Quarterly Journal of International Agriculture No. 2/10
Driving forces in the expansion of enclosure among pastoral and agropastoral herders in Ethiopia
Fekadu Beyene
Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia
Abstract
The paper analyses factors influencing rangeland enclosure practices among
groups of herders in eastern Ethiopia. The study employed logistic and
linear regressions to identify the determinants. Linear regression results
show that the labor endowment of a household has a positive influence on
households’ decision to enclose. Greater network density and membership in
different social organizations produce disincentives. Livestock ownership
and membership as a resident in a village have a positive effect on the area
fenced. The logit model shows that wealth and ownership of private water
points positively determine range enclosure. However, there is no positive
linear relationship between labor endowment and area fenced. In addition,
land allocated to crop farming has a negative influence, rejecting the
hypothesis that herders’ intention is primarily to cultivate the enclosed
land.
Keywords: enclosure, property rights, rangeland, herders
JEL: P48, Q15
Vol. 49 (2010), No. 2: 127-146