TEFF production and distribution : implications for rural livelihoods in Ethiopia

Abstract

Teff (Eragrostis teff) is the most important cereal crop in terms of both production and consumption in Ethiopia. About 6.7 million smallholder farmers have been engaged in Teff production, covering more than 3 million ha of land and producing 52.8 million quintals of Teff crops. On the consumption side, Teff is a daily staple food crop for more than 50 million Ethiopians. The main aim of the study is to examine Teff production and distribution at the national levels and analyze its implications to the livelihood of the smallholder farmers in Ethiopia. The study employed cross sectional survey design with a mixed approach. The sampling design used was multistage sampling. Literature review, household surveys, focus group discussions and key informant interviews were employed. A total of 248 survey respondents, 84 FGD participants and 25 key informants were involved in the study. The data were analyzed both qualitatively and quantitatively. The research result indicates that the productivity of Teff has been i