Abstract:
Livelihood strategies are at the centre of development. However, identification of the
numerous factors that determine the abilities of rural household’s choice of livelihood
strategies in Ethiopia has received little attention and there was no more study undertaken.
The purpose of this study was to impact of environmental degradation on agro pastoral
livelihood strategies of Bena Tsemay communities of South Omo Zone SNNPR, Ethiopia. To
achieve the objectives ,representatives data were collected from 150 sample household heads
from three sample kebeles, which were selected using purposively sampling by considering
agro-ecological conditions moreover, three FGD each group composed 8-12 from different
individuals and from different socio-economic status and age groups were also included in
the study. Key informant interview also made with DAs in the Woreda. The study revealed
that the main source of income in the study area are livestock (1-35.5TLU) and rain fed
subsistent agriculture (0-4500 ET birr), which adversely affected by unpredictable rainfall
(67.1-193.3(mm) drought and high temperature (27.2-29.7°c). To adapt this climate
variability agro-pastoralist are using adaptation strategies along with drought and
inconsistent rainfall variability. Moreover, the study also identified women, children, elderly,
the poor and landless were the most vulnerable to the livelihood (livestock and crop
cultivation) and climate variability effects (drought and in consistent rainfall). A research
also suggest that increasing of agro-pastoral with integrated adult educationbuilding
capacity, introduction of improved breeds of livestock and quality and quantity of forage
products and livestock confined to stall how to use modern livestock rearing and disseminate
agricultural technologies and inputs to the community, restoring the degraded environment,
diversifying source of income .Will contribute for sustainable livelihood strategy.
