Impacts Of Deforestation On The Rural Livelihood Of Smallholder Farmers, In Meta Wolkite District, West Showa, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study examined the impacts of deforestation on the livelihoods of smallholder farmers in Meta-Walkite, Ethiopia. Deforestation was found to have significantly affected rural households, leading to reduced land productivity, increased dependence on natural resources, and heightened vulnerability to climate change. Limited adaptation options further hindered their ability to cope with these challenges. The study used both primary and secondary data. The sample was selected from the sample frame using systematic random sampling. A total of 342 household heads from four kebeles of Meta-Walkite District were sampled, and questionnaires were administered. In addition, 7 key informant interviews and 18 focus group discussions were conducted. A multinomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze the major factors influencing the households’ livelihoods. Results showed that age of household head, land size, market distance, access to agricultural extension services, access to credit, and cooperative membership all had statistically significant effects (p < 0.05) on household livelihoods. From the key informant interviews and focus group discussions, deforestation was found to be highly affecting the livelihood of small farmers in the study area. Therefore, the study recommends mitigating deforestation, improving access to credit services, ensuring availability of agricultural extension services, and promoting reforestation to overcome its impacts on the livelihoods of small farmers in the area.