Economic analysis of crop-livestock integration: The case of the Ethiopian highlands

Abstract

This study is concerned with the impact of crop-livestock integration on food production and farm incomes in highland farming systems in Ethiopia. Structural food deficits and rural poverty are important household and economy-wide problems. The study uses empirical data that were obtained from 900 rural households in 23 villages in the low potential cereal livestock agro-ecological zone of the Ethiopian highlands. Using stratified random sampling, data were collected through direct measurements, structured formal questionnaires, field observations, group interviews and from secondary sources. Statistical techniques (e.g., principal components) and whole-farm linear programming have been applied to complete the analysis.