Resettlement as a Strategy for Food Security: The

Comparative Study of Amhara and SNNP Resettlement Program in

Ethiopia.
Kassa Teshager Alemu (MA)
(Masters in Local and Regional Development)
Lecturer in Ethiopian Civil Service College
Email: ktshager@yahoo.com
Telephone: +251911346214

Terefe Zeleke Abebe (MA)

(MA in Regional and Local Development Studies)
Lecturer in Ethiopian Civil Service College
Email: terefezk2@yahoo.com
Telephone: +251912139720

1. Background of the Study

This study is about migration as a strategy for food security in the context of government initiated
resettlement program. Ethiopia has been facing a series of food shortages.  In addressing this
problem, the country has developed and been exercising arrays of development polices and
strategies, among which, resettlement is the one to be mentioned. Resettlement is identified and
started long ago as one of the key and quickest ways to achieve food security in a short- and medium-
terms. The first government sponsored resettlement took place during the imperial period.  The
second massive resettlement condemned by many authors, took place during the Derg regime.  This
resettlement was said to have claimed the life of thousands and was a dark spot in the history of the
country. The current government started the third state-sponsored program.  The current government
considered resettlement as the cheapest and viable solution to the problems of food insecurity on the
basis of (a) availability of land in receiving areas, (b) labor force of the resettlers, and (c) easing
pressure of space for those remaining behind. The operational approach is noted to be intra-regional,
voluntary, self-help, and iterative without imposition from above and no quota system at all.

Resettlement implies migration, or the act of moving. Migrating, or moving affects people’s food
security in different ways. Resettlement also implies migration controlled by the state, and hence,
state policies. Those policies affect people’s situation in different ways too. To study a specific
resettlement program therefore provides the opportunity to study aspects of migration in relation to
food security in general. Furthermore it gives the opportunity to explore how this specific program
and its policies affect people’s food security alternatives.
The resettlement program is supposed to improve people’s livelihoods and especially their level of
food security by providing them with amongst other things, but most importantly, access to farmland.
Migration is also increasingly seen in development theory as an important livelihood strategy for
poor people, and a strategy that should be encouraged rather than discouraged (de Haan 2000).
Therefore, a government program that encourages migration and provides people with better
opportunities for food security improvement could be perceived as a good initiative.
However, implementing state-sponsored resettlement schemes is inherently complex. Experience in
Ethiopia, elsewhere in Africa, and the world over show the fact that things often go so wrong in
resettlement operations unless managed with meticulous care (Abbute 2003). Hasty execution of the
resettlement might have humanitarian and ecological consequences. The ecology of the receiving
areas could be adversely affected by the scheme. The population density both by the resettlers and
possible influx of later voluntary immigrants will increase pressure on the carrying capacity of the
land under the hosts’ traditional systems of resource use. The inevitable clearing of forest for farming
fields, settlements, construction, infrastructure, and fuel wood will affect the natural environment.
Unless carefully planned, the scheme will extinguish the flora and the fauna and will accelerate soil
erosion and hence deplete the ecology.

These concerns made it relevant to study the resettlement program. Little research has been done yet,
and we thought it important to try to get a general impression of the opportunities and constraints that
exists in the resettlement area. Other researchers have mentioned the need for more information
about this new resettlement program to be able to have an opinion of the usefulness of the program
(Rahmato 2003).
More generally, it is of interest to examine the links between migration and food security to better
understand 1) how and why people migrate, 2) how migration affects people’s food security, and 3)
how policies on resettlement /planned migration/ can limit or increase people’s choices or alter their
access to assets; (4) perceptions of resettlers and hosts about their environment and resource use (5)
preparations in the receiving areas such as environmental feasibility studies and awareness raising;
and (6) possible potentials and constraints of the program as a food security strategy . Since the
voluntary resettlement program is new and little research has been done on it, for us it also become
attractive to study it.

2. Objectives and research questions

The overall aim of the study is to investigate on how government initiated migration is affecting
settlers’ food security and the environment in order to contribute to the theoretical debate between
food security and planned migration/resettlement and come up with relevant policy input towards
food security strategies. We have four specific objectives to explore this overall aim, and for each
objective we have put forth research questions to specify our focus.
1. To investigate the rationale behind the resettlement program, and how it is
planned and implemented in Ethiopia.
 How does the resettlement program in the selected regions fit in with food security
strategies?
 What are the main push-pull factors for migration?
 Who are the actors involved in the resettlement program?
 What kind of preparations and pre-feasibility studies has been done before the program
started?
  How has the program been implemented practically and administratively?

2. To assess migrants opinion about the resettlement program and the effects of
migration on households.
 Why do people decide to migrate?
 Do people perceive the program as voluntary?
 How resettlers socially and economically integrated with host community and also
among themselves?
 Who are the beneficiaries of the resettlement programs in the selected regions?

3. To assess to what extent settlers ensure their food security and get
access to assets in the resettlement areas.
 How has the resettlement program helped settlers to increase the agricultural yields that
contribute to food availability?
 What are the main income sources to settlers that enhance their food access in the area?
 What asset building strategies are possessing in the area to reduce food security shocks?
 What is the food utilization situation of settlers in the area?
 What are the coping strategies of settlers during adverse circumstances?
4. To evaluate the resettlement program whether it addresses environmental
concerns and brings significant environmental change in settlement sites.
 To what extent the resettlement policies and programs in Ethiopia attempted to include
environmental issues for sustainable food security?
 How the resettlers and host community protect the environment and what environmental
changes are observed in the settlement sites?

3. Research Methodology
a) The Research Process
This research involves three steps. The first step reviews the literature on migration and Food
security, policies and strategies, and technical data relevant in the country and outside the
country. For this purpose, secondary data will be obtained from books, journals, articles, policy
documents, activity reports, and study reports, etc.

The second and the major component of the research is a comparative survey of settler
households in the two selected regions (Amhara and SNNP) to solicit a wide variety of
information about their access to different assets, different food security strategies, how they
manage the environmental issue, etc. For this purpose structured questionnaire will be
prepared based on the analytical framework of resettlement and food security we formulated for
this research.

The third part of the research is a survey of opinion of professionals, experts,

development/extension agents, politicians, and other stakeholders from private and civil society
groups. The survey will include individuals who are considered to have important contribution in
the area and who are involved in the development of the sector in various forms including
making policies. For this purpose semi-structured interview will be prepared.

b) Sampling Framework
Given the available resources, the capacity of the researchers, and the importance of diversifying
sample sizes, representative sample from settlers in the two regions will be selected based on
stratified random sampling framework where agro-ecology, non-agro-ecological factors
(population density, access to market, farming system) and period of resettlement will be taken
as strata from which sample sites and settler households are randomly selected. However, for
opinion survey, samples will be taken purposively from different stakeholders at micro, meso
and macro levels.

c) Data Analysis
Both qualitative and quantitative statistical analysis techniques will be employed to see to
what extent and how resettlement program ensure food security of settlers in the two selected
regions. Based on these analyses efforts will be made to draw relevant implications of the
existing resettlement program on ensuring food security in Ethiopia.

4. Conceptual and Analytical Framework

The following analytical framework indicates that, resettlement program, if managed and
implemented properly, will give the opportunity to settlers to own different kinds of assets which
stimulate their engagement to agricultural and/or non-agricultural activities. This will have direct
impact on the pillars of food security (food availability, food access, food utilization, and shock
reduction) and in turn, this leads to sustainable food security.
The food security program (FSP) that devotes sufficient attention and funds for strengthening
asset accumulation, preservation, alternative sources of income, and access to market at the
household level can appropriately address the critical facets of household livelihood security in
low resource areas (Yared,2001). Appropriately designed and implemented livelihood strategies
and intervention can build four pillars of sustainable food security such as food availability, food
access, food use and decline in vulnerability to shocks for helping the household heads toward
sustainable food security.

Sustainable food security is based on the following four pillars which can be achieved through
properly implemented resettlement program (FSCB, 2004):

 Food availability: This can be attained by improving the rural food production especially
by small scale farmers through increased on-farm, cash crops, livestock production and
productivity, investing in rural markets, enhancing income and other entitlements to food,
investing in rural infrastructure, resource rehabilitation and conservation. According to
Sadoulet and Janvry (2005), cited in Nichola (2006), food availability is estimated as a
given percentage of production.
  Food access: This can be improved through increased income from cash crops,
strengthening labour markets, ensuring access to land, enhancing access to assets, re-
establishing rural institutions, reviving rural financial systems, social rehabilitation
programs, livestock sales and off-farm income generating activities.
 Food utilization: This is a way the body makes the most of various in nutrients in the
food. It also refers to sufficient energy and nutrient intake by individuals through good care
and feeding practices, food preparation, and diversity of the diet and intra-household
distribution of food. It can also be improved through health and nutrition intervention.
 Decline in vulnerability to shocks/ stability: through asset protection/promotion through
help of off-farm activities, reviving access to credit system and saving mechanisms,
monitoring food security and vulnerability and diversifying agricultural activities and
employment.

According to FSCB (2004), the above four sustainable food security pillars that promote
sustainable food security might exist with the integration of the following two interdependent food
security strategies/interventions:

a) Resettlement program: The resettlement program, which is based on sound planning and
implementation, is one of the food security strategies that can support the pillars with the selected
outputs. Some of the outputs related with resettlement program are information shared with
resettlers and host communities, sites selected appropriately, household heads identified and
resettled, land provided and support given for cropping and gardening, livestock production
supported and oxen provided for ploughing, social services established and made functional,
environmental protection assured and monitored, etc (Ibid).

b) Asset building/ protection: This intervention is based on giving support for cropping
through distribution of fertilizers, varieties of better seeds and supporting livestock production
improvement. In addition, developing water resource and installing irrigation system, introducing
opportunities for credit and savings, promoting off-farm income generation through handicrafts,
petty trade by creating market links, enhancing family planning service to manage population
growth and supplying maternal and children nutrition and training households on diet intake
practices, etc.(ibid).

Thus, the following diagram clearly shows the integration among the components of food
security program for enhancing the four pillars that sustain food security.
 fo o d S e c u r ity
S u sta in a b le
Pillars of Food Security
Resettlement • Food availability
Program • Food access
• Agriculture • Food utilization
• Off farm • Shock reduction
• Non farm
activities

Asset Building/protection
• Improved livestock and crop production
• Access to financial service
• Small scale irrigation and water harvesting
• Natural resource development
• social services (education, health, etc)
• Market linkage and information
dissemination

Figure 1: Analytical Framework on resettlement and food security

5. Tentative work plan and Budget schedule

Work plan

Proposal development April 15- May 15, 2011

Proposal submission May 15, 2011
Review of literature August 1-30, 2011
Data collection Sept 1 – Nov 30, 2011
Analysis and interpretation Dec 1- 30 , 2011
Summary of findings Jan 1-15, 2012
Conclusion and recommendation Jan 15-20, 2012
First draft Jan 20- 30, 2012
Final Submission Jan 31, 2012
 Budget breakdown
Description Quantity Unit Cost Total cost
in $ in $

Stationery and related services

6 packs CAD $ 10 CAD $ 60
 Paper
40 pieces CAD $ 0.8 CAD $ 32
 Pen
 Photocopy 400 page CAD $ 0.3 CAD $ 120
 Printing 300pages CAD $ 0.6 CAD $ 180
 Binding 4 units CAD $ 6 CAD $ 24
 Writing pad 6 units CAD $ 5 CAD $ 30

Researcher cost
 Transport cost 2 trips * 2 CAD $ 60 CAD $ 240
 Food /tea/coffee/bed 50 days* 2 CAD $ 30 CAD $ 3000
 Telephone cost 4 cards *2 CAD $ 15 CAD $ 120
 Internet
200hrs * 2 CAD $ 0.5 CAD $ 200
 Flash disc
 Bag 2 pieces * CAD $ 50 CAD $ 200
2 CAD $ 30 CAD $ 60
1 unit * 2

Data collectors payment

 Collectors allowance( 15 10 * 20 days CAD $ 10/d CAD $ 2000
collectors) 10 * 2 days CAD $ 10/d CAD $ 200
 Enumerators training 10 * 20 days CAD $ 5/day CAD $ 1000
 Transport cost

Secretarial work(service)
 Typing (paper)
 Questionnaire 70 pages * 3 CAD $ 1/p CAD $ 210
8 pages * 500 CAD $0.25/p CAD $ 1000
Total = CAD $ 4799

References
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C.J, Barrow (1997). Environmental and social impact assessment, an introduction, center for
development studies, university of Wales Swansea
Carney, D. (2002). Sustainable Livelihood Approaches: Progress and Possibilities for Change.
London, Department for International Development.
Ellis, F. (2000). Rural Livelihoods and Diversity in Developing Countries. Oxford, Oxford
University Press.
EPA (2003). EIA procedural guidelines series No 1, Addis Ababa.
FAO (1988). Environmental guideline for resettlement projects in the humid tropics.
Environment and energy paper No 9 Rome, Italy
FDRE Negarit Gazeta 2002, Environmental Impact Assessment proclamation number
1999/2002, Addis Ababa.
Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) & Ministry of Finance and Economic
Development (MOFED). (2002). Ethiopia: Sustainable Development and Poverty
Reduction Program.
FSCB. (2004).The New Coalition for Food Security in Ethiopia, Food Security Program:
Monitoring and Evaluation Plan. Addis Ababa.
Nichola, T. (2006). The Food Security Problem in Ethiopia: A Supply Side Analysis. South
African Journal of Economics. Vol. 74: P2.
Rahmato, D. (2003). Resettlement in Ethiopia The tragedy of Population Relocation in the
1980s. FSS Discusion Paper No.11. Addis Ababa, Forum for Social Studies.
Yared, A. (2001). (ed), Livelihood strategies and food security policy in Ethiopia. In:
Proceedings of the Symposium of the Forum for Social Studies: Food security and
sustainable livelihoods in Ethiopia. Addis Ababa.