Farmers' Perception on the Problem of Soil Erosion and Conservation Knowledge: A Case Study of Rural Kebeles in Dessie Town
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The study examines farmers’ perception towards the problems of soil erosion and their
conservation knowledge in Dessie town rural kebeles. With the use of structured
questionnaire and interview, a total of 83 farmers were surveyed for the study. For many
farmers, gully development and stoniness of soil were main indicators to soil erosion on
their land. Others recognize by observing soil color. They also perceived well the causes
of soil erosion in their lands as slope steepness of cultivation fields, ceaseless cultivation
and absence of fallowing with many time preparations of soil for cropping; still other
causes have great roles. Severity of soil erosion in the study area explained as severe,
moderate, minor soil erosion and a few cultivation fields had no erosion risk. They also
perceived well the causes of soil erosion in their lands as slope steepness of cultivation
fields, ceaseless cultivation and absence of fallowing with many time preparations of soil
for cropping; still other causes have great roles. Severity of soil erosion in the study area
explained as severe, moderate, minor soil erosion and a few cultivation fields had no
erosion risk. Consequently, farmers well understood the results of severe soil erosion on
their farms and recognized as loss of topsoil, reduction of yield over time, loss of
vegetation cover and grasses, change in soil color, requiring high input and
management, formation of uncross-able gullies, lack of farm land and grazing field, and
out migration. Farmers use a range of methods for soil erosion control. From the finding
of this study, multidimensional factors of demographic and socio-economic
characteristics were responsible for farmers’ differential perception to the problem of
soil erosion. In order to effectively plan for soil conservation measures application and
introduce new techniques there is a need of involve local farmers and modifying
educational/training programs which were provided for farmers by considering the
existing knowledge and practices
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Geography and Environmental Studies