Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities of Pastoralists Sustainable Livelihoods: The Case of Yaballo Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia

Abstract

The main purpose of this study was to Assessing the Challenges and Opportunities of Pastoralists Sustainable Livelihoods: The Case of Yaballo Woreda of Borana Zone, Oromia Region. The study aimed at exploring the livelihood challenge facing by Borana pastoralists and potential for livelihood improvement. It is based on analysis of survey data generated from household level interviews in Yaballo Borana Zone southern Ethiopian Pastoralists'. To this end, interviews were carried out with local community leader and with selective local households. Moreover, scheduled questionnaires were carried out with the sample households and the FGDs' were organized with households in the selected Kebeles'. The study used mixed method research in data collections framed within the subject of sustainable livelihood framework for analyzing multifaceted relationships that exit between assets, livelihood strategies and outcome. The study found out that pastoralist are confronted by many livelihood risks such as lack of access to resources that are needed for their sustainability of their livelihood such as poor market conditions, lack of health services, and limited access to safe and clean water. Land has been the scarcest resource because investors and farmers own the huge part of village land.