Explore Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Diversification Strategies among Rural Farm Households in Buno Bedele and Ilu Ababor Zones of SouthwesternOromia Regional States, Ethiopia

Explore Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Diversification Strategies among Rural Farm Households in Buno Bedele and Ilu Ababor Zones of SouthwesternOromia Regional States, Ethiopia | Research Square window.SnipcartSettings = { analytics: { enabled: false } }; (function() { var accessVector = localStorage.getItem('access_vector') || ''; window.dataLayer = window.dataLayer || []; if (accessVector) { window.dataLayer.push({ user: { profile: { profileInfo: { snid: accessVector } } } }); } })(); (function(w,d,s,l,i){w[l]=w[l]||[];w[l].push({'gtm.start':new Date().getTime(),event:'gtm.js'});var f=d.getElementsByTagName(s)[0],j=d.createElement(s),dl=l!='dataLayer'?'&l='+l:'';j.async=true;j.src='https://www.googletagmanager.com/gtm.js?id='+i+dl;f.parentNode.insertBefore(j,f);})(window,document,'script','dataLayer','GTM-K279D39R'); Browse Preprints In Review Journals COVID-19 Preprints AJE Video Bytes Research Tools Research Promotion AJE Professional Editing AJE Rubriq About Preprint Platform In Review Editorial Policies Our Team Advisory Board Help Center Sign In Submit a Preprint Cite Share Download PDF Research Article Explore Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Diversification Strategies among Rural Farm Households in Buno Bedele and Ilu Ababor Zones of SouthwesternOromia Regional States, Ethiopia Terefe Megersa, Teferi Tolera, Reta Hailu This is a preprint; it has not been peer reviewed by a journal. https://doi.org/ 10.21203/rs.3.rs-8647126/v1 This work is licensed under a CC BY 4.0 License Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Abstract Livelihood diversification is a crucial adaptive strategy for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, where approximately 80% depend on rain-fed agriculture. However, livelihood diversification is determined by complex and yet empirically untested factors in selected districts of Buno bedele and IluAbabor Zones. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the determinants of livelihood diversification strategies in the study area a sequential mixed-methods approach was employed in regions selected for their agricultural potential and evolving irrigation practices. Data was gathered from 353 households using purposive and systematic random sampling, along with structured surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model, categorizing the dependent variable into four livelihood strategies: (1) only Agricultural activities; (2) Agriculture activities & Off-farm activities; (3) Agriculture activities with Non-farm activities; and (4) an integrated approach (Agriculture activities + Non-farm + Off-farm). Qualitative data were thematically analyzed to contextualize quantitative findings. The analysis revealed that 70% of households engaged in diversification, but only 14.4% pursued fully integrated strategies, highlighting significant gender disparities (87% male respondents). Key econometric results indicated that access to credit (Coeff. = 1.1767, p < 0.001) and market proximity (Coeff. = 0.1064, p = 0.024) were significant determinants of diversification. Policy should shift from individual capacity-building to addressing structural barriers, focusing on financial access, rural infrastructure, and gender-sensitive programs to empower women. In general, fostering partnerships with local organizations can amplify the impact of these initiatives, and implementing training programs for skills development will further strengthen diversification efforts. Agriculture activities Agriculture + off-farm Agriculture + Non-farm Agriculture + Non-farm + Off-farm Livelihood diversification smallholder farmers Full Text Additional Declarations No competing interests reported. Cite Share Download PDF Status: Posted Version 1 posted You are reading this latest preprint version Research Square lets you share your work early, gain feedback from the community, and start making changes to your manuscript prior to peer review in a journal. As a division of Research Square Company, we’re committed to making research communication faster, fairer, and more useful. We do this by developing innovative software and high quality services for the global research community. Our growing team is made up of researchers and industry professionals working together to solve the most critical problems facing scientific publishing. Also discoverable on Platform About Our Team In Review Editorial Policies Advisory Board Help Center Resources Author Services Accessibility API Access RSS feed Manage Cookie Preferences © Research Square 2026 | ISSN 2693-5015 (online) Privacy Policy Terms of Service Do Not Sell My Personal Information {"props":{"pageProps":{"initialData":{"identity":"rs-8647126","acceptedTermsAndConditions":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"archivedVersions":[],"articleType":"Research Article","associatedPublications":[],"authors":[{"id":580022594,"identity":"829666f1-2dae-46da-999a-f55dcef43ef0","order_by":0,"name":"Terefe Megersa","email":"data:image/png;base64,iVBORw0KGgoAAAANSUhEUgAAAZAAAAAyAQMAAABI0h/eAAAABlBMVEX///8AAABVwtN+AAAACXBIWXMAAA7EAAAOxAGVKw4bAAABDElEQVRIiWNgGAWjYLCCChiD8V+NHIg+8ACPah4QcQbOZTtmDNaSQIIW5sQGEI1Piz1778MHByq2ycm79z7+8IOHLX1+2OGHQFvs5HQbcNjCc9zY4MCZ28aGZ46bSfZIyORuvJ1mANSSbGx2AIcWiTQ26Y9ttxM3zkhjY+AxYMvdODsBpOVA4jZcWuSfsf84+O92/cb5z5g//klgTjecnf4BvxYJNjaGgw23E+Ql2BikeQ4wJ8hL5xCw5Uwas8SBY7cNN/AAXSjbcMxwg3ROwYEEA9x+YW8/xvjhQM1tefn2Y8wf3zbUyMvPTt/84UOFnRwuLXBgcACFYUBAOQjIN6AzRsEoGAWjYBRAAQBunmNKNs/9kQAAAABJRU5ErkJggg==","orcid":"","institution":"University of Jimma","correspondingAuthor":true,"prefix":"","firstName":"Terefe","middleName":"","lastName":"Megersa","suffix":""},{"id":580022595,"identity":"b6538013-09b6-44cf-8740-4e716acc528f","order_by":1,"name":"Teferi Tolera","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Jimma University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Teferi","middleName":"","lastName":"Tolera","suffix":""},{"id":580022596,"identity":"d4799a99-e32f-471f-8082-ac135065e356","order_by":2,"name":"Reta Hailu","email":"","orcid":"","institution":"Addis Ababa University","correspondingAuthor":false,"prefix":"","firstName":"Reta","middleName":"","lastName":"Hailu","suffix":""}],"badges":[],"createdAt":"2026-01-20 09:09:17","currentVersionCode":1,"declarations":"","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8647126/v1","doiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8647126/v1","draftVersion":[],"editorialEvents":[],"editorialNote":"","failedWorkflow":false,"files":[{"id":101351970,"identity":"8300bb88-7baf-4287-84a2-a3c6757b5f1c","added_by":"auto","created_at":"2026-01-28 18:55:10","extension":"pdf","order_by":1,"title":"","display":"","copyAsset":false,"role":"manuscript-pdf","size":846815,"visible":true,"origin":"","legend":"","description":"","filename":"AuthorDetailedManuscript.pdf","url":"https://assets-eu.researchsquare.com/files/rs-8647126/v1_covered_bef412c5-d1bf-46e5-9103-a91a0f9672f1.pdf"}],"financialInterests":"No competing interests reported.","formattedTitle":"\u003cp\u003eExplore Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Diversification Strategies among Rural Farm Households in Buno Bedele and Ilu Ababor Zones of SouthwesternOromia Regional States, Ethiopia\u003c/p\u003e","fulltext":[],"fulltextSource":"","fullText":"","funders":[],"hasAdminPriorityOnWorkflow":false,"hasManuscriptDocX":false,"hasOptedInToPreprint":true,"hasPassedJournalQc":"","hasAnyPriority":false,"hideJournal":true,"highlight":"","institution":"","isAcceptedByJournal":false,"isAuthorSuppliedPdf":true,"isDeskRejected":"","isHiddenFromSearch":false,"isInQc":false,"isInWorkflow":false,"isPdf":true,"isPdfUpToDate":true,"isWithdrawnOrRetracted":false,"journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true},"keywords":"Agriculture activities, Agriculture + off-farm, Agriculture + Non-farm, Agriculture + Non-farm + Off-farm, Livelihood diversification, smallholder farmers","lastPublishedDoi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8647126/v1","lastPublishedDoiUrl":"https://doi.org/10.21203/rs.3.rs-8647126/v1","license":{"name":"CC BY 4.0","url":"https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/"},"manuscriptAbstract":"\u003cp\u003eLivelihood diversification is a crucial adaptive strategy for smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, where approximately 80% depend on rain-fed agriculture. However, livelihood diversification is determined by complex and yet empirically untested factors in selected districts of Buno bedele and IluAbabor Zones. Thus, the aim of this study is to assess the determinants of livelihood diversification strategies in the study area a sequential mixed-methods approach was employed in regions selected for their agricultural potential and evolving irrigation practices. Data was gathered from 353 households using purposive and systematic random sampling, along with structured surveys, focus group discussions (FGDs), and key informant interviews (KIIs). Quantitative data were analyzed using descriptive statistics and a multinomial logit model, categorizing the dependent variable into four livelihood strategies: (1) only Agricultural activities; (2) Agriculture activities \u0026amp; Off-farm activities; (3) Agriculture activities with Non-farm activities; and (4) an integrated approach (Agriculture activities\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Non-farm\u0026thinsp;+\u0026thinsp;Off-farm). Qualitative data were thematically analyzed to contextualize quantitative findings. The analysis revealed that 70% of households engaged in diversification, but only 14.4% pursued fully integrated strategies, highlighting significant gender disparities (87% male respondents). Key econometric results indicated that access to credit (Coeff. = 1.1767, p\u0026thinsp;\u0026lt;\u0026thinsp;0.001) and market proximity (Coeff. = 0.1064, p\u0026thinsp;=\u0026thinsp;0.024) were significant determinants of diversification. Policy should shift from individual capacity-building to addressing structural barriers, focusing on financial access, rural infrastructure, and gender-sensitive programs to empower women. In general, fostering partnerships with local organizations can amplify the impact of these initiatives, and implementing training programs for skills development will further strengthen diversification efforts.\u003c/p\u003e","manuscriptTitle":"Explore Determinants of Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Diversification Strategies among Rural Farm Households in Buno Bedele and Ilu Ababor Zones of SouthwesternOromia Regional States, Ethiopia","msid":"","msnumber":"","nonDraftVersions":[{"code":1,"date":"2026-01-28 18:54:45","doi":"10.21203/rs.3.rs-8647126/v1","editorialEvents":[{"type":"communityComments","content":0}],"status":"published","journal":{"display":true,"email":"[email protected]","identity":"researchsquare","isNatureJournal":false,"hasQc":true,"allowDirectSubmit":true,"externalIdentity":"","sideBox":"","snPcode":"","submissionUrl":"/submission","title":"Research Square","twitterHandle":"researchsquare","acdcEnabled":true,"dfaEnabled":false,"editorialSystem":"","reportingPortfolio":"","inReviewEnabled":false,"inReviewRevisionsEnabled":true}}],"origin":"","ownerIdentity":"6d2af271-4063-4461-8d15-628f76f67f8e","owner":[],"postedDate":"January 28th, 2026","published":true,"recentEditorialEvents":[],"rejectedJournal":[],"revision":"","amendment":"","status":"posted","subjectAreas":[],"tags":[],"updatedAt":"2026-05-19T08:24:10+00:00","versionOfRecord":[],"versionCreatedAt":"2026-01-28 18:54:45","video":"","vorDoi":"","vorDoiUrl":"","workflowStages":[]},"version":"v1","identity":"rs-8647126","journalConfig":"researchsquare"},"__N_SSP":true},"page":"/article/[identity]/[[...version]]","query":{"redirect":"/article/rs-8647126","identity":"rs-8647126","version":["v1"]},"buildId":"XKTyCvWXoU3ODBz1xrDgd","isFallback":false,"isExperimentalCompile":false,"dynamicIds":[84888],"gssp":true,"scriptLoader":[]}