Sustainability of Soil and Water Conservation Practices in ](onso Special Woreda.
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Date
2009-07
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The /{onso people of SNNPR have experienced various SWC practices for several
centuries. The practices had enabled the people to obtain yields from hilly and rugged
environment with poor soils and unreliable rainfall. These days, the sustainability of
such practices seems to suffer from a number of problems. The main objective of this
study was to examine factors that undermine the sustainability of SWC practices in
/{onso Special Woreda, SNNPR. In order to achieve the objective of the study both
primary and secondary data were generated by employing quantitative and
qualitative methods. The quantitative method involved household survey while
qualitative methods used included focus group discussion key informant interview and
direct personal observation. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques
were used to select the participants of the study. The selection of households included in
the sample involved probability sampling (simple random sampling) while the selection
of kebeles, the participants of focus group discussion and the key informant interview
involved non-probability sampling (purposive sampling). The process of analysis of the
study was carried out using qualitative description and quantitative statistics. The
quantitative data was analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean where
appropriate. A Chi-square test was applied to see opinion differences. Qualitative data
was discussed to substantiate the study. The findings of the study indicated that the
status of SWC practices in the study area was characterized by frequent damage of the
structures for farmers stress on SWC structures that demand less effort. The overall
trend of the practices was found to be deteriorating. Socio-culturally, the weakening
of the role played by the traditional institutions, decrease in the willingness of the
household members to involve in the practices, decrease in assistance gained from
outside, decrease in the participation of youth in the practices and deterioration of
social norms important for the practices contributed for undermining the sustainability
of the practices. Economic factors that undermine the sustainability of the practices
include: decrease in farm productivity, involvement in off farm activities during labor
shortage and increase in labor wages. Concerning institutional support related factors,
lack of access to extension services, poor attention from Woreda Agriculture and Rural
Development Office, and lack of access to reliable credit sources were identified Based
on the findings of the study the following measures can be taken. In order to
rejuvenate the essential role played by traditional institutions, strong cordial
environment of work has to be created by the government administrative bodies at
local level measures like resettlement program, continuous trainings and awareness
creation on family planning, and creating wider opportunities for involvement in offfarm
activities can help solve population pressure problems. SpeCific measures to be
taken to improve the participation of the youth in the practices could include:
organizing the youth into self supporting groups so that they can have more
opportunity to discuss on their own lives and share experience with adults, encouraging
the youth to learn the necessary skills and participate in the SWC practices, and
promoting the voluntary effort of NCOs on indigenous knowledge system and local
practices.
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Keywords
Soil and Water Conservation Practices