Abstract

Integration of trees into land use practices is an old-aged experience of smallholder farmers in Southwest Ethiopia. The contribution of this practice is much undermined. The objective of this study was to assess socio-economic contributions of agroforestry system to smallholder farmers around Jimma town, Southwest Ethiopia. A total of 199 households were proportionally sampled from the three selected sites (Mazora, Waro kolobo, and Merawa). A semi-structured questionnaire was used to collect data from sampled households. Data collected were analyzed using descriptive statistics and an econometric model. The results show that tree-based agroforestry, land-use practice is an integral part of smallholder farmers’ livelihoods in the study sites, and furthermore a tree has socio-economic benefits. An average household income from trees was estimated to be 2592, 4652 and 1922 ETB in Mazora, Waro kolobo, and Merawa sites, respectively. Smallholder farmers appreciated trees more importantly from the socio-economic points of view in home garden, pasture land and woodlot, across sites. Education level, tree planting experience, and major livelihood positively and significantly influenced income derived from tree products, while livestock possession was negatively and significantly affecting income in the study sites. In general, tree-based agroforestry land use practice is the most crucial for improving smallholder farmer’s livelihoods. Therefore, tree-based agroforestry land use practice should be encouraged in the study sites.

Key words: Agroforestry system, income, livelihoods, socio-economic.