Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings

Reducing resource degradation, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing poverty and food insecurity are major challenges in Ethiopia, where nearly 90% of people live in rtual areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Since 1991, the federal and regional governments have focuse...

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Main Authors: Benin, Samuel, Pender, J.L., Ehui, Simeon K.
Format: Conference Paper
Language:Inglés
Published: Ethiopian Society of Soil Science 2003
Subjects:
Online Access:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50941
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author Benin, Samuel
Pender, J.L.
Ehui, Simeon K.
author_browse Benin, Samuel
Ehui, Simeon K.
Pender, J.L.
author_facet Benin, Samuel
Pender, J.L.
Ehui, Simeon K.
author_sort Benin, Samuel
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description Reducing resource degradation, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing poverty and food insecurity are major challenges in Ethiopia, where nearly 90% of people live in rtual areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Since 1991, the federal and regional governments have focused on promoting conservation of natural resources and improving of agricultural productivity and welfare through a broad program of investment in infrastructure (roads, irrigation, etc.), agricultural extension and credit, education, and other services. Empirical evidence is needed of the impacts of these policies and prodams. Using data from the highlands of Amhara region, this paper addresses the information gap. We find that the agricultural extension program and production of high-value crops have had substantial positive impacts on crop production and household incomes, and have contributed to improved land management and adoption of external inputs. Thus, continuing and expanding the extension approach appears well justified, and promoting production of high-value crops can help households escape the poverty trap. However, a key factor underlying these improvements is road Development (i.e., better access to all-weather roads and markets). Population pressure was associated with lower crop production and incomes, as well as worsening of most resource and welfare conditions. Thus, family planning, education and other means of reducing population growth, as well as developing the non-farm sector, will be crucial in relieving the pressure on the land and raising incomes.
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spelling CGSpace509412025-03-18T20:04:54Z Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings Benin, Samuel Pender, J.L. Ehui, Simeon K. environment natural resources resource degradation food security environmental impact resource management agriculture productivity population dynamics markets extension services community development income transportation land policies tenure capital gender land management Reducing resource degradation, increasing agricultural productivity, and reducing poverty and food insecurity are major challenges in Ethiopia, where nearly 90% of people live in rtual areas and depend on agriculture for their livelihoods. Since 1991, the federal and regional governments have focused on promoting conservation of natural resources and improving of agricultural productivity and welfare through a broad program of investment in infrastructure (roads, irrigation, etc.), agricultural extension and credit, education, and other services. Empirical evidence is needed of the impacts of these policies and prodams. Using data from the highlands of Amhara region, this paper addresses the information gap. We find that the agricultural extension program and production of high-value crops have had substantial positive impacts on crop production and household incomes, and have contributed to improved land management and adoption of external inputs. Thus, continuing and expanding the extension approach appears well justified, and promoting production of high-value crops can help households escape the poverty trap. However, a key factor underlying these improvements is road Development (i.e., better access to all-weather roads and markets). Population pressure was associated with lower crop production and incomes, as well as worsening of most resource and welfare conditions. Thus, family planning, education and other means of reducing population growth, as well as developing the non-farm sector, will be crucial in relieving the pressure on the land and raising incomes. 2003 2014-10-31T06:21:51Z 2014-10-31T06:21:51Z Conference Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50941 en Limited Access Ethiopian Society of Soil Science
spellingShingle environment
natural resources
resource degradation
food security
environmental impact
resource management
agriculture
productivity
population dynamics
markets
extension services
community development
income
transportation
land policies
tenure
capital
gender
land management
Benin, Samuel
Pender, J.L.
Ehui, Simeon K.
Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings
title Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings
title_full Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings
title_fullStr Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings
title_full_unstemmed Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings
title_short Policies for sustainable Development in the highlands of Amhara region: Overview of research findings
title_sort policies for sustainable development in the highlands of amhara region overview of research findings
topic environment
natural resources
resource degradation
food security
environmental impact
resource management
agriculture
productivity
population dynamics
markets
extension services
community development
income
transportation
land policies
tenure
capital
gender
land management
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/50941
work_keys_str_mv AT beninsamuel policiesforsustainabledevelopmentinthehighlandsofamhararegionoverviewofresearchfindings
AT penderjl policiesforsustainabledevelopmentinthehighlandsofamhararegionoverviewofresearchfindings
AT ehuisimeonk policiesforsustainabledevelopmentinthehighlandsofamhararegionoverviewofresearchfindings