Livestock water productivity in the Blue Nile Basin: assessment of farm scale heterogeneity

摘要: A recent study of the livestock water productivity (LWP), at higher spatial scales in Blue Nile Basin, indicated strong variability across regions. To get an insight into causes this variability, we examined effect farm households’ access to productive resources (e.g. land, livestock) on LWP potato–barley, barley–wheat, teff–millet and rice farming systems Gumera watershed (in Ethiopia). We randomly selected 180 households. The sizes samples, each system, were proportional respective system’s area. Then grouped using a participatory wealth ranking method, three groups (rich, medium poor) used structured pre-tested questionnaires collect data crops management applied reference evapotranspiration (ET0) crop coefficient (Kc) approaches estimate depleted (evapotranspiration) producing animal feed food crops. Then, estimated as ratio livestock’s beneficial outputs depleted. Our results suggest different systems: ranging between 0.3 0.6 US$ m−3 year−1. tendency was comparable with from previous studies scales. range among wider (0.1 year−1) than systems. This implies that aggregating (to system scale) masks hotspots bright spots. result also revealed positive trend (LWP productivity, CWP) resources. Thus, discuss our findings relation poverty alleviation integrated land combat unsustainable practices Basin.