THE EFFECTS OF FAMILY PRESSURE ON AGRICULTURAL LAND USE

AND PRODUCTIVITY (IN CASE OF DIGALUNA TIJO WOREDA)

SAMARA UNIVERSITY

FACULTY OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

THE RESEARCH PAPER SUBMITTED TO DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

IN PARTIAL FULFILMENT FOR BACHELOR OF ART DEGREE IN
ECONOMICS

BY; ADEM HUSIEN

ID NO 1102446

ADVISOR ; GETACHO W. (MSC) SAMARA,ETHIOPIA

MARCH 2021
DECLARATION
This is to certify that this research paper entitled the effects of family pressure on agricultural
land use and productivity in Digeluna Tijo woreda. The paper submitted in partial fulfillment of
Bachelor of Art Degree in Economics, Samara University, through the Department of Economics

done by Adem Husien.

Name of the Student; ADEM HUSIEN

Signature: __________________________

Date: ______________________________

Advisor:GETACHO W.(MCS)

Signature _________________________

Date_____________________________

Examiner: _________________________

Signature: ___________________________

Date: ______________________________

I
ACKNOWLEDGMENT
First and for most I would like to thanks My almighty Allah for helping and guiding me

throughout my entire life and also who made this work reach to its accomplishment.

Next, I would like to express my gratitude to my advisor Mr. Getacho W. for his encouragement

and guidance throughout my task of writing this paper.

Furthermore, I would like to express my deepest gratitude and thanks to my family for their and

immeasurable moral and financial support throughout my journey of life. At the last but not the

least I want to express my deepest gratitude to my Sisters whose support me by finance and by

encourage my idea.

II
 ABSTRACT
The study was conducted in Digaluna Tijo woreda. The main purpose of the study was to assess
the effects of family pressure problem in the study area. The growth of family is continued from
time to time in the study area. Various factor that facilitates the growth of family pressure.
Among these factor demographic factors existed in the study area. The objective of the study was
to identify the major causes of family pressure and its implication on agricultural land use and
productivity. Both qualitative and quantitative methods of data analysis were employed. The
study used systematic sample techniques. From the sample technique systematic technique were
used on the nature of the study area. Rapid family pressure itself has negative effects on
environmental, leading in some destruction of natural resources and contributing to the global
problem as less of biodiversity. It is therefore, recommended high family pressure has an
implication on agricultural land use and productivity in the study area.

III
ACRONOMY

DTADB ---- Digaluna Tijo Agricultural Development Bereau

ECA --------Economic Commission for Africa

FAO--------Food and Agriculture Organization

GDP ----------Gross Domestic Product

IFPRI ------International Food Policy Research Institute

KM------ Kilo mater

UN ---- United Nation

UNDP ------- United Nation Development Programme

USD ----- United state Dollar

WB---- World Bank

SSA--------Sub-Saharan Africa

IV
TABLE OF CONTENTS
DECLARATION...............................................................................................................................................I
ACKNOWLEDGMENT.............................................................................................................................II
ABSTRACT...............................................................................................................................................III
TABLE OF CONTENTS............................................................................................................................V
CHAPTER ONE..........................................................................................................................................1
1. INTRODUCTION...................................................................................................................................1
1.1. BACK GROUNND 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 of the study..................................................................................................3
1.4 Significance of the study....................................................................................................................3
1.6 Scope of the study..............................................................................................................................4
1.6 Limitation of the study.......................................................................................................................4
1.7. Organization of the paper..................................................................................................................4
CHAPTER TWO.............................................................................................................................................5
2. LITERATLIRE REVIW..............................................................................................................................5
2.1Theoretical Literature Review.............................................................................................................5
2.1.1 Causes for family pressure..............................................................................................................6
2.1.2. Family Distribution.........................................................................................................................6
2.1.3 Family Growth................................................................................................................................6
2.1.4 Migration........................................................................................................................................6
2.1.5 Measurement of family pressure....................................................................................................6
2.1.6 Crude density..................................................................................................................................6
2.1.7 Agricultural density or rural density................................................................................................6
2.1.8 Consequences of family on agricultural land..................................................................................6
V
2.1.9 Deforestation..................................................................................................................................6
2.1.10 over cultivation.............................................................................................................................7
[Link] migration...........................................................................................................................7
 2.1.12 Land fragmentation......................................................................................................................7
2.1.13 Low productivity...........................................................................................................................7
2.2 EMPIRCAL REVIEW OF LITRETURE......................................................................................................7
CHAPTER THREE.....................................................................................................................................9
[Link] METHODOLOGY..............................................................................................................9
3.1 Description of the study area.............................................................................................................9
3.2 Source and Types of data...................................................................................................................9
3.4 Method of Data Collection...............................................................................................................11
3.5 Methods of Data Analysis................................................................................................................11
CHAPTER FOUR.....................................................................................................................................12
4. DATA ANALYSIS...............................................................................................................................12
4.1. Demographic Analysis of the Sampled Household and productivity..............................................12
. Chart 4.1.2 age structure of the sampled house hold on productivity...................................................12
Chart 4.2. sex distributions of Sampled household on productivity.......................................................13
4.1.4 Educational background of sampled house hold on agricultural land use and productivity......14
Chart 4.3 Educational backgrounds of the respondents..........................................................................14
4.1.5 Family size of sampled households on agricultural land use and productivity..........................15
Chart 4.4 Family sizes of sampled household respondents....................................................................15
4.1.6 Land holding size of sampled households on agricultural land use and productivity................16
Table 4.5 land holding size of sampled households...............................................................................16
Chart 4.6 causes of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity......................................16
4.3 The effects of family pressure on agricultural land use....................................................................17
Chart 4.7 Shows effect of family pressure on agricultural land use in the study area............................17
4.3.1Consequence of family pressure on agricultural land use in the study.......................................19
Chart 4.8 consequence of family pressure on agricultural land in the study area...................................19
4.4 productivity of cultivated land.........................................................................................................20
Chart 4.9 productivity of cultivated land...............................................................................................21
4.5 Problem that faced on agricultural land in the increment on human and livestock in the Woreda.. .22
Chart 5. problems that faced sampled house hold..................................................................................22
VI
4.6 IMPORTANCE OF LAND IN THE STUDY AREA......................................................................23
CHAPTER FIVE.......................................................................................................................................24
5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.....................................................................................24
 5.1 Conclusion.......................................................................................................................................24
5.2 Recommendation.............................................................................................................................25
Reference...................................................................................................................................................26
APPENDIX..................................................................................................................................................27

CHART LISTS

Chart 4.1 age structure of the sampled house hold on productivity…………12

Chart 4.2 sex distributions of respondents…………………………………13

Chart 4.3 Educational backgrounds of the respondents …………………14.

Chart 4.4 Family sizes of sampled household respondents…………………15

Chart 4.6 Shows effect of family pressure on agricultural land use in the study area…..18

Chart 4.7 causes of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity…….17

Chart 4.8 consequence of family pressure on agricultural land in the study area……19

Chart 4.9 productivity of cultivated land…………………………………………….

VII

21

Chart 5. problem that faced sampled house hold………………………………………….....22

TABLE LIST

Table 4.5 land holding size of sampled households…………………………………………16

VIII
 CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION

1.1. BACK GROUNND OF THE STUDY

The world population is increasing from time to time according to the most recent united Nation
estimation the world population is 7.9 billion as of march [Link] population also
increase from time to time and equivalent to 1.47%of the total world [Link] of the
increment of the population are family distribution,high birth rate and migration from other place
to [Link] people in Ethiopia have large family size and majority of the population is concentrated
at younger ages that contributes to the depleted of natural face world especially land.
(worldometer)

Because of rapid population growth the land become fragment from time to time and the size of
agricultural land become too small and these a lot of problem that people have brought to
agricultural [Link] undesirable pattern of human population caused with rapid population
[Link] majority of Ethiopia the density of agricultural population is very high in relate to
the cultivated [Link] of land in related to excessively large agricultural population leads
to effects on natural resources especially [Link] population growth is a major cause of
environmental degradation and rapid use of resources leads to increased pressure on the use of
country’s resources with the result there air and water pollution,loss of biodiversity and soil
[Link] population resulted in land resource scarcity,fragmentation of farm plots,and
ecological degradation such as 1
increasing emission,soil erosion,deforestation,land
scarcity,mulnutrition,recurrent drought,over use of natural resources and lack of agricultural
technologies.(Guush B,Hoddinot J 2017)
Population growth stemming from declining mortality rates stimulates economic growth while
population growth resulting from fertility increases will tend to slow it.
(Mierau&Turnovsky,2014)

Likewise Digaluna Tijo worada has faced with a problem as family pressure on agricultural
[Link] Worada has an estimated total population of 140,466 of whom 69,503 were men and
70,963 were women;14,080 or 10.02%of its population were urban [Link] Woreda has
high population density due to high family growth and that leads to land resource
scarcity,deforestation and degradation of an environment and the productive capacity of the area
become diminished as a [Link],the intention of this study is to analysis the effects of
family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity in Digaluna Tijo woreda.(wikipedia

1.2. STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

The effect of family pressure on agricultural land and its productivity is a problem as a
worldwide as almost all of people depend on agriculture to sustain their [Link] recourse
is considered to be fixed in one place and human population can move easily from one area to
another area across on land [Link] require a much large area of arable land for
each person engaged in cultivation and it more widely distributed over the earth surface than
other economic [Link] is one of the least developed countries in Sub-Saharan Africa
with nearly 100 million people,of which 80.5% of the rural population is relied on agriculture for
their [Link] the country,one-third of rural households cannot produce adequate food to
meet their subsistence needs as they cultivate less than half hectares of land per capital.(ECA
2016)

In case of high family pressure agricultural land decreased by size;the productivity of

agricultural land minimized from time to [Link] effects of family pressure on agricultural land
and its productivity is occurred throught the country,the magnitude of such problem different
from region to [Link] is vulnerable to the twin threats of natural resource degradation
and poverty owing to high population growth,dependent on rain fed agriculture,and negative
impacts of climate changes.(FAO 2015)
2
Digaluna Tijo Woreda is one which is found in the densely settled population and suffered from
its effects on agricultural land and its [Link] many people crowded on too little
[Link] population rises,demand for food,energy and income [Link] population
coupled with land degradation aggravates challenges of crop [Link] crowded people
used natural resources overly and this the overly used natural resources are leads to negative
effects on agricultural land such as over cultivation,over grazing,soil erosion and desertification
of agricultural [Link] country has suffered with multifaceted challenges including land
scarcity,malnutrition,recurrent drought and lack of agricultural technologies.(Aseffa 2017)

To my knowledge,there is no research has been conducted particularly on the effects of family

pressure on agricultural land use and productivity in Digaluna Tijo [Link] there may
be related study has been conducted on this [Link],this study will try to fulfill this gap by
identifying,analyzing and implimenting a research.

1.3. Objective of the Study

1.3.1. General Objective of the Study

 The overall objective of the study is to assess the effect of family pressure on agricultural
land use and productivity.

1.3.2 Specific objective of the study

 To examine the major cause of family pressure in the study area.
 To identify the major effects of family pressure on agricultural land and productivity.
 To examine the productivity of agriculture land especially cultivated land.

1.4 Significance of the study

The study is important for providing information that could help to device short and long term
plans that will alleviate the problem of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity.
It is also helpful bench mark for any research which is interested to study the problem of family
3
pressure on agricultural land use and productivity.
1.6 Scope of the study
The study is generally focused on the effects of family pressure on the agricultural land use and
[Link] coverage area of the study is limited to Digaluna Tijo Woreda Arsi Zone.

Among the major reason for choosing Digaluna Tijo Woreda as a study area is high human
family and low agricultural land due to different reasons such as high fertility and migration
from other regions and woreda’s to this woreda.

1.6 Limitation of the study

The study would face a number of limitations that would have been beyond the researcher
capacity.

There were some of the problems as follows:

 One of the major problems was lack of well-organized data inside of the agricultural
office and development agents.
 Lack of sufficient and related literature is not available
 Lack of commitment to give correct information and low level in education

 Lack of researcher experience

 Shortage of money with regard to the financial performance
 The study area was distant from the researcher. This was the main problem of the
researcher

1.7. Organization of the paper

This paper was organized in five chapters the first chapter deals with introduction which
includes background of the study, statement of the problem ,objective of the study , scope of the
study, significant of the study ,limitation of the study and organization of the paper & second
chapter contains theoretical & empirical review as related literatures while research
methodology deals in the third chapter, data analyzing
4 in the fourth chapter, conclusion &
recommendation is including in the five chapter.
 CHAPTER TWO

2. LITERATLIRE REVIW

2.1Theoretical Literature Review

The world population is increasing from time to time according to the united nation estimation of
march 2021 population is about 7.9 billion as had been 6.11 billion in 2007 and Ethiopian
population also [Link] to the UN data Ethiopia 2021 is estimated at 114,963,588
people.(worldometer)

Debates on agricultural production in response to population pressure are not a recent

[Link] argument between population growth and subsistence goes back to the classical
theory of [Link] the 18th century,the speculation of Malthus has made everyone to believe
the negative impact of population on [Link] central tenet of Malthus is“the growth of
human population always tends to outstrip the productive capabilities of land resources.”He
further stated‘the influence of population is indefinitely greater than the control of the earth to
produce subsistence for [Link] to this theory,the arithmetic increase of subsistence
could not feed the exponential growth of [Link] dismal hypothesis has strengthened the
theory,as human number grows food supply would be insufficient to feed the emerging people so
that population pushed back below the carrying capacity of agricultural systems.(Bremner
J.2014)

Consequently,Malthus suggested positive and preventive checks to balance the rising population
with the existing [Link] positive checks include increase of mortality as a result of
disease,famine,malnutrition and war while preventive checks are attributable to reducing fertility
via delay marriage,abstain,and others.(Bremner J.2014)

Several research findings substantiate the theory of agricultural intensification taking into
account population as a driver of [Link] instance in China,institutional and land policy
5
reforms are the main causes for agricultural development that intended to support the growing
population.(Haimanot BA,Yan T,Bekele EG,et al.2017)
2.1.1 Causes for family pressure

2.1.2. Family Distribution

The distribution of population over the earth’s surface is uneven and there are considerable
durational densities in the sense of distribution of [Link] area become overcrowded and
area become under [Link],the distributions of the national level as well as regional
level it also variable from kebele to [Link] this case,the concentration of family exists in one
area.

2.1.3 Family Growth

In the beginning of 1900s,Ethiopia had five million people that have increased by twenty times
within one [Link] first and the second population and housing census were conducted in
1984 and 1994 with equivalent population size of 42.6 and 53.5 [Link],the annual
growth rate of population has declined from 3.3%in 1984 to 2.9%and 2.6%in 1994 and [Link]
growth rate of population is estimated to be 2.3%.(UNDP 2014)

2.1.4 Migration
Migration should also make population concentration in one [Link] human being get
favorable climate suitable agriculture land,adequate water supply and comfortable infrastructural
facilities people would have the original place crowded in other [Link] migration involves
the movement of people from one place to another with intention of settling,permanently or
temporarily,at a new location.(Wikipedia)

2.1.5 Measurement of family pressure

2.1.6 Crude density:is a measure of the number of inhabitants per unit area

2.1.7 Agricultural density or rural density=Agricultural population

Total cultivated land

2.1.8 Consequences of family on agricultural land

2.1.9 Deforestation
Rapid family growth leads to the cutting of wood for fuel and for building materials that
constituted the most sever drain in the remaining
6 [Link] family pressure forces people to
look at additional farming land to satisfy additional food demand in most cases and forest land
are cleared to get additional land for [Link] 1990 and 2016,the world lost 502,000
square miles of forests or 1.3 million square kilometers of forest(Christina Nunez,2019).

2.1.10 over cultivation

It was a situation which happens when family exceeds the existed cultivated land,the over
cultivation of land was [Link] cultivate the land over without rest through out the year
to satisfy their own demand.

[Link] migration
In the case of family concentration in one area, people migrate from one area to another [Link]
reason for migration was linked with the demand for agricultural land,comfortable
climate,suitable infrastructure and adequate [Link] made family pressure to increase
rapidly.

2.1.12 Land fragmentation

When family increase from time to time,fragmentation of land was followed for those increased
family the size of agricultural land [Link] is also the existance of a number of spatially
separate plots of land which are farmed as single,which is a major problem in Ethiopia(Tan et al
2013)

2.1.13 Low productivity

In the case of family pressure limited access to agricultural land implies low productivity,income
and insufficient food production.

2.2 EMPIRCAL REVIEW OF LITRETURE

Agriculture is the mainstay of Ethiopian [Link] interaction between population and
agriculture is [Link] debates and widespread discourse have been continued over
several decades on population growth against agriculture [Link] the past
decades,agricultural growth has been achieved partly through an expansion of farmlands.(Guush
B,Mekidm D,2017)

Agricultural intensification and extensification are the two major strategies to raise agricultural
output in general and crop yields in [Link] farmland increases,pressure on natural
vegetation and communal grazing land also increases.(IFPRI 2015)
7
Agricultural land under the occupation of peasants is characterized by insecurity of [Link]
of tenure security has aggravated the problem of soil mining and constrained the incentive to
investment in land improvement [Link] is a progressive diminution of plot size under
increased family pressure resulting in uneconomic size of holding that contributed to limited
technology [Link] level of incomes of the farm house hold is a result of both the small size
of land holding and the low level of productivity in Ethiopian [Link] net farm
income per hector of cultivated land(as indicator of land productivity)average birr 2300 in
2000/2001 crop season,which is about U.S.D [Link] population growth affects per capital output
growth,higher population growth rates would contribute to either higher or lower over all
economic growth depending on the nature of its effects on percapital income(GDP).(Piketty
2014)

With a project population size of 63.5 million in July 2000 and land area of about 1.1 million
square km,the population density of Ethiopia is about 58%square [Link] growth rate of
population is estimated to be 2.3%.Currently,Ethiopia is the second population giant among ten
countries in Africa that account 61% of the total population of the continent.(UNDP 2014)

Higher population concentration are found in the highlands where the largest agricultural
potential exist(rain fall adequate and soil is fertile).These areas are suitable for crop cultivation
and mixed farming and the population engaged in agricultural activities has traditionally settled
[Link] suggests that increased population density can first induce the uptake of different
on farm technologies,but if population density reaches an upper threshold natural resource
depletion may occur(Hadush,Holden,&Tilahun,2019).

Ethiopia is an agrarian country and agriculture employs about 80% of the

[Link] land in Ethiopia was reported at 36.26% in 2016 according to the
collection of development indicators,compiled from officially recognized [Link]
agricultural lands,actual values historical data and projections were sourced from the world bank
on April 2021.(WB 2021)

8
 CHAPTER THREE

[Link] METHODOLOGY

3.1 Description of the study area

Digeluna Tijo is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of [Link] of the Arsi Zone,

Digeluna Tijo is bordered on the south by Bekoji,on the southwest by Munesa,on the

northwest by Tiyo,on the north by Hitosa,on the northeast by Tena,and on the east by

[Link] administrative center of this woreda is Sagure;other towns include Tijo and

[Link] altitude of this woreda ranges from 2500 to 3560 meters above sea level;Mount

Boraluku is the highest [Link] include the Katar,Ashebeka and Gusha.A survey of the

land in this woreda shows that 39.5%is arable or cultivable,27.4%pasture,13.3%forest,

and the remaining 19.8%is considered swampy,mountainous or otherwise unusable.

The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda is 140,466,of whom

69,503 were men and 70,963 were women;14,080 or 10.02%of its population were urban

dwellers.(Wikipedia)

3.2 Source and Types of data

In order to achieve the objective the researcher was used both primary and secondary data
sources.

The primary data was collected from questionnaire,interview

9 and personal observation,and
secondary data was collected from written documents in the agricultural official bureau of
Digaluna Tijo Woreda,internet,book etc.
The researcher will be used both data types’[Link] and quantitative data types.
3.3 Sample size and Sampling Technique

The paper is target to analyze effects of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity
in Digaluna Tijo [Link] woreda comprises 28 [Link] is difficult to touch all the kebeles
due to a very large number of population and the wideness of the [Link] we will use
simple random probability sampling technique,households will be selected from each kebele
because it is difficult to collect the primary data from the whole woreda’s house [Link]
researcher will be chooses three kebeles out of 28 kebele who knows about agriculture and
works in agriculture because of high family concentration are found in those kebeles which
present more the goal of the [Link] simple random sampling technique,the researcher
will be used lottery method or ‘blind draw’ because it minimizes personal bias,possibility of
externality and each respondents have equal chance [Link] target population from each
selected kebeles who knows and works in agriculture are presented as follows;

In Jamo kebele 1200 farmers are knows and works in agriculture

In Tulukite kebele 1100 farmers are knows and works in agriculture

In Tabansa kebele 1011 farmers are knows about and works in agriculture

The total population who knows about and works in agriculture from the above selected kebeles
are 3311

We use a formula adopted by Yamane 1967 to determine a sample [Link] used for working with
a finite population and if the population size is [Link] is given by;

N
2
1  N ( e) where N=Target population or number of farmers who knows & works in
agriculture

e= level of significance

10
N=3311 & e=10%

3311 3311
2  97
1  3311(0.1) = 34.11
Therefore, our sample size is 97

It also proportionate as follows

1200
*100  36%
Sample size from Jamo kebele = 3311 or 35 house holds

1100
*100  33%
Sample size from Tulukite kebele = 3311 or 32 house holds

1011
*100  30.5%
Sample size from Tabansa kebele = 3311 or 30 house holds

So that the sample is drawn from each kebeles,according to the size of the target population
number they comprise and finally the desired sample of 97 farmers will be drawn from the total
3 kebeles.

3.4 Method of Data Collection

The study was based on both primary and secondary [Link] primary data was collected
through questionnaire,the question was included a number of questions with open ended and
close ended type of question that is relevant to the subject of the study and also secondary data
was obtained through review of selected materials specially from written documents and
internets.

3.5 Methods of Data Analysis

The collected data was analyzed,interpreted and arranged made consistent with gathered
information to the research [Link] collected data was analyzed and interpreted by using
descriptive method.

11
 CHAPTER FOUR

4. DATA ANALYSIS

4.1. Demographic Analysis of the Sampled Household and productivity

This chapter describes the main part of the researcher data analysis and presentation with field
surveying tables of the respondents, background, family size, education level and causes, effects
of family pressure in Digaluna Tijo woreda included in this chapter.

. Chart 4.1.2 age structure of the sampled house hold on productivity

0.8 % of the respondents

0.7

0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1
% of the respondents
0
18- 25- >50

Source field survey 2021

From the above Chart 4.1.2, out of the total 97 individual sampled respondents the dominant age
groups of the sampled household head farmers were found between the ages of 25-49 years
comprising 72.15%of the total sampled farmers. This shows that the land holders in the Woredas
were those farmers whose aged between 25-49 years, this shows many of them productive age
group. The rest ones are productivity less whose found between 18-25 & >50 ages because it
12
includes young which is unemployed and old age groups comprising 20.61%,& 7.24%
respectively.
4.1.3 Sex distribution of sampled house hold on productivity

Chart 4.2. sex distributions of Sampled household on productivity

% of respondents
1
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Male Female

% of respondents

Source survey of 2021

According to above Chart 4.2., individual respondents, 89.69% of the respondents were male
headed households and the remaining 10.31% of them were female household of the Woreda’s.
This indicates that some of the female headed household used their sons to carry out their
farming practice while some of hers were rent 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
farming land.

13
4.1.4 Educational background of sampled house hold on agricultural land use and
productivity

Chart 4.3 Educational backgrounds of the respondents

% of respondents
0.45
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Informal 1up to 4 5 up to 8 9 up to12 Above

% of respondents

Source field survey of 2021

According to the above Chart 4.3 data obtained14

89.68% of respondents were those who can read
and write leading by 1 up to 4, & followed by 5 up to 8, which comprise 38.14% & 30.93%
respectively and the remaining 10.32% were those who cannot read and write. This is due to the
fact that farmers don’t have access to education due to the work load and little awareness toward
education . From the respondents answer the researcher understand that the literate (educated)
farmers better from that of illiterate farmers. Because they know or read which pests are good
and currently better for farming system after that they used technologically means knows about
advantages and disadvantages of input to their products.

4.1.5 Family size of sampled households on agricultural land use and productivity

Chart 4.4 Family sizes of sampled household respondents

% of household
0.6

0.5

0.4

0.3

0.2

0.1

0
1up to3 4 up to6 7up to9 10upto12 More than 12

% of household

Source field survey of 2021

According the above Chart 4.4 the researcher categorized members of each sampled households
in class interval in those most of the respondents have members 4-6 about 51.55% of the
15
respondents and 18.56% of the respondents have 7-9 households. The woreda was dominated
family size members 4-6 but the productivity from the land is not sufficient.
4.1.6 Land holding size of sampled households on agricultural land use and productivity

According to the bellow table 4.5 there is a great disparity in farm size among different
households 30.93% of the respondents housing small farm size. The households between 41.23%
and 6.18% of respondents have relatively better farm land. This is due to high family pressure of
growth that causes land fragmentation among the increasing number of family members

Table 4.5 land holding size of sampled households

Land holding in hectare of No of house hold % of households

sampled house hold

0.5-1 28 30.93%

1-1.5 38 41.23%

1.5-2 20 16 21.65%

2-2.5 6 6.18%
Total 97 100%

Source field survey 2021

4.2 cause of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity

Chart 4.6 causes of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity

% of respondents
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Comfortable climate Family growth Uneven distribution migrants
condition of family

% of respondents

Source field survey 2021

The main causes for family pressure are different in one area to another. As indicated earlier,
Ethiopia is a country with enormous population number. The causes of this increment are high
population growth rate in the country. The main cause for the high population growth in Ethiopia
is the rising of fertility rate and declining of mortality rate. But in the study area, the main cause
for family pressure is family growth, uneven family
17 distribution, and migrant from other area.
The root cause for this high growth in the study area is high fertility, which intern is caused by
low educational attainment of people, low prevalence of contraceptive and cultural influence and
preference of child are one reason for family growth in the Woreda. According to the above
Chart 4.6 respondent’s view of the Woreda, 30% of the respondent said that the main reason for
family pressure in the Woreda is population growth. 27.4% of the respondents studied that
conformability of climatic condition and suitability of cultural land existence in the Woreda
leads to family pressure and the remaining 22.6% and 20% respondents respectively said that
uneven distribution of family and migrants from other area to Woreda are one reason for family
pressure in the Woreda.

4.3 The effects of family pressure on agricultural land use

Chart 4.7 Shows effect of family pressure on agricultural land use in the study area

% of respondent
0.35

0.3 0.29

0.25
0.25
0.21
0.2
0.15
0.15
0.1
0.1

0.05

0
Change in rural Land size Decrease in Change in cropping Environmental Source of
land use pattern reduction, land agricultural pattern degradation
fragmentation and productivity survey,
land shortage
2021

% of respondent

Population
pressure
according to Thomas Malthus can be described as difficulties arise from things; limited natural
18
resources and the stage of development of means technology through which can exploit the
resources. Accelerated human family growth and increase in livestock in Ethiopia have created
pressure on land resources. According to this situation the rural family is highly dependent on
the exploitation of natural environment. The expansion of human settlement, the increase in
population and increase in livestock size have led to drastic change in natural land escape. But in
the study area in Digeluna Tijo Woreda the effect of family pressure on agricultural land use is
different. 28.86 % of respondent said that change in rural land use pattern, 24.74% of the
respondent stated that land size reduction, land fragmentation and land shortage are the effects of
family pressure on agricultural land. 20.63% of respondent stated that decrease in agricultural
productivity. The remaining 15.46% and 10.31% of respondent stated that change in cropping
pattern and environmental degradation is the effect of family pressure on agricultural land use in
the Woreda. According to the above Chart 4.7 Show the effects of family pressure on
agricultural land use.

4.3.1Consequence of family pressure on agricultural land use in the study

Chart 4.8 consequence of family pressure on agricultural land in the study area

% of respondent
0.4
0.35
0.3
0.25
0.2
0.15
0.1
0.05
0
Over utilization of Over cultivation and Low productivity Food shortage
the resource over grazing

% of respondent
Source survey of
2021

To understand the consequences of family pressure in the study area’s land use, a question what
are the consequences of family pressure on land is asked. According to the above Chart 4.8
respondents of the sample survey 36.06 % of 19
respondent said over utilization of land resource
was the one. When increased family demanded resource for their survival, the use over scarce
existing resource to get different importance from land like, wall for housing, agricultural
productivity for marketing and home consumption and 30.93% of respondents said, over
cultivation of farming land and over grazing are the results of family pressure of the Woreda. In
the case of family increment, land shortage and decline in farming size are facing on land. But,
the increase family in the Woreda cultivates the land around the year without resting and
increased livestock grazed over in limited area because increment of family grazing land
changed to cultivation. 20.62% of respondent said low productivity in the case of over
cultivation, the productivity capacity of the land is diminished and the fertility of land becomes
ceased and the yield obtained from these infertile lands become very low. 12.37% of respondent
said shortage of food are the result of family pressure those family who dependence on
agriculture.

4.4 productivity of cultivated land

In the study area family pressure is the main reason for farm land fragmentation, subdivision,
and land shortage decline in size. In the case of family increment, the land holding for farming or
cultivation is declining from time to time because of family pressure, agricultural land depletion
and soil infertility would have faced on the land in the study area. As result productivity
becoming less and less the study area, in Digaluna Tijo Woreda there are high crude population
density and agricultural density. The Woreda, there is 372 persons/ km2 of crude population
density and 332 persons/ km2 agricultural population density in the woreda. This indicates that
agricultural population is very high and the land holding for cultivation is less and less.
According to the agricultural officials the Woreda survey, the average size of holding per
farmers house hold 20 years ago was 2.53 ti-mads. This had decreased to 1.6 ti-mads per house
hold. This shows that the land size of individuals decreased since 20 years back this high rural
or agricultural population led to year around cultivation of the land and no rest for land. As a
result productivity or land contribution decreased. (Digeluna Tijo Woreda Rural Development of
Agricultural office,2021). According to the bellow Chart 4.9, Out of the total sampled house
holds 92.8% of the respondent said the productivity of cultivated land is low. As mentioned
above different problem faced on agricultural land
20 like over cultivation, low productive capacity
of land would be faced on agricultural land in the Woreda. In this case agricultural productivity
of the Woreda is low. The remaining 7.2% of the respondent said productivity of Weredas are
high according to those respondent few of the Weredas rural farmers would be used different
agricultural input to increase their productivity like improved seed and fertilizer, but much of the
respondents is affirmed that productivity of the Woreda is very low.

Chart 4.9 productivity of cultivated land

% if respondent
0.9
0.8
0.7
0.6
0.5
0.4
0.3
0.2
0.1
0
Low High

% if respondent

Source survey of 2021

The peasants are also asked why the productivity is low or decreased. 31.5% out of the total
respondent said that climatic conditions are the cause for decrease. While, 25.7% of respondents
said that continues cultivation of the land. The rest 22.8% and 20% said that low productivity is
because of the inadequate of agricultural inputs and other respectively. Therefore, climatic
condition and continuous cultivation of land are the major cause for low productivity. Besides,
shortage of rainfall is additional one of low productivity. Another cause for low productivity is
soil infertility, when the land cultivation round the year it reduce its productive capacity.
Ethiopia engaged in agricultural activities. Agricultural activities require more wide area on the
earth surface than other economic activities. In Ethiopia, the productivity of agricultural land is
unsatisfied. Because of family increment who depend on agricultural land for their own purpose.
In the study area Digeluna Tijo Woreda one which have high agricultural family on the existed
21
agricultural land. In the Woreda 41,500 hectare of agricultural land but from these hectares
32,200 hectare of land are only cultivated. The productivity of this cultivated land is unbalanced
with the existed population in the Woreda 500 hectares of land in the Woreda is unused for
cultivation and the remaining 8,800 hectare of land is used for forest and grazing. In the study
area each hectare of cultivated land could produced on average 13.5 quintals it includes cash
crops (beans) this is much less than family of the Woreda. The Woreda practice mixed type of
farming system and their farming system depends on rainfall there are different problem faced on
agricultural land in the study area in the case of family pressure. The selected respondents have
put their own view regarding with this issue. The accelerated growth or increment of human
family and livestock increment have created tension on resource; (Bureau of Agriculture in
Digeluna Tijo woreda 2021)

4.5 Problem that faced on agricultural land in the increment on human and livestock in the
Woreda

Chart 5. problems that faced sampled house hold

% of respondent
0.4

0.35

0.3

0.25

0.2

0.15

0.1

0.05

0
Land degradation Deforestation Soil erosion Desertification

% of respondent

Source interview 2021

The above Chart 5. shows the problem that faced on agricultural land that often from the
22
respondent. From the respondent 30.93% and 36.08% of respondent said deforestation and soil
erosion are the main problem caused by human and livestock increment in the study area
respectively. The rest are the problem that faced on agricultural land in addition to the first one.
4.6 IMPORTANCE OF LAND IN THE STUDY AREA
Land used for many purpose in [Link] Ethiopia more than 85% people engaged on
agriculture for their live hood. In this cause land used as raw material for agriculture inputs for
agricultural activities. Agricultural land is critical to provide food and fiber to growing
populations and is an important source of employment in many countries. Forest areas provide
raw materials for housings and the lumber industry and important habitats for wild life. Wetland
and water bodies cover land and are important in sustaining aquatic habitat and water supplies.
Thus, the basic needs of food, water, clothing shelter are met from the land. Even though the
land used for agricultural activates, it also used for another purpose in additional to including
settlement purpose, grazing purpose etc. In the study area Digaluna Tijo Woreda land used for
different purpose depend in nature, according to Woredas agricultural survey on 2021 in woreda
41,500 hectare of land from its hectare 32,200 hectare used for cultivation purpose, 8800 hectare
of land for settlement for grazing, forestry and related activities. The remaining 500 hectares of
land are unused for agricultural activities. In general land service in the Woreda is very high as
seen with family increment. The productivity of cultivated land was insufficient for the family
because most of the farmer could not use improved seeds, fertilizer and the Woreda depend on
rain fed agricultural activates. In the case of these the productivity of the Woreda was
unbalanced with the family of the Woredas. Even though they used these seeds the increment of
family was greater than the productivity of the Woreda.

23
 CHAPTER FIVE

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

5.1 Conclusion

To conclude or some up family of Ethiopia increases from time to time. The main reason for the
high family growth is high fertility in the country. Also, we come to the study area in Digeluna
Tijo woreda there is high family in Woreda. These high families include population growth,
family distribution; comfortable climate condition and the existence of suitable agricultural land
lead high family pressure in the Woreda. In the case of high family in the Woreda different
effect would have faced on the agricultural land the Woreda like; clay in rural land used pattern,
land size reduction, land fragmentation, land shortage, decrease in agricultural productivity,
change in cropping pattern and environmental degradation are the effect of family pressure in
agricultural land use in the study area.
In the case of this effect different results should be happened on agricultural land use and
productivity like over utilization of existed resource, over cultivation of farm land, over grazing
as limited grazing land, low productivity of agricultural land and shortage of food are the
consequence of family pressure on agricultural land use and productivity in the study area the
different problem faced on the agricultural land like deforestation, land degradation, soil
infertility and desertification of land would be faced on the study area

24
5.2 Recommendation
In the discussion attempts were made to show the effect of family pressure on agricultural land
use and productivity in Digeluna Tijo Woreda. Based on the following discussed above the
suggestion for possible measure to the problem.

The people should be provided with family planning, education contraceptive utilization
and implement them in place with the help of government.
The farmer should be a quantified with modern farming system, be supplied with modern
agricultural inputs such as selected seeds, fertilizer etc.
Methods of maintaining environmental balance reforestation such as reforestation, Soil
conservation and other must be practiced by the farmers to ensure the sustainability of the
resources.
The local government should transfer those people with acute land shortage to the
uncultivated land in the nearby the region or other parts of Ethiopia.
The farmer 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 widely.
Taking into account the ideas, innovations, decisions of farmers not only for the sake of
moral reasoning but because the knowledge base of innovative farmers is very powerful
and realistic. Sustained government public investments in agricultural technology, and
extension irrigation and market infrastructure. Directly involving the youth in various
agricultural issues.

25
Reference

Aseffa A, Seid N. Prospects for harsening demographic dividend in Ethiopian Regional states 2017.

Bremner J. 2014 Population, poverty, environment, and climate dynamics in the developing
world

ECA(Economic Commission for Africa).The demographic profile of African [Link]

Ababa,Ethiopia 2016.

FAO(Food and Agriculture Organization 2015)

Guush B,Hiddinot J( 2017) International Food Policy Research Institute.

Haimanot BA, Yan T, Bekele EG, et al International Journal of Agricultural Economics. 2017

IFPRI (International Food Policy Research Institute).International Food Policy Research

Institute.2015

Mierau &Turnovsky [Link], growth and inequality

UNDP (United Nations Development Program). Ethiopia Country economic brief Analysis
2014

Piketty (2014) British Journal of sociology

World Bank 2021

Christena Nunez [Link] Geography of Ethiopia

26
 Appendix

SAMARA UNIVESITY

COLLEGE OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

Questionnaires
Interview Schedule developed for the study of Analysis of the effects of family pressure on
agricultural land use and productivity in Digaluna Tijo woreda to writes a senior essay on
partial fulfillment of the course of research to acquire bachelor’s art digree in economics.I
will like to thank you in advance for your cooperation.

1. BACKGROUND OF RESPONDENTS

1. Sex A. Male B female

2. Family size ………………………………………………………………………………………

3. Education status………………………………………………………………………………..

4. Age structure…………………………………………………………………………… ……...

5. Land holding for the household…………………………………………………………………

6. What are the major causes of family pressure in the woreda? …………………………………

………………………………………………………………………………………………………
27
……………………………………………………………….

7. What are the effects of family on natural resources especially on agricultural land? ………….
………………………………………………………………………………………………………
……………………………………………………………………..

8. What are the consequences of family pressure on the agricultural land use?

A. over utilization of the resource B. over cultivation

C. low productivity D. other

9. The productivity of cultivated land?

A. low B. High

10. If the answer for question no “9” is low, what is the reason for these?

A. comfortable climatic condition

B. high family growth in the woreda

C. uneven distribution family &

D. migrants

11. The productivity of agricultural land in relation to family in the woreda was

A. strongly satisfying B. satisfying C. not satisfying D. strongly satisfying E. average

28
12. How many hectare of land do you have? ………………………………………………...

13. From the existed agricultural land how many hectare of the land was used for
cultivation? ........................................................................................................................................
...............

14. What problem would have been faced on agricultural land, if the family is high?

A. Land degradation C. soil erosion

B. deforestation D. desertification

15. The importance of the land in the woreda is

A. high B. low

29
30