Ashenafi Gedamu - Gobena Triticale Production in Ethiopia – Its Impact on Food Security and Poverty Alleviation in the Amhara Region This work has been accepted by the faculty of Organic Agricultural Sciences of the University of Kassel as a thesis for acquiring the academic degree of Doktor der Agrarwissenschaften (Dr. agr.). 1st Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Béatrice Knerr 2nd Supervisor: Prof. Dr. Christian Richter Examiner: Prof. Dr. Stefan Seuring Examiner: Prof. Dr. Matin Qaim Defense day: 1st February 2008 Bibliographic information published by Deutsche Nationalbibliothek The Deutsche Nationalbibliothek lists this publication in the Deutsche Nationalbibliografie; detailed bibliographic data is available in the Internet at http://dnb.d-nb.de. Zugl.: Kassel, Univ., Diss. 2008 ISBN: 978-3-89958-411-0 URN: urn:nbn:de:0002-4115 © 2008, kassel university press GmbH, Kassel www.upress.uni-kassel.de Printed by: Unidruckerei, University of Kassel Printed in Germany TABLE OF CONTENTS Preface . vii List of Tables . viii List of Figures . xi List of Photos . xi Dedication . xii Acknowledgements. xiii Abbreviations . xv Glossary of Local Terms . xvii Summary. xx Zusammenfassung . xxv 1 INTRODUCTION 1.1 Statement of the problem . 1 1.2 Research questions and specific objectives of the study . 4 1.3 Research hypotheses . .5 1.4 Significance of the study . .5 1.5 Limitations of the study . 6 1.6 Organisation of the thesis . .7 2 FOOD SECURITY AND UNDERNOURISHMENT 2.1 Definition and causes of food insecurity . 9 2.2 Relation between poverty and food security . 11 2.2.1 Poverty and food security . .. 11 2.2.2 Household food security . .13 2.3 State of research on food security and undernourishment . .14 2.3.1 Progress in world food security . 14 2.3.2 The global food security situation in the lead up towards 2015 . 15 2.3.3 Regional trends in food security and undernourishment . 16 2.3.3.1 The trend in Sub-Sahara Africa . 17 2.3.3.2 The food security situation in Ethiopia ……………….………………… ..18 2.4 Food security and agriculture in the Amhara region ……………………….. 21 2.4.1 The Amhara Region . .……………………………………………………21 2.4.2 Food security in the study districts . 23 2.5 The agricultural and food security policy of the Government of Ethiopia . 25 2.5.1 The Agricultural Development-Led Industrialization (ADLI) Policy . .25 iii 2.5.2 The resettlement programme and food security . 27 2.5.3 The Productive Safety Net Programme . 28 3 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY, SURVEY DESIGN AND THE STUDY AREAS 3.1 Data collection. 30 3.1.1 Selection and training of enumerators . 30 3.1.2 Constraints faced during the data collection . 31 3.2 Sampling procedure . 32 3.3 Data Analysis . 33 3.3.1 Model specification . 33 3.3.2 The probability regression equations and econometric model . .34 3.3.3 The probability regression analysis. .37 3.3.4 Definition of variables . 37 3.3.5 Descriptive statistic . .. .40 3.4 Conceptualisation of the hypothesis. .41 3.5 Description of South Gondar Administrative Zone and the study areas . .43 3.5.1 South Gondar Administrative Zone . 43 3.5.2 Geographic location and natural features. 43 4 THE DEMOGRAPHIC, INSTITUTIONAL, SOCIO-ECONOMIC AND OTHER FACTROS AFFECTING TRITICALE ADOPTION AND FOOD SECURITY 4.1 Demographic profile of the sample households . .. 47 4.1.1 Gender, age, marital status and family size of the household heads . 50 4.1.2 Education level of the household heads . 54 4.1.3 Availability of labour and its impact on the decision to grow triticale . 56 4.2 Institutional and other factors influencing the decision to grow triticale . 57 4.2.1 Road distance to the Wereda Office of Agriculture and Rural Development . 57 4.2.2 Access to agricultural extension services . 58 4.2.3 Access to market centres and marketing . 60 4.2.4 Availability and access to agricultural credits . 61 4.2.5 The availability and role of irrigation water on triticale adoption . 63 4.3 The socioeconomic profile and the food security situation of the sample households . .. 64 iv 4.3.1 Basic household needs in the study areas . … . .64 4.3.1.1 Availability of food and clean drinking water . … . 64 4.3.1.2 Availability of non-food basic household needs . 66 4.3.2 Indicators of food security in the study areas . 67 4.3.2.1 Frequency of daily meal intake during “worst dry and normal seasons”. .78 4.3.2.2 Frequency of daily meal intake before and after the cultivation of triticale by the sample households . 71 4.3.3 Income composition of triticale-growing and non-growing households . 80 4.3.3.1 Major sources of income in the study areas. 80 4.3.3.2 Factors that may influence households’ income in the study areas . 83 4.3.3.3 The role of livestock ownership on triticale adoption and food security . 90 4.3.4 Landholding, management and its role on triticale adoption and food security . 93 4.3.4.1 Land tenure system . 94 4.3.4.2 Farm size of the sample households . 95 5 THE SOIL CHARACTERISTICS, CROP PRODUCTION, THE TRITICALE CROP AND FOOD SECURITY IN THE STUDY AREAS 5.1 The soil characteristics of the study areas . .98 5.1.1 Farmers’ perception of the soil characteristics . .99 5.1.2 Local soil classification system . .101 5.2 Crop production and land productivity . 104 5.2.1 Fertilizer application . .106 5.2.2 Other soil fertility management practices . 108 5.2.3 Weed, pests and diseases control . 109 5.2.4 Constraints of crop production and fertilizer use . 110 5.3 The triticale plant and its characteristics . 111 5.4 Agronomy of triticale and its introduction in the study areas . .113 5.4.1 The agronomy of triticale . .. .113 5.4.2 Land preparations . 116 5.4.3 Soil nutrient management . 117 5.4.4 Weed, pests and disease management of triticale . 118 5.4.5 Frost, hail and drought resistance . 120 5.4.6 Seed dissemination, expansion and acceptance of triticale by farmers . 122 5.4.6.1 Dissemination and acceptance by farmers . 122 5.4.6.2 Dissemination paths of the crop in South Gondar . .123 v 5.4.7 Limitations and constraints of growing triticale . 124 5.4.7.1 Harvesting . 125 5.4.7.2 Post harvest . ..