Food aid impact on peasant household behaviour in northern highland of ethiopia -: A case study in Tenta district

In relation to the behaviour of peasant households food aid is often assessed through measuring its effects on the major income generating and coping mechanisms. To analyse this, primary data were collected by a household survey. interviews of experts, and group discussions with peasants in the Tenta district (Northern Ethiopia), an area with a high food deficit especially due to unpredictable, erratic rainfalls. An attempt was also made to investigate different household factors that determine participation in food-for-work and free food distribution programmes. The results show that the regular farm operations had not changed significantly as a result of food for work programme even though a slight decrease of cultivated land and labour input was able to be observed for a limited number of participants. An increased input of fertilizer and other production means is named as one positive aspect of food aid by some interviewees. Participation in food-for-work-and free food distribution did not seem to be targeted based on household income and assets. Socio-demographic factors such as age and marital status of the household head affected the chance of participation in both types of programmes. Households were more likely to receive free food in the survey year if they had participated in this programme during the four previous years. This could lead to a chronic dependence on free food distribution and to changes in the peasant household behaviour in the long run.