Challenges of Sustainable Land Management in Highland Ethiopia. The case of the Foothills of Entoto Mountain
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Date
2009-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Land degradation in the form of soil erosion is the most constraining factor of agriculture in the
foothills of Entoto Mountain. It is increasingly understood that sustainable land management
(SLM) is required, not only to balance land for food and nature, but also to unlock paths to
sustainable development. However, several challenges impede its success fit! promotion. Thus,
identification of these challenges is of paramount importance. Therefore, this study was aimed to
jill this gap by investigating challenges of SLM in terms of the perception of farmers on the
problem and causes of soil erosion; constraints of the existing SLM practices; and bio-physical,
socia-economic and institutional challenges of promoting successfid SLM
To achieve these objectives, personal interview of 108 households was condue/ed in the selected
sLt peasants 'gats' at the foothills of Entoto Mountain using structured questions. Proportional
sill1ple random sampling technique was used to select the households. In addition, jield
observation, focus group discussion and key informant interview were conducted. Descriptive
statistics were employedfor data analysis inline with the objectives of the study.
The result discloses that farmers have good perception of the problem of soil erosion. But their
perception on the extent/severity of soil erosion is lirnited to visual authentication such as gullies
and gives more emphaSiS to long time than shari term indicators. Farmers' perception of
population growth as a cause of soil erosion is also hardly longed-for. As most femners have a
good perception of controlling soil erosion, they use contour plowing, traditional terraces,
traditional waterways, traditional ditches, unplowed strips, traditional check dallls, and
plantations. Moreover, manure, composting and fertilization are used to augment production.
However, the existing practices are not effectively applied to control soil erosion due to varimls
constraints of the technologies such as land shortage, labor shortage, rodents, conflict, erosion
risk, lock of knowledge, high opportunity cost, loll' durability, high cost, and materials.
Derived , by bio-physical, socia-economic and institutional forces: heavy run-off; Fee and
unregulated grazing, cereal mono-cropping, prevalence of production oriented land use changes,
engagement in non-sustainable off-farm income diversification activities such as sale of stone, filel
\vood and dung cake, tenure insecurity, strategic problems, low resource endowment, and /Oll'
credit and extension services constrained the promotion of success fit! SLM by distressing the level
of investment households commit to SLMpractices.
The study suggests the follOWing implications which help to meet the challenges of sustainable
7a)Jd management in the foothills of Entoto Mountain. Extensive farmers ' education for beller
elucidation of land degradation processes and I'nanagement; technical support tofarmers toward,'
integration, design and specifications of SLM practices; non-politically demarcated integrated
watershed management; introduction of modern SLM practices which have ecological and
economical effectiveness; literacy campaign and family planning; environmental Fiendly ojj-jimn
opportunities; environmentally Fiendly alternative sources of energy; long-term lease tenure;
integrated credit and extension services; and policies and strategies that coordinate and make
strong both rural and urban systems.
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Keywords
Management in Highland Ethiopia