Abstract

This study was undertaken to empirically evaluate the impact of a controversial alien species called Prosopis juliflora invasion on the livelihood of agropastoral households selected from rural Dire Dawa Administration of Ethiopia. One hundred and fifty five respondents were randomly drawn from both invaded and non-invaded rural areas of the Administration with similar pre-invasion characteristics. The major analytical concern of the study is to estimate the impact of P. juliflora invasion on agropastoral households’ farm income using propensity score matching technique. After controlling for differences in demographic, socioeconomic and institutional characteristics of the sampled households, it was found that, on average, invasion by P. juliflorahas significantly decreased annual income of the agropastoral households from livestock and their products sale by 780.74 Birr (28.82%) and increased average annual income from crop sale by 839.31 Birr (25.85%) though not statistically significant. Based on these results, the study recommends efficient use and/or eradication of P. juliflora to reverse its adverse effects on the agropastoral households in Dire Dawa Administration.

Key words: Prosopis juliflora, invasive alien, agro-pastoralists, propensity score matching (PSM), Dire Dawa Administration.