Impact of feed shortages on livestock and crop production in Ethiopia: implications for rural poverty reduction.

The article focuses on quantifying the economic impacts of livestock feed shortages on smallholder farmers in Ethiopia, examining effects on livestock deaths, production expenses, crop production, and poverty. Using panel data from 5,725 households across four Ethiopian regions and employing an instrumental variable approach, the study finds that feed shortages increase the value of livestock deaths by about 14%, raise livestock production expenses by 77%, and reduce crop production value by approximately 4%. These feed shortages also elevate the likelihood of livestock diseases and reduce investment in modern agricultural inputs, contributing to economic losses that could lift 2.57% of affected households out of poverty if mitigated. The findings highlight the need for sustainable policy interventions to address feed shortages, given their significant negative effects on rural livelihoods and poverty reduction efforts in sub-Saharan Africa.