B-Parental Informed Consent ...................................................... 135 Appendix C-Confidentiality Agreement ...................................................... 137 Appendix D-Anthropometric Protocol ......................................................... 138 Appendix E-Questionnaire .......................................................................... 140 Appendix F-Supplemental Graphs and Statistical Information ..................... 146 Appendix G-Glossary.................................................................................. 158 Appendix H-Wollo University Colleges and NGOs ..................................... 159 REFERENCES CITED .......................................................................................... 160 iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to thank my advisor, Dr. Mary S. Willis for her tireless efforts in preparing me for my field work and manuscript preparation. I would also like to thank the members of my committee, Dr. Raymond Hames, Dr. Martha Mamo, Dr. Charles Francis, and Dr. Shimelis Beyene for their support and input during this process. Special thanks to Dr. Kent Eskridge and Dr. Daniel Osborne for their aid in statistical analysis and establishing anthropometric protocols. To the faculty and staff at Wollo University I extend special thanks for their hospitality and willingness to share their knowledge of the region, I am particularly grateful to Dr. Assefa Negwo, Dr. Yitbarek Woldehawariat, and Dr. Mohammed Assen for their help during data collection and writing. Their continued feedback has been a great asset to this project. Most importantly, I would like to thank the extension and development agents, as well as the farmers and their families, who participated. This research would not have been possible without their contributions. I would also like to thank the Department of Anthropology for research funds from the endowments established in memory of John Champe and Ward Weakly. Last, though certainly not least, I would like to thank Barbara Trail and Kathy Hellwege for their insight and understanding throughout my graduate career at UNL. 1 CHAPTER ONE: INTRODUCTION “…more than 81% of Ethiopian peasants live under abject poverty, not relative but absolute poverty. That they starve three to six months every year when natural conditions are said to be normal, that they periodically sink from the precarious subsistence level into the abyss of famine, and that they are unable to sell their labour seasonally for some cash or grain are not exceptional but regular conditions of existence. Especially during the critical “hungry season”, the daily affirmation of the penury and helplessness in