Determinants of household rural poverty in Tenta Woreda, South Wollo Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Abstract Poverty in Ethiopia is multidimensional caused by a set of factors ranging from those related to past macro-economic policies and socio-political history of the country. This study examines rural poverty and its determinant at household level. Primary data were collected by using structured questionnaires, interview and focus group discussion. Secondary data also used from different published and unpublished materials. The results are based on the data collected from three selected peasant associations about 196 rural household were taken by simple random sampling. The researcher used Foster Greer-Thorbecke, binary logistic regression model, descriptive statistics and Cost Basic Needs- to find out the determinants of rural poverty at household level. The result of the analysis indicates that poverty status is strongly associated with almost all variables. Household head sex, household family size, and land holding size, oxen and other livestock, small ruminant holding size are significantly important determinants of rural poverty in the study area i.e. households headed by females and big size of the family experience more poverty in the study area. On the other hand, variables such as land, oxen, livestock and small ruminant holding size negatively related with poverty so that households with larger number of land, oxen, livestock and small ruminant are better off than those with smaller number. It is recommended that integrated agricultural research and extension program, family planning, reducing gender based labor division, land distribution and promotion of effecting resettlement program would have indispensable role to reduce poverty in the area.