Forum for Social Studies (FSS)        A New Initiative in Ethiopia  

Ethiopia’s food security challenges are multi-faceted and require a multi-sectoral approach. However, a new study argues, the root cause of the problem is its ‘runaway population growth’. 

The article published on the recent Bulletin of the Forum for Social Studies (FSS) says demographic pressure in combination with aggravating environmental degradation and economic malaise creates ‘a dangerous situation to the health of the country’s citizens.’ 

Ethiopia’s current 72 million population is growing at an estimated rate of nearly 3 percent annually and is expected to reach 100 million within the coming 15 years.  Figures indicate 44 percent of the population is living under the poverty line while 44 million youths, under the age of 24, are already entering their reproductive ages.

 The author, Sahlu Haile, underlines the need to control the population growth, which adds some two million new mouths to feed every year, without which the country could not develop in any significant way. 

 Particularly, the agricultural sector- the mainstay of the national economy- is unable to carry the overrun population growth suffering from widespread erosion, deforestation and loss of nutrients, the researcher says.

 According to recent reports, the current rate of deforestation of over 75,000 hectares per year will be completely deforested the 2.5% forested land in less than 20 years. On the other hand, in the highlands of the country where more than 80% of the population live soil erosions are reaching up to 400 tons hectare per annum causing 20,000 to 30,000 hectares are being abandoned annually.

 Failure to implement the country’s population policy is among the major problems indicated by the author. 'Had the policy been implemented, Ethiopia would have made significant progress in reducing the rate of population growth, as a result increasing its chance to attain food self-sufficiency,' he emphasizes.

 The author underlines the need to expand community based reproductive health programs that combine family planning services with other developmental initiatives that have made significant contraceptive prevalence rates in some parts of Oromiya, Amhara and Southern Region.

 Sahlu Haile is the Country Representative for Ethiopia of the David and Lucile Packard Foundation.

 The Forum for Social Studies is a center for research and debate on development and public policy.