Journal of Agricultural Economics and Development Vol. 3(6), pp. 078-083, August 2014 ISSN 2327-3151 ©2014 Academe Research Journals

Full Length Research Paper

Factors influencing participation in resource based conflict among pastoral and agro pastoral households: The case of Erer District in Somali Regional State, Ethiopia

Gutema Bati Fedi¹* and Jema Haji Mohammed²

¹Department of Agricultural Economics and Value Chain Management, Wollega University, Ethiopia.

²School of Agricultural Economics and Agribusiness Management, Haramaya University, Ethiopia.

*Corresponding author. E-mail: gutemabati@gmail.com. Tel: +251 91 3089014.

Accepted 21 July, 2014

Abstract

This article attempts to identify factors influencing participation in resource based conflict using cross sectional data collected from hundred randomly selected households from Erer district of Shinile Zone in Somali Regional State. A logit model was used to identify socioeconomic factors influencing participation in resource based conflict. The logit model results showed that households’ involvement in resource based conflict are significantly and negatively influenced by age and size of irrigable land while livestock ownership and average distance to basic social service centers have a statistically significant positive effect on the livelihood of pastoral and agro pastoral households. Based on the finding, the study provides evidence that one should focus on accessing modern irrigation system and investing in alternative watering points such as wells and ponds and easily grown and drought resistant plant that can be used to feed animal. And also one should focus on size of irrigable farming land, household age and basic social services to improve livelihoods of the households and to reduce resource-based conflict in pastoral and agro-pastoral areas.

Key words: Resource based conflict, logit, Erer, pastoral and agro pastoral.