Challenges and opportunities in intensifying farming systems in Ethiopia: Results of a participatory community analysis

In 2012, Africa RISING conducted a participatory community analysis (PCA) as the first phase of a participatory development approach in the Ethiopian highlands. The PCA identified trends, constraints, and opportunities – and shed light on how farmers perceive livelihoods to be changing.

Inputs, diseases, pests, soil fertility, post-harvest management, and fodder shortages were seen as challenges, while off-farm income has become increasingly important. Gender differences in livestock and crop preferences for food security and income sources were observed.

The PCA established development priorities in a way that researchers may have approached differently or missed, providing research development priorities for Africa RISING scientists.

Read the full article.:

Lunt, T., Ellis-Jones, J., Mekonnen, K., Schulz, S., Thorne, P., Schulte-Geldermann, E. and Sharma, K. 2018. Participatory community analysis: Identifying and addressing challenges to Ethiopian smallholder livelihoods. Development in Practice 28(2):208-226.

Read an earlier report from a participatory community analysis in Ethiopia.