Seminar paper from the year 2024 in the subject Politics - Region: Africa, Addis Ababa University (Department of Public Administration and Development Management), course: Public Policy Concepts and Principles, language: English, abstract: Ethiopia's economy is heavily reliant on agriculture, with approximately 85% of the total employment located in the agricultural sector. Rural land is a crucial source of income and plays a significant role in providing food for the population. However, Ethiopia has faced persistent food insecurity, especially in rural areas, due to factors such as small landholdings, land degradation, and the impact of climate change and drought.

This paper examines the significance of rural land use in Ethiopia, the importance of understanding land use patterns and trends, and the key drivers of rural land use changes. It provides a background on Ethiopia's rural landscape, the historical context of land tenure and management systems, and the patterns and trends in rural land use. The paper highlights the key drivers of rural land use changes, including population growth and urbanization, agricultural modernization and commercialization, infrastructure development, environmental factors, and government policies and programs. It also discusses the impacts of these land use changes, such as effects on food security and rural livelihoods, implications for natural resource management and biodiversity, and social and economic disparities between different rural communities. The paper concludes by discussing policy responses and interventions, including land tenure reforms, agricultural development strategies, and environmental protection and natural resource management initiatives. It also identifies challenges and limitations of current policy approaches and provides recommendations for addressing the complex landscape of rural land use in Ethiopia.