Abstract:
The focus of this study was to assess challenges and opportunities for rural poverty
reduction in Damot Woyde Woreda, Wolaitta zone, Southern Ethiopia. Data were
collected using questionnaire, FGD, interview and document analysis and also from rural
farmers at household level, DAs, kebele administrators, key informant rural farmers and
heads/ representatives of Work Process of Poverty Reduction oriented sectors.119
Sample households were selected using simple random sampling. Data gathered using
questionnaire were analyzed using the SPSS where descriptive statistics were used for the
purpose. As to the study findings, poverty is currently the phenomenon of the rural
population. Its level and depth (poverty) in the rural areas was manifested through
deprivation of consumption, food insecurity and reliance on PSNP and temporal
emergency food aid support. Different policies, strategies and practices were
implemented in the rural areas but lacked effectiveness in lifting out the majority of rural
farmers from the type of poverty they have faced. Result of the study indicated that rural
farmers faced strong challenges from climate change (prolonged temperature and rain-
fall un certainty) and unexpected diseases of staple food crops such as maize (attacked by
maize virus) and haricot bean. The research findings also revealed that, though there
were challenges that faced the rural farmers in poverty reduction, there are also
untapped opportunities (options and potentials) in the rural areas and the woreda that
contribute for poverty reduction and economic growth. Finally, the writer of this research
recommends that the woreda government, non-governmental organizations and
responsible government sectors should address challenges and efficient and effective
utilization of untapped opportunities. In addition, further researches should be conducted
in the same thematic areas.
