Healthy crops, Healthy Families: The Importance of Water in South Wollo, Ethiopia

Anne M. Cafer1, MA (Anthropology); Mary S. Willis1, PhD (Anthropology); Yitbarek Wolde-Hawariat2, PhD (Plant Science); Assefa Negwo2, PhD (Veterinary Sciences); Shimelis Beyene1, PhD (Anthropology); Martha Mamo1, PhD (Agronomy and Horticulture)

University of Nebraska-Lincoln1, Lincoln, Nebraska and Wollo University2, Dessie, Ethiopia

Although many studies have focused on the plight, poverty, and severe malnutrition of rural Ethiopians, few have managed to incorporate qualitative and quantitative data. This project is unique in that it combined both types of data, through the use of anthropometric measurements and a structured questionnaire, to explore the link between agriculture, development, and nutrition. Additionally the research design incorporated feedback from local development agents, local university faculty and staff, and community leaders. A survey of 120 households in three districts of , Ethiopia’s famine belt revealed that a majority of households suffer from severe malnutrition. Anthropometric measures showed wasting and stunting to be prevalent. Furthermore, water usage, particularly irrigation, played a significant role in crop diversity, food security, and household nutritional status. Interviews with farmers suggest there is a critical need for agricultural extension and research as it relates to crop and water management.

Regardless of the future effects of human-induced climate change on the hydrological cycle, the magnitude of natural decade-scale rainfall variability in sub-humid East Africa suggests that sustainable development, and hence food and nutritional security, will require agricultural management strategies adjusted to major long-term variation in water-resource variability (Verschuren, Laird, & Cumming, 2000). Nowhere is this more clear than in Ethiopia where drought occurs nearly every two years and agriculture is mainly rain-fed (Rosell & Holmer, 2007; Holden & Shiferaw, 2003). The highlands of Ethiopia are home to as much as 88% of the population and 77% of Ethiopia’s livestock; thus examining traditional and newly introduced agricultural systems and natural resource management practices in the Ethiopian highlands (Fig. 3) is crucial for altering drought-induced famine (Erkossa, Itanna, & Shahr, 2006).

The research was conducted from May-August 2010, in South Wollo, Ethiopia, in the Amhara region (Fig. 1). One hundred twenty households were selected for the sample. Sixty households from four highland (2500-2700 meters above seal level) villages, Boru Meda, Alasha, Gerado, Agala, and 60 households from three midland (1800-1900 meters above sea level) villages, Hitacha, Amumo, Bishaniko, were sampled (Fig. 2). Anthropometric and survey data were collected to examine household nutritional status, agriculture, economics, and social factors. Individual body mass index (BMI) was calculated then compared to the standards set by the World Health Organization (WHO)

Acknowledgements: Wollo University Faculty and Staff; Dr. Chuck Francis; Dr. Raymond Hames; South Wollo development agents, community leaders, and families. UNL Department of Anthropology; Champe-Weakly Memorial Fund; UNL School of Agriculture and Natural Resources

Irrigation, Drought, and Crop DiversityResults: Food Security

Results: Nutritional Status and Body Mass Index

Village Belg (Mar – April)

Meher (July – Oct)

Average Number of Types of Crops Grown

Boru Meda Barley/Maize Some legume 3.5Alasha Barley/Maize None 2.4Gerado* Wheat/Maize Teff 4.1Agala* Maize/Vetch Teff/Wheat 4.7Hitacha* Teff/Wheat Teff/Wheat 3.4Amemo* Chickpea/Teff/Vetch/ Wheat Teff/Wheat 3.9

Bishaniko* Chickpea/Teff/Vetch/ Wheat Teff/Wheat 4.1

Conclusion

Boru M

eda

Alasha

GeradoAga

la

Hitach

a

Amemo

Bishaniko

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

Figure 4. Frequency of Extra Grain Purchases by Village

Never Rarely Yearly

Number of Households

Boru M

eda

Alasha

GeradoAga

la

Hitach

a

Amemo

Bishaniko

0

2

4

6

8

10

12

14

16

18

Figure 5. Food Aid Receipts by Vil-lage

Do Not Receive Food Aid Receive Food Aid

Number of Households

• Drought, through its negative impact on crop yield has a magnified effect on household nutritional status, via food stores, and increases participation in food aid programs.

• Chronic drought, which is prevalent in this region, leads to cycles of food poverty and reduces population health

• Irrigation increases the number of crop rotations and crop diversity • Subsequently , crop rotations and crop diversity have a high positive

impact on food stores and ultimately household nutritional status• Irrigation also increases the likelihood that farmers will be able to grow

high value crops and increase household assets making them more drought resilient

• This switch to heavy reliance on irrigation may have a potentially negative impact on watershed resources and reduction in traditional crops used for household consumption (in preference of those high value crops sold at market).

• Reliance solely on cash crops has the potential to decrease household resilience to drought

• This increase in water use will require a subsequent increase in research and capacity building toward integrated watershed and other natural resource management

Boru Meda Alasha Gerado Hitacha Amemo Bishaniko

-30

-25

-20

-15

-10

-5

0

-12

-17-18

-24

-20-22

Figure 7. Percent Deviation from Nor-mal Body Mass Index (18.50): As Estab-

lished by the World Health Organiza-tion

%Below

Average(18.50)

Figure 1: Ethiopia’s Amhara Region

Abstract

Introduction

Methods

• Some households in all villages purchased extra grain yearly (Fig. 4)• Only one highland village and two midland villages had households who

rarely or never purchased grain (Fig. 4). In these same villages, there is a concentration of households who receive food aid (Fig. 4 & 5)

• Though Bishaniko households, on average, tend to store the least amount of food they, have the fewest number of households receiving food aid, with the exception of Boru Meda (Fig. 5, Table 1)

• Most food stores are enough to last only a few months (Table 1)• Regression shows that food aid participation is positively affected by the

amount of crop lost in the most recent drought

• On average households were well below the normal marker for body mass index (BMI) as noted by the World Health Organization (18.50 for the lower range), with Hitacha averaging the highest percent deviation from the norm (Fig 7)

• On average adults tended to be closer to the norm than children• Regarding gender, only 45% of males were classified as severely thin

(having a BMI of less than 16), whereas 65% of females fell within the severely thin category

• Crop loss due to drought had a significant negative affect on body mass index (p<0.05)

• Purchases of extra grain were negatively associated with body mass index

• Only 15% of farmers reported no crop loss in the most recent drought, however 13% reported a very high or total loss of their crop (Fig. 9)

• Households who reported no loss or only a partial loss were concentrated in villages where irrigation was prevalent (Table 2)

• Households who reported a total loss were concentrated in highland villages (Boru Meda and Alasha) where irrigation was not prevalent

• Crop loss due to drought had significant negative affects on household nutritional status

• Irrigation had a significant positive affect on household nutritional status as measured via BMI in both mix model and linear regression analysis (p<0.05)

• The use of irrigation was also seen most in villages where teff was a staple in the production scheme

• Crop diversity as used in this project refers to the number of types of crops grown by a household.

• Crop diversity had a significant positive affect on the amount of food stored for the household (p<0.01)

• Crop diversity, as well as the number of crop rotations (i.e. cropping seasons), was highest in villages where irrigation was integrated into the farming system (Table 2)

• Teff, fruits, vegetables, and khat, all high value crops, are most often grown in conjunction with irrigation

Agroecological Zone

Village N Quintals of Food Stored (Standard Deviation)

Duration of Food Stocks in Months

(Standard Deviation)

Highland Boru Meda 15 3.53 (1.94) 5.10 (2.87)Highland Alasha 15 4.93 (2.43) 4.60 (3.97)Highland Gerado 15 2.77 (1.32) 3.63 (2.19)Highland Agala 15 4.63 (1.80) 7.13 (2.64)Midland Hitacha 20 3.63 (2.00) 5.35 (3.34)Midland Amemo 20 1.98 (0.91) 4.30 (2.46)Midland Bishaniko 20 1.20 (0.77) 2.68 (1.48)

Figure 3: Ethiopian Highlands

Table 1. Mean Amount of Food Stored and Duration of Food Stocks Note: 1 quintal = 100 kilograms

Figure 6. On-site Anthropometric Measurements

Table 2. Crop Diversity by Village and SeasonNote: * indicates villages where irrigation was prevalentBelg: short rainy season; Meher: long rainy season

Figure 8. Bore Hole Used for Highland Irrigation

No Loss15%

Partial Loss23%

Average Loss21%

Very High Loss

11%

Total Loss3%

Loss, Degree

Not Noted28%

Figure 9. Degree of Drought Loss As A Percentage of Total Re-

sponses