THE ROLE OF AGROFORESTRY PRACTICE FOR SUSTAINING THE RURAL LIVELIHOOD:-THE CASE OF BORECHA WOREDA, ILLUBABOR ZONE OF OROMIA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The depletion of forest and increasing demand for forest products especially of the rural people who depend on the forests for livelihoods have widened the gap between the demand and supply of the forest products in the country. Finding alternative options to increase the supply of forest products to support rural livelihoods have become a fundamental concern. Hence, this study focuses on assessing the practice and role of Agroforestry on the livelihood of rural farming households in selected rural kebeles of Borecha Woreda. In this study Agroforestry adopters, non adopters and Agricultural and Rural Development office in the woreda were contacted. Primary and secondary data were collected by using structured and open ended interview questionnaires. One hundred forty four (144) households for sample survey, key informants interview and group discussion were the main source of the primary data collected. In addition to this secondary was gathered from various reports and other relevant documents. The collected data were analyzed descriptively and using Statistical Software Package for Social Science (SPSS). The finding of the study indicates that agrosivopasture is the main agroforestry practice adopted by agroforestry adopters. Fruit, Timber, vegetables, coffee and honey were the main source of cash income of households who adopted Agroforestry when compared to non agroforestry adopter. In addition to this agroforestry practices saved time for collecting fodder and firewood from the forest to meet their need for firewood and fodder from their farmland/ agroforestry. Therefore, it can be concluded that agroforestry has contributed mainly to the improvement of people’s livelihood by assuring food security and financial formation of rural communities in the one hand and also maintaining environmental condition for sustainable use on the other. The livelihood of Agroforestry adopter increased by 15% compared with the non adopter.