Project

Quantifying resilience of traditional smallholder farming systems and natural resources in the context of conflict and war: A case study of Northern Ethiopia

Code
13V10123
Duration
01 September 2023 → 31 August 2025
Funding
Federal funding: VLIR-UOS
Research disciplines
  • Natural sciences
    • Geomorphology and landscape evolution
    • Remote sensing
    • Surface water hydrology
  • Agricultural and food sciences
    • Farm and rural management
Keywords
land degradation agriculture and environment Food security Soil erosion soil and water conservation Ethiopia
 
Project description

This project focuses on the rural livelihoods in the Tigray region of northern Ethiopia, which heavily relies on small-scale subsistence farming. However, sustainable resource management is hindered by limited resources, capacity, climate disruptions, and change. This leads to low agricultural productivity and high food insecurity. Despite progress over three decades, these gains were disrupted by a two-year war (2020-2022). The project's goal is to assess the resilience of smallholder agricultural systems and natural resources post-conflict. It involves 7 MSc students and 3 MU staff collaborating with 4 UGent researchers. The study will focus on local farming methods, vegetation cover, hydrology, and land degradation. The project aims to revive cooperation between the Geography departments of Ghent and Mekelle Universities, while also building the capacity of stakeholders to address conflict's impacts on farming and resources. Knowledge will be shared with local communities.