DETERMINANTS OF AGRO-PASTORAL HOUSEHOLDS’ POVERTY STATUS: THE CASE OF GODAY DISTRICT, SHABELE ZONE, SOMALI NATIONAL REGIONAL STATEOF ETHIOIPIA

Abstract

This study tried to assess agro-pastoral households’ poverty status in the Godey district to enhance the effectiveness of poverty alleviation programs for development actors. It specifically aimed at analysing agro-pastoral households’ poverty status and its determinants in Godey district. Two stages random sampling procedure was employed to select sample households. In the first stage, all Tuulos of the district are listed and then only agro-pastoral Tuulos are purposely selected. In the second stage, probability proportional to size was used to select 144 sample households randomly. Data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary Logit model. Cost of basic need method was used to estimate poverty line and accordingly the total poverty line of the district was found to be 3,112.40 Birr. The head count ratio of the sampled households which implies the population of the district which, lives below the poverty line was found to be 37%. Similarly, the poverty gap and severity index were found to be 9% and 4% respectively. Results of logistic regression analysis reveal that nine explanatory variables are important in explaining poverty status of agro-pastoral households in the district. These are household size, dependency ratio, livestock owned, total income, farm size, sex of the household head and the education level of the mother. Based on results of the study we recommend interventions such as promotion of household’s access to assets and women’s education, improving livestock productivity, farm management and family planning, and developing pro-poor marketing strategy and infrastructure