SAMARA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

THE CHALLENGES OF POPULATION GROWTH ON AGRICULTURAL

LAND AND PRODUCTIVITY; THE CASE OF WEGERA WOREDA

A Senior Essay Submitted to the Department of Economics in

Partial Fulfillment of the Requirement of the Degree of Bachelor of
Arts in Economics

Prepared by: Eshetie Assefa

Advisor: Abdularzak

June, 2022

Samara , Ethiopia
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all, I would like to thanks almighty GOD to his unforgotten helps though all in my life

and to read the place where I am. Next my great thanks go to my advisor Abdularzak for his
constrictive support and situation in shining this work. I would like to thank the agricultural
office of Wegera Woreda, for their moral and suggestive support to finish this work finally, best
thank goes to my family to their support by pry and financial support in my study time.

II
Table of Contents

ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.......................................................................................................................- I -
List of table...........................................................................................................................................- IV -
ACRONYMS.........................................................................................................................................- V -
CHAPTER ONE..........................................................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1
1.1. Background of the study...................................................................................................................1
1.2. Statement of the problem..................................................................................................................2
1.3. Objective of the study.......................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 General objective of the study....................................................................................................3
1.3.2. Specific objective.......................................................................................................................3
1.4. Research questions...........................................................................................................................3
1.5. Significance of the study...................................................................................................................3
1.6. Scope and limitation of the study......................................................................................................4

1.7. Limitation of the Study------------------------------------------------------------------4

1.8 Organization of the study...................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO.........................................................................................................................................5
2. LITERATURE REVIEW........................................................................................................................5
2.1. The Theoretical Review....................................................................................................................5
2.1.2. Demographic Trends..................................................................................................................6
III
 2.1.3 Population Distribution...............................................................................................................6
2.1.4. Population Growth.....................................................................................................................6
2.1.3. Migration...................................................................................................................................6
2.1.4. Population concentration...........................................................................................................6
2.1.5 Effects of population on the Agricultural Land...........................................................................7
2.2. Empirical Review.............................................................................................................................7
CHAPTER THREE.....................................................................................................................................8
3. Methodology of the study........................................................................................................................8
3.1 Description of the study area.............................................................................................................8
3.2. Source and types of Data..................................................................................................................9
3.3. Data collection techniques................................................................................................................9
3.4. Sampling method..............................................................................................................................9
3.6. Data Analysis..................................................................................................................................10
CHAPTER FOUR.....................................................................................................................................11
Data Analysis and presentation..................................................................................................................11
4.1.2 Sex distribution of the respondents...........................................................................................11
4.1.3. Educational background of respondents...................................................................................12
4.1.5 Land holding size of sampled house holds................................................................................13
4.2 Cause of population growth in the Woreda......................................................................................14
4.3 The challenges of population growth on agricultural land...............................................................15
4.4 Consequences of population growth on agricultural land size in the study area..............................16
4.5 Productivity of agricultural land......................................................................................................17
4.6 problem of low productivity............................................................................................................19
4.7. Problem faced on agricultural land.................................................................................................20
4.8 Importance of land in the study area................................................................................................21
CHAPTER FIVE.......................................................................................................................................22
5. Conclusion and Recommendation.........................................................................................................22
5.1 conclusions......................................................................................................................................22
5.2 Recommendation.............................................................................................................................23
APPENDIX...............................................................................................................................................26

IV
List of table
Table 1: age structure of respondents........................................................................................................11

Table 2:sex distribution of respondents.....................................................................................................12

Table 3:Educational back ground of respondent........................................................................................12

Table 4:Family size of the sampled household’s respondent responds.......................................................13

Table 5:Land holding size of sampled households....................................................................................14

Table 6:Shows challenges of population growth on agricultural land study areas.....................................15

Table 7:Effects of population growth on agricultural land.........................................................................16

Table 8:The productivity of agricultural land............................................................................................18

Table 9:The problem of low productivity..................................................................................................19

V
ACRONYMS
GDP = Gross Domestic Product

USD= United State of Development

NGO= Non-Governmental Organization

CSA=Central statistic Authority

CFC= choler flour carbons

VI
VII
CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. Background of the study

African agricultural landscapes were characterized by sluggish growth, Low factor productivity,
declining terms of trade and often also by practices that aggravated environmental problems.
Since the late 1970 mid 1980’s many African countries have implemented macroeconomic sector
and institution reforms aimed at ensuring and sustainable economic growth remain GDP growth
on the continent. (Dessy et al, 2006).

Sub-Sahara has one of the world’s fastest growing populations but the growth rate of food
production has not kept pace, this has led to a food deficit. agricultural is the dominant land use
in the region with permanent posture according for 35% while arable and permanent crop land
comprises only about 8% of the area, over 60% of the population of sub-Sahara a depends on
agricultural for live hood and agricultural development. (Lelo 2000)

Ethiopian peoples have large family size and the majority at the population is concentrated at
younger ages that contributes to the depleted of natural resources especially land (Michaels,
Todaro 2nd Ethiopia) In the case of rapid population growth the land becomes too small and
fragmented from time to time and these lot of problem that the people have brought to
agricultural land [Ibid] 2006.

In the majority of Ethiopia the density of agricultural population is very high in related to the
cultivated land, shortage of land in related to excessively large agricultural population leads to
effects on natural resources mostly land to raped population growth is major causes of
environmental degradation and reduce natural resources that leads decrease agricultural
productivity, air and water population, biodiversity and soil degradation.[ibid]2006

The challenge of rapid growth depilates resources and threats development. (M.L.JH.N GAN).
Like that Wegeraworeda face population growth on agricultural land due to that result
overgrazing, deforestation and degradation of the environment and productivity capacity of the
area became diminishing as because high population growth.[Tewoder[2009]

VIII
1.2. Statement of the problem
The challenges of population growth and its effect on agricultural land is a worldwide problem
as almost all of people depend on agriculture to sustain their live hood. In our country there are
densely populated area where per- capital land holding is very small and densely populated, the
increasing population could not be absorbed by existing rural system. There for the researcher
tries to study and analyze the effects of population growth on the agriculture land and
productivity in the wegraworeda Todaro (1967)

In case of population growth agricultural land decrease by size, the productivity of agriculture
products also minimize. As the result population growth agricultural land decreased by size the
productivity of agricultural are decline. Over cultivation, over grazing, over cropping and etc.
this effectives of population on agricultural land different from region to region, woreda to
woreda and even kebele to kebele (2009).

The main reason for this is uneven distribution of population and highly increasing human
population( Todaro 8th Edition) Wegera Woreda is one which is found in the densely settled
population and suffered from the effects on agricultural land and its productivity, there is high
population density and the people found 370 Person per KM2, in the woreda too many people
crowded on too small land, this crowded people used natural resources overly and thus the
natural resources leads negative effects on agricultural land such as over cultivation, overgrazing,
over cropping and this situation again leads productivity [TEWODERO2009].

Soil erosion, desertification of agricultural land, concentration of population in addition to

climatic change and nature of the area puts parts of the region in critical effects regarding natural
resources and productivity of agricultural land. Therefore, the researcher tries to study and
analyze the effects of population growth on agricultural land and productivity in the Wegera
Woreda.

Even though there was a research done regarding the challenges of population growth on
agricultural land and productivity in different areas of study, there is no research done on this
topic in case of wegera woreda due to the problem of time, budget, advanced technology and etc.
then, the researcher want to improve this problems by identifying the problem and find the
solution in the study.

IX
1.3. Objective of the study

1.3.1 The main objective of the study will be examining the effect and challenges of
population growth on agricultural land and productivity wegera woreda (destinict) study
area.

1.3.2. Specific objective

 To recommend the appropriate policy measure to solve the problem in study area.
 To identify the major effects of population on agricultural land and productivity.
 To examine the productivity of agricultural land especially cultivated land.

1.4. Research questions

In line, the study would try to answers the following desirable question accordingly:.

1. What are the challenges of population growth on agricultural land and productivity
especially cultivated land?
2. What are the factors which affects agricultural productivity?
3. What kinds of population distribution in the horo woreda with area of the land?
4. What are the role of government to minimize those effects which caused by population
growth on agricultural land and productivity?

1.5. Significance of the study

The study result will be useful to assess of providing information that could help to devices short
and long term plan that will alleviate the problem of population growth on agricultural land and
productivity. Further, more, assessing the challenges of population growth on agricultural land
and productivity will be using full to motivate the people to take care of land through awareness
creation and provision of knowledge about the proper use of agricultural land and to maintain its
productivity to minimize the challenges of population through on agricultural land and providing
constructive recommendation in the Wegera woreda

X
1.6. Scope and limitation of the study.
The study is generally focusing on the challenges of population growth on agricultural land and
productivity. The coverage of the study is limited to Amhara region in Wegra Centeral Gondar
zone in wegeraworeda.

1.7.Limitation of the Study

.The study will be expecting face the following limitation in conducting researcher activity such
as, inadequate availability of the relevant data, unwillingness of respondents to disclose us the
reliable data, lack of finance to accomplish the study, shortage of reference materials and
empirical study which are related to the topic of the study and lack of accurate information from
respondents. Having these limitations, the study will be tries to make some effort to conduct the
finding effectively.

1.8. Organization of the study

The paper contains three chapters. The first chapter consists of the introduction part of the study
including: background of the study, statement of the problem, objective of the study, significance
of the study, and limitation of the study etc. The second chapter concerned with the theoretical
and empirical literatures. Chapter three deals with methodology and methods of data analysis
source, data type and data analysis.

XI
CHAPTER TWO

2. LITERATURE REVIEW
2.1. The Theoretical Review
The world population is increasing from time to time. According to the 2007 population census
the world population is 6.11 billion has been 5.5 billion in 1993 and Ethiopia population also
increases. According to the 1992 population census Ethiopia population is 81 million as had been
71 million in 1989 (Geol 1992).

Ethiopia is a country which has large family size and the majority of people are concentrated at
younger age that depends on agriculture for livelihood. Agriculture require a much more large
area of the arable land for each person engaged in cultivation and it more widely distributed over
the earth’s surface than other economic activity. Agricultural land is one of the raw materials that
provide different material for population and it is the most basic of the world vast and varied
resources [Fantel Alta 2006].

The population of the country depends on agricultural resources for the food, close and shelter
(Majid Husain -2003). In case of high population: agricultural resources are used by the existed
population overly. The agricultural land was to become a small part of natural resources
requirement and its productivity was to have major adaptive in the form of the power (Malthus
1974). The availability and production of agricultural resources are to a great extent depending
on climate. Spatial variation in land use intensity is assumed to reflect only variation in
population growth [CSA 2007].

Over population is most serious in countries with high birth rates and whose limited agricultural
land resources are already intensively used as in country. In this case agricultural land changes
their physical character and it became unfavorable for the activity in the case of the population
growth (Goel 2007).the area where there are population concentration, the size of the agricultural
land declined and also diminishing their productivity capacity (Manish HUSEN).

Agricultural output in the past few decades has been characterized by wide fluctuation whose
variance is usually associated with several of the nature. The average growth rate in agriculture
during the last year of the degree period was more than 2 % which is lower than the growth rate
XII
in the population Of food deficit in the country increase in this period, example in 1977 E.C.
drought in Ethiopia the density of agricultural population is very high in relation to cultivated
land.samulsson [2009]

2.1.2. Demographic Trends

2.1.3 Population Distribution

The distribution of population over the earth’s surface is uneven and there are considerable
durational density in the sense of distribution of population, an area become overcrowded and
area become under crowded. Therefore, variation in the distribution of the national level as well
as at lower level. Is also varies from kebele in this case the concentration of population exist in
one area [mithan 2005].

2.1.4. Population Growth

The population growth rate of Ethiopia is the fastest in the continents. The first census report
should that the population of Ethiopia with Eretria was 42.2 million. When we compared the
2007 census result with those of 1984 and 1994, we see that population of the country increased
by more than 31 and 21 million over 23 and 30 years respectively. The population growth rate
increased from 2.9 % in 1984-1995 to 3.0 % 1994-1995. From the 2007 population census shows
that the population of Ethiopia grew at an average annual rate of 2.6 % between 1997 and
2007 /2009).

2.1.3. Migration
Migration also made population concentration in one area. When human being got favorable
climate, suitable agricultural, adequate water supply and conferrable infrastructural facilities
people would have migrate from the original place and crowded in other area.

2.1.4. Population concentration

Crude density is a measure of the number of inhabitants per unit area. These types of
measurement are known as human land ratio.

Agricultural density or rural density

XIII
It is the ratio of agricultural population to cultivated land. Agricultural density considers only
agricultural population. The segment of an area population whose livelihood depends on
agricultural activities.

2.1.5 Effects of population on the Agricultural Land

Deforestation
Rapid population growth leads to the cutting of wood for fuel and for building materials that
constituted the most sever drain in the remaining trees. High population growth forces people to
look at additional farming land to satisfy additional food demand in the most case and forest land
are cleared to get additional for cultivation (Dessalegn 1999).

Over Cultivation
It was a situation which happens when population exceeds the existed cultivation land. People
cultivate the land over without rest throughout the yearly to satisfy their own demand

Land Fragmentation
When population increased from time to time, fragmentation of the land was followed for those
increased population. The size of the agricultural land declined [sernessls 2006].

Low Productivity

In the case population pressure, limited access to agricultural land implies low productivity,
income and insufficient food. On the other hand, lack of modern improved technology and rain
fall agricultural activities decrease the productivity. (2017)

2.2. Empirical Review

According to coeval (1997)estimated that as the production growth increase environmental waste
products or emotion of acids like the existence of chilo flour carbons (cfc) emission and methane
estist and which results acidic rain and the agiricul rural land will be simply affected.

According to panayotu (1993) also fund that as population increase the consumption of
population also increase through a period of time and which leads to decreasing soil fertility due

XIV
to high numbers of population the agricultural land and which leads to agricultural land and
productivity will be decline.

The study to Todaro (2003) the challenges of population growth lower per capital income growth
in most LDCs, Especially those that are already dependent on agricultural land and productivity.
The population of the country depends on agricultural resource for the food, clothes and shelter
jacanas 2007. In the case of high population Agricultural resource are used by the existed
population overly. The agricultural land was to become a small part of natural resources
requiments and its productivity was to have major addictive in the form of the power mouth
1974.The availability and production of agricultural resources are to great extent depend on
climate.spatial variation in land use intensity are assumed to reflect only variation in population
growth.

XV
CHAPTER THREE

3. Methodology of the study

3.1 Description of the study area
The study area will be conduct in Wegera woreda in Central Gondar zone Amhara region in
Ethieopia. Wogera woreda is located in south part of Ethiopia and located at 762km far from
capital city of Ethiopia:, Addis Ababa.Wogera woreda is border in West by Liy Armachiho
woreda, in the east by Davat woreda, in the south by Silarie woreda and in the North by Denbia
woreda. The temperature of Wogera woreda is 10c°-25c° and annual rain fall ranges from
900ml-1200mm (CSA-2007), According to the population census of Ethiopian, 2007, the total
population of Wogera woreda has 74989 of who 37302 are male and 37687 are females.

3.2. Source and types of Data

While conducting the study the researcher will be use both primary and secondary sources of
data so as to make the study more accurate and reliable. Primary data will be collected through
questionnaires, interviews and personal observation. Secondary data sources are also employed
for this study Secondary data will be collected from written documents in agricultural official
bureau provided more important information which needs to conduct this study and support to
analyze the situation which existed in the study area.

3.3. Data collection techniques

Both primary and secondary data will be use collected to reach on intended conclusion. Primary
data was collected from interviews, distributing organized questionnaires’. Both open and close
ended questions were prepared and distributed to the potential respondent. Secondary data will
be collected from different written documents such as newspaper, magazine and gazette.

3.4. Sampling method

The simple random sampling method will be employed to acquire the primary data; this is
because simple random sampling techniques give equal chance for the target population, to
reduce biases and makes researcher tasks easy. Horo woreda have 23 Keble's and 74989 total
populations. From the 23 kebele’s the researcher was selected randomly four (4) Kebele's those
are: Gudina Abuna, Oda buluk, loti Ano, Haro Aga. Which are assumed as representatives of the

XVI
number of house hold in Gudina Abuna Kebele's is 6100, oda buluk Kebele's is 5130, Loti Anoo
Keble's is 5015 and Haro Aga Keble's are 4880. These Keble's are targeting population of these
the study.

Strata Formula

n = n (Ni)/N

n1 = Ni (n)/N = 6100(48) / 21125 = 14

n2 = Ni (n)/N = 5130(48) /21125 = 11

n3 = Ni (n)/N = 5015(48) /21125 = 12

n4 = Ni (n)/N = 4880(48) /21125 = 11

ni = 14+11+12+11= 48

Where

n = sample size.

Ni = total number house hold of each Keble's.

N = total population of kebeles

n1, n2, n3 and n4 population from strata formula respectively.

3.6. Data Analysis.

The data obtained from the sampled respondents of rural farmer’s house hold survey was
analyzed by using descriptive statistical tools, tabulation and percentage was the most important
to the analysis of collected data. Descriptive analysis has been mainly employed to widely
describe farmer perception about the existed agricultural land and productivity in the woreda.

XVII
CHAPTER FOUR

4. Data Analysis and presentation

Table 1: age structure of respondents

Age No of respondents Percent of respondent

18-25 20 41.6%

25-45 28 58. 3%

Total 48 100%

Out of the total 48 individual sampled respondents the dominant age group of the sampled house
hold head farmers where found between the ages of 25-49 years comprising 58.4% of the total
sampled farmers. This shows many of them were the productivity age group.

4.1.2 Sex distribution of the respondents

According to individual respondents 40 of the respondents were male headed house hold and the
remaining 8 of them were female headed households used their sons to carry out their farming
practices while some of hers were rend out their farming land to other due to different constraints
ability to work and lack of their own son who is able in farming activities for their farm land.

XVIII
Table 2:sex distribution of respondents

sex group No of respondent present of the respondent

Male 40 83.3%

Female 8 16.64%

Total 48 100%

Source: Field survey of 2009

The survey result indicates that most of the challenges of population growth are male which is
about 83.3% and 16.64% were female from the sample population.

Table 3: Educational back ground of respondent

4.1.3. Educational background of respondents

School level Frequency Percentage

Illiterate 8 16.66

1-8 20 41.67

9-10 10 20.83

11-12 6 12.5

>12 4 8.33

Total 48 100

Source: Field survey of 2009the

According to the data obtained 83.34% of the respondents were educated and the remaining
16.66% were those who cannot read and write. This is due to the fact that farmers do not get
access to education due to the work load and little awareness to ward education at that time.
XIX
This implies that literacy very low in the study area .the reason of low literacy is that in the
previous time there was no such expanded educational service. Moreover, in the area person is
considered to be literate if he or she can read with understanding and write a short statement at
least in one language, otherwise a person is considered to be illiterate.

Table 4:Family size of the sampled household’s respondent responds

class interval No of respondent present of house hold

2-3 5 10.41%

4-6 20 41.67%

7-9 18 37.5%

10-12 3 6.25%

more than 12 2 4.16%

Total 48 100%

Source field survey 2009

The survey result indicate about 41.67% of sample of respondent’s has 4.6 family in the
household and about 37.5% has 7-9 family size, about 10.41% has 2-3 and about 6.25% has 10-
12 and about 4.16% more than 12%.house holds

4.1.5 Land holding size of sampled house holds

According to table 4.5, there is a greater disparity on farm size among different households.
41.67% of the respondents housing small farm size between 31.25% and 6.25% of respondents
have relatively better farm land. This due to high population growth or population pressure that

XX
causes land fragmentation among the increasing number of family members. The study also
signifies that the average total land holding is lower especially due to rapid growing population.
There are also farmers who have no land which accounts for 31.25% out of sample
households.Thus in order to live they participate in daily labor work and trading activities.The
unbalanced land distribution is also another problem affecting adverserly the life of some
households in study area.

Table 5:Land holding size of sampled households

Land holding in hectare No of respondent Percent of house holds

0.5-1 15 31.25%

1-1.5 20 41.67%

1.5-2 10 20.83%

2-2.5 3 6.25%

Total 48 100%

Source: Field survey of 2009

4.2 Cause of population growth in the Woreda

As indicated earlier; Ethiopia is a country with enormous population number. The cause of this
increment is high population growth rate in the country; rising of fertility rate and declining of
mortality rate. But in the study area the root cause for population pressure is population growth.
The root cause for this high growth in the study area is high fertility with returns is caused by
low education attainment of people. Low prevalence of contraceptive & cultural influences and
preparation of child are one reason for population growth in the woreda.

XXI
4.3 The challenges of population growth on agricultural land.
Accelerated human population growth and increase in livestock in Ethiopia have created pressure
on land resources. According to this situation is pointed out as; in third world countries like
Ethiopia; the rural population is high dependent on the exploitation of natural environment.
Expansion of human settlement the increase in population and increase in stock size have led to
drastic change in natural land scope. But in the study area in horo woreda, the challenges of
population growth on agricultural land use is different. According to the respondence of the
woreda. Land size became small and land fragmentation and land shortage are challenges of
country. If there is increasing of population rate, agricultural land become too small. Farmers
hold small land for the cultivation. There is net shortage of the land.

Table 6:Shows challenges of population growth on agricultural land study areas

Challenges of population on No of respondents Percent of respondents

agricultural land

Change in rural land use patter 14 29.17%%

Land size reduction, land 12 25

fragmentation and land
shortage

Decrease in agricultural 11 22.91%

productivity

Change in crop pattern 9 18.75%

Environmental degradation 2 4.16%

Total 48 100%

Source: agriculture statistics, woreda 2009

XXII
This situation arises from population and aggravating by low of inheriting that split up
responsible size among all the children. 22.91% of me respondents stated that decrease in
agricultural productivity; population density and increase highly affects farming practice and
their influence on natural resource with increase of the population. Cash crop production and
livestock their serve pressure on the land in some area in the woreda. Soil degradation and yield
declination are the result of the remaining 18.75 and 4.16 of the respondent stated that change in
cropping pattern and environmental degradation is changes the population growth on agricultural
land in the woreda.

4.4 Consequences of population growth on agricultural land size in the study area
According to the respondent of the sampled survey 37.5% of the respondent said over utilization
of land resources was the one of the consequence. When increase population demanded
resources for their survival; the use scarce existing resources to get different importance from
land like wall for housing, agricultural productivity for marketing and home consumption and
33.3% of the despondences said over cultivation of farming land over grazing are the result of
the population growth on the woreda 20.83% of respondent said low productivity in the case of
over cultivation;

XXIII
Table 7: Effects of population growth on agricultural land

Challenges of population No of respondent Percent of respondent

growth on agricultural land

Over utilization of resource 18 37.5%

Over cultivation and over 16 33.5%

grazing

Low productivity 10 20.83%

Food shortage 4 8.3%

Total 48 100%

Source: Agriculture statistics, Woreda, 2009E.C

According to the respondent of the sampled survey 37.5% of respondents said over utilization of
land resource was the one. When increased population demand resource for their survival. The
use scarce existing resource to get different importance from land like wall for housing
agricultural productivity for marketing and home consumption and 33.3% of respondent said
over cultivation of farming land over grazing are the result of the population growth on the
woreda.farmers in the study are also mentioned that flood caused by climate change destroyed
several villages, infrastructure, human life and agricultural fields during the last years. This
indicates that change had serious impacts on agricultural land and productivity to decrease
significantly.

4.5 Productivity of agricultural land

In the land area the population growth is the main reason for farm land fragmentation;
subdivision; land shortage and decline in size. In the case of population increment; the land
holding for farming or cultivation is declining from time to time, because of population growth
XXIV
agricultural land depletion and soil infertility would have faced on the land in the study area. As
a result productivity become less and less. In the woreda; there is 300 persons /km of crude
population density and 250 persons/km agricultural population in the woreda. This indicates that
agricultural population is very high and the land holding for the cultivation is less and According
to agricultural official’s woreda survey; the average size of holding per farmer’s house hold 15
year ago was 2.5 per hectare. This had decreased to 1.4 hectare per house hold. This show that
the land size of individuals decreased since 15 years back. This high population growth lead to
year round cultivated cultivation of the land as the result of this productivity decreased.

Table 8: The productivity of agricultural land.

Productivity of agricultural No of respondent Percent of respondent

land

Low 44 91.67%

High 4 8.3%

Total 48 100%

Source: own survey, 2009

According to the respondent of 91.67% said low productivity in the case of over cultivation: the
productivity capacity of land is diminished and the fertility of the land becomes increased and yield
obtained from this fertility land become very low .8.3% of respondent said high of the result of the
population growth productivity.

XXV
4.6 problem of low productivity
The out the total respondent said that climate conditions are the cause for decreases 45.83% while 43.75%
said the low productivity .because of the inadequate of agricultural input and 10.41% lack of rain fail.
Therefore climate conditions and continuous cultivation of land due to land shortage are the major cause
for low productivity Another cause for low productivity is soil infertility, when the land cultivation
around the year it reduce productivity capacity. Ethiopia engaged in agricultural activities requires more
wide area on the earth surface than other economic activities. In Ethiopia the productivity of agricultural
land is unsatisfied because of the population increment who depend on agriculture.

XXVI
Table 9: The problem of low productivity.

The problem of low No of respondent Percentage of respondents (%)

productivity

Climate condition 22 45.83

21

Shortage of agricultural input 43.75

Lack of rain fall 5 10.41

Total 48 100%

Source agricultural office (2009)

4.7. Problem faced on agricultural land

The accelerated growth or increment of human population and live stocks increment have create the grate
tensions on the resource. The following shows the problem that faced on agricultural land that often from
the respondent.

Table 4.9 the problems of agricultural land

Problem of face agricultural No of respondent Percent of respondent
land

Land 12 25%

Deforestation 16 33.33%

Soil erosion 13 27.08%

Desertification 7 14.89%

Total 48 100%
XXVII
Source field survey (2009)

From the respondents 33.33 and 27.08 of the respondents said deforestation and soil erosion are
main problem caused by human and livestock increment in the study area. The rest are the
problem that faced on agricultural land in addition to the first one.

Could In general land service in the woreda is very high as seen with population increment. The
productivity of cultivated land was in sufficient for the population because most of the farmer
not us

4.8 Importance of land in the study area.

Land used for many purpose in Ethiopia and people used land for different purpose. In Ethiopia
more than 85% people engaged on agricultural for their live hood. In this case land used as raw
material for agricultural activities. Even though the land used for agricultural activities. it also
used for another purpose in addition to including settlement purpose, grazing purpose etc. In the
study area Horo woreda land used for different purpose depending in nature. According to
woreda agricultural survey on 2017 in woreda 6500 hectare of land.from this hectare 5500
hectare used for cultivation propose .500 hectare of land for settlement for grazing, forestry and
related activities. The remaining hectare 500 hectare of land the woreda unused for agricultural
activities. In general land services in the woreda is very high as seen with population increment
the productivity of cultivated land was in sufficient for the population because

XXVIII
CHAPTER FIVE

5. Conclusion and Recommendation

5.1 conclusions
To conclude the study Ethiopian population increase from time to time due to high growth rate in
the country. But when we come to the study area there is high population growth. This high
population growth has negative effect in agricultural land of the woreda. Some of this effects are
land size reduction, land fragmentation ,decrease in agricultural productivity change in crop
pattern and environmental degradation are some of the effects of population growth in study area
due to these effects different results should be happened on agricultural productivity like over
cultivation of assisted resources, over cultivation of farm lands, over grazing, low productivity of
agriculture and shortage of food are the consequences of population growth on agricultural land
in the study area

XXIX
5.2 Recommendation

The following possible suggestions should be taken to solve mentioned problems in the study area.

 The people should be provided with family planning, education, contraceptive utilization
and implement them in place with the help of government or NGO’s as to contract high
birth rate the result in high population growth,
 The farmers should be quantified with modern farming system can be supplied with
modern agricultural inputs such as selected seeds, fertilizer etc.
 Methods of maintaining environmental balances such reforestation, soil conservation and
other must be practice by the farmers to insure the sustainability of the resource.

XXX
 The local government should transfer those people with acute land shortage to the
uncultivated land in the nearby the reason or other parts of Ethiopia.
 The farmers should be encouraged to cultivate high yielding food crops parallel to cash
crops to avoid scarcity of food crops
 People should be familiar to introduce with modern methods of keeping livestock for
larger period of time and use the existing private and public grazing land wisely.

XXXI
REFERENCE

Assefa Admissive (1999), a study of factors that effect of the use of agricultural.

Betty Bower Marriott (1997), Environmental impact assessment

Charles D. Kolsstalad (2006) Environmental Economics

Dessalegn (1999) environmental geography

Dressy et al (2006)(Population Geography 2nd Edition Published in oxford

Leola (2000) Agricultural Development

Michael p.Todaro and smith (2009) Economic Development 11editions New York University
unpublished.

Ayele kuris (2006) Ethiopian Economy 2nd edition.

M.L JHI. NGA (2007) Developmental Economics

Maida Husain (2003) Agricultural Geography

Ethiopian economic association (EEA) 2005.Annual report on Ethiopian economy.

Dejene Laredo (2008) Agricultural growth population and Environmental nexus paper to the
tenth annual conference on the Ethiopian Economy.Adama.

Todaro (2007) development Economic 8th ed long man published, Singapore

Malthus (1974) Economics Development

XXXII
MicahelTodarao (2003) Economics Development 8th Edition

Micheastodaro 2nd Ethiopian

N.P Goel (2007) Population Geography

Tom Tiete berg (2009). Environmental on agricultural land and resource Economics

Jacques Diof (1999) the challenges of Agricultural development in Africa. Washington.D.C.

APPENDIX
First of all, I would like for scarification of your time out to respondent this questionnaire. The
questionnaire is requested by department of economics under graduate students to collect
relevant data from you about the challenges of population growth on agricultural land and
productivity. in case of Horo woreda your honest and cooperativeness is necessarily put x sign
and give adequate answer for open ended questions.

 Before that takes the following points into consideration.

 Your response is used only research purpose.
 No need of writing your name.

1. Sex A. Male [ ] B. Female [ ]

2. Marital status A. Married [ ] B. Unmarried [ ]

3. Education status A. Educated [ ] B. Uneducated [ ]

4. Age of the household A. 15_20 [ B. 21_2 [ ] C. 30_39 [ ] D. 40_49 [ ]

5. Land holding by the household A. 0.5_1 [ ] B. 1.1_5 [ ] C. 1.5_2 [ ] D. 2.2_5 [ ]

6. What are major challenges of the population growth in the woreda?

______________________________________________________________________________
__________________________________________

XXXIII
7. What are the challenges of population growth on natural resource especially on agricultural
land?

______________________________________________________________________________
______________________________________.

8. What are the most consequences of population growth on agricultural land?

A. Over utilization of the resource [ ] B. Over cultivation [ ] C. Low productivity [ ] D.

Desertification [ ]

9. The productivity of the cultivated land in the woreda is

A. Very low [ ] B. Medium [ ] C. High [ ]

10. From the answer the question number 9 is very low what are the areas?

A. Uncomfortable climate condition [ ]

B. The problem of the high population in the woreda [ ]

C. Lack of technology [ ]

D. Shortage of rain fall [ ]

11. The productivity land in the relation to population in the woreda was

A. Satisfied [ ] B. Unsatisfied [ ]

12. From each hectare of cultivated land, how many quintals productivity would have in the
woreda?

______________________________________________________________________________
________________________________________

13. Is there modernized technique like irrigation practice in the woreda?

A. Yes. [ ] B .No [ ]

14. from the existed agricultural, how many hectare of the land was used for cultivation?
XXXIV
______________________________________________________________________________
_____________________________________

15. What problem would have beer faced on agricultural land, if population is high.

A. Land degradation [ ] B. Deforestation [ ] C .Soil erosion [ ] D. Desertification [ ]

16. The importance of the land in the woreda is

A. High [ ] B. Low [ ]

XXXV