Determinants of Poverty in Gebi-Resu Pastoralists Area of Afar Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Poverty in pastoral areas is complex, deep-rooted and multi-dimensional that derives from the cumulative effects of human induced and natural calamities. Poverty reduction is a long-term process and is not amenable to significant improvements in a short period of time. One has still to monitor changes over time to assess whether there is a positive direction and gains in poverty reduction. Then, in this case, a continuous systematic analysis of poverty both at national and sub national level is a necessary commitment of poverty reduction process. However, studies of this type in the area are very scanty. Hence, an attempt to fill in the research gap observed in poverty studies at micro level in Ethiopia, the present study was carried out in Gebi-Resu zone of Afar National Regional State with objectives of exploring the determinants of poverty. To achieve the aim of this study, data collection on household characteristics was conducted through interview schedules, checklists, FGD and key informant interviews. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed. In the first stage, two woredas, namely; Gewane and Awash Fentale were selected purposively;  in the second stage, 4 pastoral Kebeles were selected randomly and in the third stage 130 pastoral households were selected randomly probability proportional to size. The data collected were analyzed and discussed using logit regression model. The result of logistic regression model revealed that out of 13 variables 8 are found to be significant. Accordingly, age of HH head, age at first marriage of HH head and livestock ownership (at less than 10% level of probability); family size (at less than 5% level of probability); and income from sale of livestock and livestock products, non pastoral income per AE and remittances were found to be significant (at less than 1% level of probability).

Keywords: poverty, logit regression model, Afar