The Impact of Off-farm Activities on Rural Household Income in Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

摘要

This study presents an empirical analysis of the impact of participation in off-farm activities on household income level in Wolaita zone, southern Ethiopia. The impact of participation in off-farm activities on household income was estimated by using Heckman two-step model. The results of Heckman's two-step model indicated that participation in off-farm activities has a significant impact on annual income of the households. Moreover, the study identified the factors that affect participation of households in off -farm activities. Consequently, the probit model result revealed that age of the household head, sex of the household head, marital status, distance to the nearest market, agro-ecological zone, credit access, livestock ownership, the amount of farm income, and having mobile phone were key factors that influence participation of households in off-farm activities. With regard to results of Heckman's two-step model, the participation in off-farm activities, education level of the household head, and agro-ecological zone were found to be the main factors that affect households' total income level. The positive and significant effect of off-farm activities on total income of the rural households calls for policy measures in order to pave the way to expand off-farm activities so as to bring a substantial contribution to the living standard of the rural society.