Evaluation of Ethiopia’s Food Security Program

Posted on May 23, 2013 by ilamoot

Download the new ESSP II – EDRI Report Evaluation of Ethiopia's Food Security Program: Documenting Progress in the Implementation of the Productive Safety Nets Programme and the Household Asset Building Programme (5MB) by Guush Berhane, John Hoddinott, Neha Kumar, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, Michael Tedla Diressie, Yisehac Yohannes, Rachel Sabates-Wheeler, Mulugeta Handino, Jeremy Lind, Mulugeta Tefera, and Feyera Sima.

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Ethiopia’s Value Chains on the Move: The Case of Teff

Posted on May 22, 2013 by ilamoot
ESSP Working Paper 52 "Ethiopia's Value Chains on the Move: The Case of Teff" by Bart Minten, Seneshaw Tamru, Ermias Engida, and Tadesse Kuma.

Abstract: We study the value chain of teff, Ethiopia's most important staple food crop by area and value. Based on large-scale primary surveys, we find significant changes in the last decade. First, there is increasing adoption of modern inputs (chemical fertilizer, improved varieties, and herbicides) by farmers, especially by those living close to urban centers. Second, quality demands are rising and there are important shifts from the cheap red varieties to the more expensive white ones. Third, we see an increasing willingness-to-pay for convenience in urban areas, as illustrated by the emergence of one-stop retail shops—that provide sales, cleaning, milling, and transport services—as well as by a sizable foodservice industry. Fourth, the share of rural–urban marketing, urban distribution, and milling margins in final retail prices is declining, indicating improved marketing efficiency over time.
Download the pdf (903KB).

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ESSP II Newsletter May–June 2013

Posted on May 8, 2013 by mmekuria

The Ethiopia Strategy Support Program would like to present you its bimonthly newsletter for the months May–June 2013.
The newsletter presents:

  • Upcoming events:
    • A half-day workshop will be organized on "Sustainable Land Management Interventions and Impact" on May 10th, in collaboration with IWMI and EDRI, at the Hilton, Addis Ababa.
    • Prof. David Stifel will give a training on econometrics at the Ethiopian Economics Association (EEA) from June 17–28, 2013.
  • List of recent ESSP publications:
    • ESSP Working Paper 51 and ESSP Research Note 24. The Last Mile(s) in Modern Input Distribution: Evidence from Northwestern Ethiopia. Bart Minten, Bethlehem Koro, and David Stifel.
    • ESSP Working Paper 52. Ethiopia’s Value Chains on the Move: The Case of Tef. Bart Minten, Seneshaw Tamru, Ermias Engida, and Tadesse Kuma.
    • ESSP Research Note 22. Prices and Quality in Urban Food Retail: Evidence from Addis Ababa. Thomas Woldu, Girum Abebe, Indra Lamoot, and Bart Minten.
    • ESSP Research Note 23. Improving Development Strategies in Pastoral Areas. Derek Headey, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, and Liangzhi You.
  • Highlights of presentations given in March–April 2013.
  • Policy Related Analysis 'Ethiopia’s Value Chains on the Move: The Case of Tef'
  • and more.

Download the pdf (537KB)

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The Last Mile(s) in Modern Input Distribution: Evidence from Northwestern Ethiopia

Posted on May 7, 2013 by ilamoot
ESSP Research Note 24 "The Last Mile(s) in Modern Input Distribution: Evidence from Northwestern Ethiopia" by Bart Minten, Bethlehem Koro, and David Stifel.
Summary of ESSP Working Paper 51.

Increasing adoption of modern inputs remains one of the best hopes toward higher agricultural production in developing countries. Based on unique data from a quasi-experimental setting in northwestern Ethiopia, this study examines the “last mile(s)”—from the input distribution center to the farmer—in the chemical fertilizer and improved seed distribution system. We find that increasing transaction and transportation costs over a 35 kilometer distance contribute to a significant decline in incentives for modern input adoption and lead to a reduction to one quarter in modern input use. Farmers who live about 10 km from the distribution center face per unit transaction and transportation costs as high as the costs needed to bring the fertilizer from the international port to the input distribution center (about 1,000 km). Tackling the “last mile” costs should thus be a priority to improve modern input adoption in the country.
Download the pdf (434KB).

Find more ESSP Research Notes on the Publication page.
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Improving Development Strategies in Pastoral Areas

Posted on May 7, 2013 by ilamoot
ESSP Research Note 23 "Improving Development Strategies in Pastoral Areas" by Derek Headey, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, and Liangzhi You.

Summary of ESSP Working Paper 48.
The recent drought in the Horn of Africa has again generated widespread pessimism about the future of pastoralism in the region. In this paper we argue that a much more balanced development strategy needs to be adopted in pastoralist areas. First, livelihood diversification must become a positive process, through education, infrastructure, and policies facilitating migration and nonfarm investments. Second, economic transformation must involve a social and demographic transition through reduced fertility rates. And third, transformation of the traditional agricultural sector, dominated by livestock, is needed and is inevitable for the simple reason that it is simply too large to ignore, and no amount of livelihood diversification can create enough jobs to pull pastoralists out of poverty. Commercialization efforts, drought management practices, and institutional reforms are the three basic pillars to make the sector more profitable and more resilient to droughts. In addition to all this, interventions in pastoralist areas need to make greater use of innovative practices, such as ICTs, mobile service delivery, and spatial clustering of services.
Download the pdf (379KB).

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Ethiopia on the Path from Famine to Food Security

Posted on April 30, 2013 by ilamoot

Rapid political, economic, and agricultural changes have taken place in Ethiopia in the past two decades. Ethiopia has made major advances toward increasing growth and improving human well-being. Looking ahead, it faces both challenges and opportunities.

IFPRI has published the infographic "Ethiopia on the Path from Famine to Food Security". The one page document uses drawings and facts to present this path.
Download the infographic (3.1MB).

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The Last Mile(s) in Modern Input Distribution: Evidence from Northwestern Ethiopia

Posted on April 17, 2013 by ilamoot
ESSP Working Paper 51 "The Last Mile(s) in Modern Input Distribution: Evidence from Northwestern Ethiopia" by Bart Minten, Bethlehem Koro, and David Stifel.

Abstract: Increasing adoption of modern inputs remains one of the best hopes toward higher agricultural production in developing countries. Based on unique data from a quasi-experimental setting in northwestern Ethiopia, this study examines the "last mile(s)"—from the input distribution center to the farmer—in the chemical fertilizer and improved seed distribution system. We find that increasing transaction and transportation costs over a 35 kilometer distance, along a route mainly accessible to foot traffic only, lead to a 50 percent increase of the prices of chemical fertilizer and to a 75 percent reduction in its use. Farmers who live about 10 km from the distribution center face per unit transaction and transportation costs as high as the costs needed to bring the fertilizer from the international port to the input distribution center (about 1,000 km). Tackling the "last mile(s)" costs should thus be a priority to improve modern input adoption in these settings.
Download the pdf (1310KB).

Find more ESSP Working Papers on the Publication page.
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Prices and Quality in Urban Food Retail: Evidence from Addis Ababa

Posted on April 11, 2013 by ilamoot
ESSP II Research Note 22 "Prices and Quality in Urban Food Retail: Evidence from Addis Ababa" by Thomas Woldu, Girum Abebe, Indra Lamoot, and Bart Minten.
Summary of ESSP Working Paper 50.

We study food retail in Addis Ababa based on a large survey of food retail outlets selling cereals, fruits and vegetables, and processed foods. The study shows high variation in quality and prices in the city and an increasing differentiation in food retail markets in recent years. On the high-end, we see the emergence of domestic private modern retail outlets that deliver high quality products at high prices and that focus mostly on wealthier areas and consumers. At the other side, we see cooperative retail that delivers food at controlled and subsidized prices. The latter shops are characterized by typical price control policy problems, reflected in regular lack of supplies and queuing. It seems that food retail markets would be improved by stimulating the emergence of a competitive private retail sector and the abolishment of price controls, while providing targeted subsidies or safety nets for the urban poor to ensure their access to food.
Download the pdf (346KB).

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2012 Global Food Policy Report

Posted on March 15, 2013 by ilamoot

IFPRI’s 2012 Global Food Policy Report reviews major food policy developments like new sources of agricultural growth, the outcomes of Rio+20 and the progress toward a green economy, the move from attention to action on gender, the prospects for youth employment in agriculture in Africa, the evolution of the US and EU support for their farmers, and the drivers of future global food security.

In 2012, the world food system continued to be in a vulnerable position. As the 2015 deadline for the Millennium Development Goals approaches, even the modest goal of halving the proportion of people suffering from hunger is not on track. A number of countries made important and promising changes in food-related policies and the global community made noteworthy commitments to strengthen aspects of food security. What remains is for these commitments to be translated into action.

Drawing on rigorous research and sound evidence, the Report discusses the key food policy developments that have contributed to or hindered progress in food and nutrition security and highlights emerging developments in 2013.

Visit the interactive version of the report.
Learn about the book launch through IFPRI's press page.

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Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) of Ethiopia — Baseline report 2011

Posted on March 14, 2013 by ilamoot

Download the new ESSP II – EDRI Report Agricultural Growth Program (AGP) of Ethiopia — Baseline report 2011 (6MB) by Guush Berhane, Mekdim Dereje, John Hoddinott, Bethelehem Koru, Fantu Nisrane, Fanaye Tadesse, Alemayehu Seyoum Taffesse, Ibrahim Worku, and Yisehac Yohannes.

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