Rural Poverty and Its Determinants in Zeghe Peninsula, Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda

Bekele, Maru Shete (2004) Rural Poverty and Its Determinants in Zeghe Peninsula, Bahir Dar Zuria Woreda. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

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Abstract

Poverty is multi-faceted issue and deep rooted in Ethiopia. The country is among the world’s poorest nations in terms of Human Development Index. Poverty in Ethiopia is predominantly a rural phenomenon. From a Regional perspective, the overall poverty situation of Amhara National Regional State stood second next to Tigray Region. This research was undertaken at Zeghe peninsula, Amhara National Regional State, with the objectives of identifying the levels and determinants of rural poverty in the area and the implication of poverty to the environmental degradation of the peninsula and around Lake Tana. Statistical techniques like frequency, percentage, ratios, and chi-square analysis, and econometric techniques like Engle curve regression, the Foster-Greer and Thorbecke mathematical model, and the binomial logit model were used. The research found out that food poverty line and total poverty line for the area are 653.68 and 758.27 Birr per adult per year respectively. The total poverty line for the area is lower than the national poverty line calculated for rural areas. The incidence, depth and severity of rural poverty calculated for the area are 68.5%, 32.8% and 18.7% respectively for the total poverty line, and 63%, 27.63% and 18.7% respectively for the food poverty line, which are higher than the national average. Variables like large land holding size, better suitability of land for coffee production, participation of households in contractual farming activities, engagement of households in petty trading, beekeeping and fishing activities decreased the probability of households’ falling into poverty. High dependency ratio and participation of households in firewood selling activities increased the chance of households to fall into poverty. In addition, the study revealed that there are indications of environmental degradation in the peninsula and in the Lake Tana ecology caused by heavy dependence on firewood selling. From the study it can be concluded that the magnitude of rural poverty in Zeghe peninsula is huge as compared to the national average. Given the peculiar nature of the farming system of the area, the determinants of rural poverty in the area are also found to be somehow different. This implies that any development endeavors that aim at improving the living standards of people of the peninsula should focus on the correlates of rural poverty of the area. In addition, the environmental degradation situation manifested in the form of accelerated deforestation, blooming of algae population of Lake Tana, sedimentation of Lake Tana by upland eroded organic and soil particles requires further studies and due policy and development consideration.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	Rural Poverty, Zeghe Peninsula, Poverty Line, Determinants of Rural Poverty and Environmental Degradation
Subjects:	H Social Sciences > H Social Sciences (General) H Social Sciences > HC Economic History and Conditions H Social Sciences > HT Communities. Classes. Races
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	08 Aug 2018 08:39
Last Modified:	08 Aug 2018 08:39
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/8397

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