Livelihood benefits and challenges of Acacia decurrens-based agroforestry system in Awi Zone highlands, Northwest Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

Acacia decurrens (hereafter Acacia) agroforestry system has been expanding rapidly in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. The agroforestry system provides multiple eco-environmental services; however, there is inadequate quantitative evidence on its livelihood benefits. This study, therefore, investigated the livelihood benefits and challenges of Acacia-based agroforestry system in the Awi area, Northwest Ethiopia. Data was collected through household survey quetionnaires (296 randomly selected Acacia growers), focused-group discussions, interviews, and observations. A combination of quantitative and qualitative methods was used for the data analysis. The findings showed that crop production, charcoal making, animal rearing, and fuelwood selling were the major sources of livelihood. Notwithstanding the complex challenges (Acacia pests/diseases, traditional charcoal-making, limited road access and market opportunities, negative human-health impacts, and high production cost), Acacia-based agroforestry positively affected farmers livelihoods. Comparatively, the natural, physical, financial, human and social capital indices of farmers were higher by 0.25, 0.24, 0.43, 0.25, and 0.06, respectively, in the post-than pre-Acacia periods. The overall livelihood index of farmers increased from 0.47 (pre-Acacia) to 0.71 in the post-Acacia period. The study concluded that this agroforestry practice has immense livelihood benefits, although diverse challenges question its sustainability. Therefore, short and long-term strategies should be designed to strengthen the opportunities and address the challenges.

KEYWORDS:

• Acacia-based
• agroforestry
• challenges
• livelihood assets
• livelihood benefits
• northwest Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

We acknowledge Bahir Dar University and Injibara University for their financial support to the first author. The authors are also grateful to Acacia-grower farmers, development agents, and government officials in the study area for their cooperation and provision of data during the fieldwork.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Supplementary material

Supplemental data for this article can be accessed online at https://doi.org/10.1080/14728028.2023.2268646.

Notes

1. The smallest administrative units in Ethiopia.

2. The local name for Acacia decurrens tree

3. A community-based institution that helps members during hardship.

Additional information

Funding

The work was supported by the Bahir Dar University.