Examining Alternative Livelihoods for Improved Resilience and Transformation in Afar
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EXAMINING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS FOR IMPROVED RESILIENCE AND TRANSFORMATION IN AFAR May 2019 Report photos: Dr. Daniel Temesgen EXAMINING ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS FOR IMPROVED RESILIENCE AND TRANSFORMATION IN AFAR May 2019 This document has been produced with the financial assistance of the European Union. The views expressed herein can in no way be taken to reflect the official opinion of the European Union. Report authors: Daniel Temesga, Amdissa Teshome, Berhanu Admassu Suggested citation: FAO and Tufts University. (2019). Examining Alternative Livelihoods for Improved Resilience and Transformation in Afar. FAO: Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. Implemented by: Feinstein International Center Friedman School of Nutrition Science and Policy Tufts University Africa Regional Office www.fic.tufts.edu © FAO TABLE OF CONTENTS EXECUTIVE SUMMARY ............................................................................................................................... 6 I. BACKGROUND............................................................................................................................................ 8 The Afar Region: context and livelihoods ................................................................................................... 8 The purpose of the study ............................................................................................................................ 8 The study’s approaches and methods .......................................................................................................... 9 2. FINDINGS: THE EVOLUTION OF ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS IN PASTORAL AREAS OF AFAR REGION ......................................................................................................................... 11 2.1 Perceptions on the evolution from traditional pastoralist livelihoods .................................................... 11 Perceptions based on age .................................................................................................................... 11 Perceptions of the women ................................................................................................................... 11 2.2 Perceptions on how livelihoods are transforming .................................................................................. 12 Transformation through education ..................................................................................................... 12 The mpacti of livelihood transformations on gender ............................................................................. 12 Livelihood transformation trends ....................................................................................................... 13 2.3 Perceptions on future livelihood pathways ............................................................................................ 14 The athwaysp for livelihood diversification .......................................................................................... 14 2.4 Perceptions on the future prospects for pastoralism .............................................................................. 16 3. FINDINGS: ALTERNATIVE LIVELIHOODS AND ECONOMIC ACTIVITIES CURRENTLY FOUND IN AFAR AND THEIR IMPLICATIONS FOR RESILIENCE ................................................. 19 3.1 Livestock-related alternative livelihood activities ................................................................................... 20 Livestock trade and marketing ........................................................................................................... 20 Fodder production and commercialization ......................................................................................... 21 Milk trading ..................................................................................................................................... 23 Livestock fattening ............................................................................................................................ 24 3.2 Small-scale agriculture using irrigation ................................................................................................. 25 Land loss to large investors ................................................................................................................. 26 Fresh vegetable and fruit production .................................................................................................. 27 3.3 Small-scale fishing ................................................................................................................................ 28 3.4 Income from natural products .............................................................................................................. 30 Prosopis wood enterprises .................................................................................................................. 30 Date palm ........................................................................................................................................ 30 Handicraft production and marketing ............................................................................................... 31 3.5 Small-scale and retail trading................................................................................................................ 32 Small-scale trading ........................................................................................................................... 32 Retail trade ...................................................................................................................................... 33 3.6 Wage labor/employment ....................................................................................................................... 33 The mining industry .......................................................................................................................... 35 The tourism industry ......................................................................................................................... 36 Commercial farming ......................................................................................................................... 39 Promotion of wage labor alternative livelihoods .................................................................................. 39 4 4. CONCLUSION ............................................................................................................................................. 41 5 RECOMMENDATIONS AND WAY FORWARD ...................................................................................... 43 Annex 1. Literature reviewed for this study ......................................................................................................... 45 Annex 2. Topographic map of Afar Region ......................................................................................................... 48 Annex 3. Growth trends based on study data ...................................................................................................... 49 List of tables Table 1. Sampling and community-level data collection................................................................................ 9 Table 2. Methodological approach – methods and tools ................................................................................ 10 Table 3. Description of livelihood categories ................................................................................................. 15 Table 4. Community perceptions on the future of pastoralism according to four response categories ........... 17 Table 5. Reasons for positive or negative views on the future of pastoralism from case studies ...................... 17 Table 6. Driving forces for the changes ......................................................................................................... 18 Table 7. Alternative livelihoods identified by men’s and women’s responses................................................... 19 Table 8. Actors in livestock trading and their functions ................................................................................ 21 Table 9. Opportunities and risk factors in fodder commercialization ............................................................ 22 Table 10. Opportunities and risk factors in value addition for dairy products ................................................. 25 Table 11. Opportunities and risk factors in livestock fattening ....................................................................... 25 Table 12. Average yield of crops in irrigated areas ........................................................................................... 26 Table 13. Net Income from onion and tomato cultivation from one hectare of land in Amibara .................... 27 Table 14. Opportunities and risk factors of value addition in fisheries ............................................................ 29 Table 15. Opportunities and risk factors of value addition through Prosopis utilization................................... 30 Table 16. Opportunities and constraints in wage labor ................................................................................... 34 Table 17. Opportunities and risk factors in the tourism industry .................................................................... 38 Table 18. Opportunities and risk factors in commercial crop production ........................................................ 39 Table 19. Types of training and skills required ...............................................................................................