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Periodical article Periodical article Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Differential Socio-Economic Impact of Food Shortages and Household Coping Strategies: A Case Study of Wolaita District in Southern Ethiopia
Author:Eshete, Dagnew
Year:1995
Periodical:Africa Development: A Quarterly Journal of CODESRIA (ISSN 0850-3907)
Volume:20
Issue:1
Pages:89-124
Language:English
Geographic term:Ethiopia
Subjects:rural households
food shortage
Agriculture, Natural Resources and the Environment
Peoples of Africa (Ethnic Groups)
External link:https://www.jstor.org/stable/43657970
Abstract:The primary objective of this article is to investigate the impact of seasonal and disaster-induced food shortages on rural households and the crisis coping strategies of different income groups located in Wolaita District (Awraja) in southern Ethiopia in the 1980s and early 1990s. The paper also explores the causes, consequences and differential impact of food shortages at the household and community level. It examines the extent to which the choice of households' coping strategy is a function of level and sources of income, and ownership of assets. The study is based on a sample survey undertaken in 1990-1991 involving 534 households in 65 villages and 16 Peasant Associations. The study finds that the precipitating cause of food shortage in Wolaita District in the recent decade has been sudden harvest failures mostly as a result of recurrent rain failures. It argues that the root causes of peasant vulnerability to famine are unfavourable seasonal production environments that lead peasants to inadequate food production and food supply which in turn lead to weak ownership of key productive assets (e.g. draught oxen, land and breeding cattle). The more households are deprived of key productive assets, the more they are vulnerable to seasonal food shortages. Finally, the author suggests some policy measures. Bibliogr., notes, sum. in French.
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