Determinants of Pastoralists’ Livestock Income in the Middle Awash, Southern Afar, Ethiopia

Ethiopia is among the first ten nations in the world with respect to the livestock population. However, the benefit obtained from the sector is low compared to other African countries and the world standard. The economic gain for the pastoralists, who predominantly live on rearing livestock for their livelihood, is below the national average. Therefore, identifying the major determinant factors affecting income from livestock is needed to device appropriate development interventions to improve livestock income and thereby living standard of pastoralists. This study was conducted in Amibara and Gewane woredas of Afar Region with major objective of analyzing determinant factors affecting pastoralists’ livestock income. A random sampling procedure is used to select 10 PAs and 100 sample respondents. Primary data are collected from sample respondents and focussed groups through personal interview and discussions using structured interview schedule and checklists, respectively. Data on demographic and socioeconomic characteristics of the sample respondents are presented and discussed using various tools of descriptive statistics. The survey result reveals that 66% of sample respondents receive ALSI below the average livestock income [less than ETHB 10,839.40] in the study area. Among four major sources of household income identified for the study area, livestock income contributes 73.30% of the total household income followed by employment (18.09%), crops cultivation (5.28%) and land rentals (3.33%). Multiple Regression Model is used to identify variables capable of affecting the livestock income. The model results reveal that among 15 explanatory variables included in the model, 6 are found to be significant at the conventional levels of significance. Those variables which are important determinants of livestock income are a) total livestock holding, b) access to credit, c) availability of grazing land, d) risk of predators, e) livestock breed type and f) livestock mobility. Improving livestock production and productivity, organizing pastoralists into cooperatives, market oriented livestock production, improving pastoralists’ access to and participation in the markets, managing associated risks of mobility and proper management and control of the invasive species from grazing lands are the recommendations forwarded.