Abstract:
Eucalyptus plantations in the form of woodlot has become common practice by smallholder
farmers in the highlands of Amhara region. Currently, smallholder households establish
Eucalyptus woodlot as component of livelihood improvement even by converting their cropland
to meet cash income and wood demand. Despite this expansion, the influence of Eucalyptus
woodlot on food security, factors that influence this expansion and the role of woodlot
production on income of the household is not adequately studied and understood. This study
investigates the role of Eucalyptus woodlot expansion on livelihood of rural households and its
influence on their food security status. The study was conducted in North Mecha district, where
there is extensive expansion of Eucalyptus woodlots. Both qualitative and quantitative data
were collected from primary and secondary data sources. Multistage sampling technique was
employed to select 150 sample respondent households from three selected kebeles. Moreover,
key informant interviews (12), focus group discussion (6 per study Kebeles), were applied. Both
qualitative and quantitative analyses including descriptive statistics and multiple linear
regression model were applied for data analysis. The result of the study revealed, there is an
intensive Eucalyptus woodlot expansion in the study area. Respondents owned an average
woodlot size of 0.58 ha that is by 0.15 ha higher than average land allocated for food crop.
Land to be further allocated for Eucalyptus woodlot positively and significantly influenced by
land size, influence of neighbor, participating in training and size of educating members in the
household. The result of the study also revealed that, Eucalyptus woodlot play a great role in
stabilizing farmers’ livelihood income. It contributes about 31.2% of total annual household
income in the study area. Income obtained from Eucalyptus play indispensable role in
improving of rural households. About 96.7% of respondents cover their costs for medical and
health care from Eucalyptus woodlot extra income. Furthermore, the income earned from
woodlot product enabled households to spend on important assets such education, Ikub,
Mahber, paying of credit, farm inputs, buying of food crops, capital assets and to start small
business. In addition, respondents used Eucalyptus income as a supplement to meet their food
preference. But households explained their great fear for future food security status. The study
suggested that, farmers should not allocate all their agricultural land for Eucalyptus woodlot.
Government bodies and policy makers should made scientific based land use intervention in
the study area. Furthermore, further study should be investigated on impact of Eucalyptus
woodlot production on households' food security status by taking of time series data
