participation in policy processes in Ethiopia

Agriculture is the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, providing food, industrial raw materials and 90 % of foreign exchange earnings, while accounting for about half the country’s GDP (Croppenstedt and Muller, 2000). The agricultural sector is also the main source of employment and income for most of the rural population (Ibid, Shiferaw 1994). The current development strategy in Ethiopia, known as Agricultural Development Led Industrialisation, is largely based on expanding agricultural production. However, it has to operate within a variety of natural, economic and social constraints, including soil erosion, land degradation, deforestation, overgrazing, and recurrent droughts (Kebede, 1993). Small-scale farmers in Ethiopia use a number of soil fertility management strategies to improve production (Eyasu, 1998; Data, 1998; Eyasu and Daniel, 2000). Although the success or failure of these practices is often closely related to government policy, most policies are developed by a small group of politicians and civil servants, with little room for public debate. However, attempts are under way to involve more stakeholders in policymaking, and it is hoped that by including farmers in the process it will be possibl