Abstract:
Peasants being the dominant part of the Ethiopian population were not a major issue of
historical study until the last three decades.The main intention of the study is to reconstruct the
socio-economic condition of peasants in Dämbäça wäräda during the darg period (1974-
1991).The study gives socio-economic issues a lion share giving less emphasis to political
history.The socio-economic condition of peasants during the last two quarter of the 20thc. was
not a concern for anyone of historical researcher in Dämbäça wäräda.So reconstructing the
respective history had a paramount importance for the further historical study and narrow the
information gap.Accordinglly, as the study covers the darg period (1974-1991),the different
programs of the darg like land tenure reform,producers’cooperatves,service cooperatives,
literacy campaign, villagiazation and afforestation inlight with the socio-economic effects upon
the peasant’s life had been given due emphasis.Then the different socio-econonomic condition of
peasants with respect to economic activites, social practices such as idder, mahbär, marriage as
well as belief systems are pointed out:socio -economic problems(famine,disease,migration)
prevailed among the society in the wäräda under study are pointed out. To authenticate the
sources intensive interviews had been made with different personalities.Historical sources about
Dämbäça wäräda had also been validated in Däbrä Marqos Archival Center.In addition I have
personal exposure with the condition of peasants in Dämbäça wäräda that helped me to reveal
the socio-economic condition of peasants on the ground.Before 1974 the peasants of Dämbäça
wäräda suffered socio-economic exploaitations.With the coming of Derg government, almost all
peasants of Dämbäça wäräda were made owners of farmland;peasants became free from the
socio-economic exploaitation of nobilities.The Derg socialism philosophy fosters socio economic equality of peasants in Dämbäça wäräda.Hence the plight of peasants seemed to be
mitigated.Some programs of darg like literacy campaign,land reform and service cooperatives
achieved success in Dämbäça wäräda while some other programs like villagization,national
military service and producers’ cooperatives faced mounting opposions.As aresult,the socio economic condition of peasants became stagnant as well as poverity,migration and hun