Non-timber Forest Products and Food Security: The Case of Yabelo Woreda, Borana Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Livelihoods of the rural people of Ethiopia depend on agriculture. However, erratic nature of rain and prevalence of drought in the country make agricultural production a challenge. To counter this problem, use of the available forest resource for non-timber forest products production is the most promising option. Nevertheless, no systematic and rigorous analysis on contribution of the product to income and food security to households was made. This study, therefore, was conducted in the Yabello Woreda of Borana Zone, with the objectives of identifying determinants of household food security in the study area, to assess contribution of non-timber forest products to household food security, and to analyze the challenges in getting contribution from non-timber forest products to the rural household food security. The required data set for the study were gathered primarily through survey method from 160 randomly selected sample households both from non-timber forest products participants and non-participants (80 each). A purposive sampling procedure was used to select 2 PAs. Structured interview was used as data collection method. Supplementary, secondary data were collected from various sources. Household calorie consumption method of data collection was followed to determine food security status of sampled households. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, percentage and frequency distribution. Univariate analysis such as t-test and Chi-square (?²) tests were also used to compare characteristics of non-timber forest products participants and non-participants groups. The binary logistic regression model was run to establish whether and to what extent income from non-timber forest products (NTFPs) along with other variables influence food security status of households. Among 12 explanatory variables included in the logistic model, 3 of them were significant at less than 5 percent probability levels. In general, the empirical analysis, like many other similar studies, confirms that non-timber forest products production would have positive impact on income and food security of beneficiary households. Thus, the concerned GOs and NGOs should join hands to support the improvements of such non-timber forest products production.

Key words: Food security, non-timber forest products, logit model