Food Grain Market Jl Ng , Di Stri 13U F
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FOOD GRAIN MARKET JL NG , DI STRI 13U F JON MECHAiv i SMS ANI) PROBLEMS IN WOLLO AND A!; TACENT ADM ( NTSTRATTVE ZOr.T^S: ImPLICA'l j ONS l«’OIi HOUSEHOLD FOOD S EC U R. ITY AND 1^0 L 1 CY Addis Ababa October, 1994 FOOD GRAIN MARKETING, DISTRIBUTION MECHANISMS AND PROBLEMS IN WOLLO AND ADJACENT ADMINISTRATIVE ZONES IMPLICATIONS FOR HOUSEHOLD EOOD SECURITY AND POLICY A Research Report Prepared for Save the Children (UK) in Ethiopia By DAGNEW ESHETE (Ph. D.) Programme Technical Advisor, SCF-UK Addis Ababa October, 1994 t SUMMARY \ 1. AIMS AND METHODS OF THE STUDY This study seeks to examine the nature and problems of rural grain production, grain distribution/supply and marketing with an implication for household food security and policy. Specifically the study has attempted to examine the current grain supply and marketing problems in detail in relation to its effect on local and household level food security by administrative zones in the north and north-central region of Ethiopia. A more detailed examination concentrated on particular food deficit areas of North and South Wollo Administrative zones. Most Woredas in these administrative zones are generally food deficit and have been facing recurrent disaster-induced food shortages and famines in recent decades. This study has also attempted to identify the relatively marketable grain surplus areas within and outside Wollo, where people in many grain deficit areas in Wollo depend for their food supply more importantly in bad years. The main objectives of this study are: a) to help SCF (UK) refine its position on the need for food aid in the north, and to provide a basis for advocating on behalf of that posit ion; b) to improve SCF’s early warning of impending food shortage and f amine; and c) to identify constraints to inter-regional trade and how these might be eased. The information used in this study is gathered mainly from primary sources through field-research work in sample areas of Wollo and adjacent administrative zones. The principal source of information has been sample survey involving mainly questionnaire-based interviews/discussions with sample representatives (eg, members of SCs/PAs, traders, development agents, etc.) at different levels, direct market observations, and use of official market records. Given the variations in the natural endowments, settlement patterns, agricultural and other market-based economic activities, established development infrastructures and other socio-economic and communication problems, sample areas were stratified by: - geographical locations (eg, administrative zones and Woredas); - agro-ecologies; - marketable grain surplus producing Woredas, and food deficit Woredas; and - distance from towns, market centers and roads. The secondary survey areas include purposively selected sample Woredas adjacent to Wollo region which traditionally have strong links primarily in grain marketing. These sample Woredas are specifically located in North Shewa, South Gondar, and East Gojjam. Different formal and informal approaches were used in all survey areas in the process of data collection in order to attain the research objective. i 2. FINDINGS OF THE STUDY AND CONCLUSIONS i ) Agricultural Production Traditions In the study areas, the traditional agricultural practices vary according to the agro-ecological variations. The main types of crops that dominantly grow in Dega (highlands) such as barley and horse beans do not grow in Kolia (lowland) areas. The main Kolia crops that include sorghum, maize and tef, on the other hand, do not grow in Dega climatic zones. Woina-Dega areas (intermediate zone) generally accommodate diverse crops (eg, wheat, barley, tef, maize, sorghum, etc.) that grow both in Dega and Kolia agro-ecologies. This also holds true for livestock husbandry by types and breeds. Farm producers in parts of Wollo and N. Shewa depend on two rainy seasons for their crop production activities. These are: (a) the Meher season which largely depends on the main rainy season extending from Nay/June to September; and (b) Belg season which depends on a short rainy season generally extending from Feb./March to early May. Some Meher long-maturing crops such as sorghum and maize also benefit from the late Belg rains (April-May) for planting and early stage growth. Kolia areas are not generally users of Belg rains due to its erratic nature. However, little rains that fall during Belg season in Kolia areas are useful for regeneration of pasture for livestock. About 48 percent of the Woredas in Wollo benefit from the Belg rains in relatively normal years. Of these, nearly 63 percent of the Woredas that benefit from the Belg rains are located in South Wollo. T h e overall annual contribution of Belg crop production ranges from 15 to 25 percent in relatively normal years. Belg production contributes 20-25 and 15 percent of the total annually expected harvests in South and North Wollo respectively. Livestock in Wollo, as in most other regions in the country, play a significant role in the regional economy and in ensuring household-level food security. Livestock possession in Wollo (regardless of their agro-ecological locations) are not only direct sources of household food security; but also sources of power (eg, draught power), means of transportation (as pack animals), and as an important source of cash. In most places, however, the livestock numbers and their productivity are said to be alarmingly declining from year to year due to rapidly diminishing common grazing lands, overstocking, scarcity of pasture and poor watering and veterinary facilities. Peasants in Wollo still use both inadequate and traditional farm technologies as regards to farm tools, seasonal productive inputs, farm power and other farming practices, which are relatively unproductive. The agricultural extension services are also very poor, and many areas particularly with poor rural road facilities have not been reached at all. In most areas of Wollo, as a result of the growing farm asset decline and lack of reserves, the majority of the rural people are becoming more vulnerable to the recurrent disaster-induced food crisis that has increasingly become a common phenomena primarily since early 1970s. That is, there has been a growing gap between the food requirement of the people and food supply. Food production and supply situation in general is far below the food requirement at a household, local and zonal levels. As regards the consumers preference in the study areas, barley and wheat in Dega; wheat, tef, sorghum and maize in W/Dega; and sorghum, maize and tef in Kolia areas are the most preferred for consumption and widely traded grain staples. i i) Food Deficit and Marketable Grain Surplus Areas Although food deficit areas vary according to their agro- ecological and people’s occupational differences, generally food deficit Woredas by administrative zones include: - Sequota, Ziquala, Abergele, Dahena, Bugna, Gidan, Mekete, Guba Lafto, Kobo and Habru Woredas in N. Wollo; and - Bati, Tehuledere, Worebabo, Ambassel, Dessie Zuria, Kuta-Ber, Kalu, Albuko, Dewerahimedo, Artuma, parts of Esaye-Golla, Tenta, Mekdela, Legambo and Sayint Woredas in S. Wollo. Some Woredas in N. Wollo such as Kobo, Habru and parts of Guba Lafto, however, become either self-sufficient in food production or produce marketable surplus sorghum in favorable years using Meher rains. Other Woredas, such as Kalu, Tenta, Mekdela and Legambo in S. Wollo become relatively self-sufficient in food production in normal years using both Belg and Meher rains, although there appears to be a generally declining trend in their food production and supply situation in the recent years. The main marketable grain surplus producing areas in Wollo include: - Jamma, Wore-Ilu, Legehida, Kelala, Wogidi and parts of Esaye Golla Woredas in S. Wollo; and - Delanta, Wadla and Dawnt Woredas in N. Wollo. These areas, which cover about 27% of the total existing Woredas in Wollo have traditionally been supplying many of the food deficit Woredas and urban centers with their marketable grain supplies in both good and bad years. Dera Woreda in North Shewa has been the main supply source of marketable grains (primarily sorghum and Tef) mainly to many markets in the food deficit parts of southwestern Wollo for the past over two decades. The second important supply sources for marketable grains (mainly Tef, sorghum, chick peas, horse beans and barley in order of importance) are Shebel Berenta and Enesie Sarmidir Woredas in the former Bichena and Mota Awrajas respectively (in the present East Gojjam Administrative Zone). Some particular Woredas in S. Gondar Administrative Zone are the main sources (exporters) of marketable grain staples for many markets in N. Wollo. Woredas including: (a) Estae, Farta, and Fogera Woredas; and (b) parts of Simada, Lay-Gayint, and Tach-Gayint Woredas in the former Debre Tabor and Gayint Awrajas respectively have been the main sources of imported grain staples (mainly tef, sorghum and chick peas). Analysis of the survey information in food deficit sample Woredas indicate that, the average food self-sufficiency months are about 3, 5 and 9 months for the poor, middle and the rich respectively in normal years. The same information indicates that approximately 50 and 40 percent of the population in these Woredas are from the poor and middle income categories respectively. In the recent decade (normal years), grain production in these areas has been estimated to cover only up to 50-60% of their total annual food needs due to complex production problems. In relatively surplus grain producing sample Woredas, the average food self-sufficiency months are about 5 and 9 for the poor and middle income groups respectively, and over 12 months (with adequate reserves or marketable surplus) for the rich in normal years. In these areas, approximately 30-35 and 40 percent of the population are from the poor and middle income categories respectively.