Population and major livelihoods in Silte and Dalocha Woredas of Silte Zone

This paper describes the patterns of settlement, the types of houses and construction materials, and problems relating to construction and fuel materials in Silte and Dalocha Woredas of Silte Zone, Ethiopia. It examines some characteristics of population and the size of landholding and the situation of agriculture under the prevailing population growth regime. Additionally it presents a general overview of the importance of non-agricultural/off-farm activities, including migration, as supplementary livelihoods.

The paper finds that the study area and its surroundings are characterised by severe to moderate land degradation, little sustained attempts at conservation of natural resources and unabated population growth. As the quality of soils is continuously deteriorating and land fragmentation is increasing, with holdings becoming smaller, yields which are already low are declining further.

The author points out that if the current land tenure, population growth and land conservation conditions are to continue for significantly long time, the practised coping mechanisms are unlikely to be sufficient to meet people’s basic needs.