Farmers’ Perception on Erosion Problem and Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Structures: The Case of Ojoje Watershed Doyogena Woreda, Kambata Tambaro Zone, Ethiopia
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Date
2014-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Soil erosion is one of the major causes of land degradation that resulted in low
agricultural productivity in Ojoje watershed. In the study area, soil erosion by water
constitutes a severe threat to improve the livelihood of the people. Soil and water
conservation efforts made earlier period did not bring significant improvements. This
was mainly due to different factors. The study attempted to assess the perception of
farmers on erosion problem and adoption of introduced soil and water conservation
measures in the area. The required data for the study were collected through
questionnaire, interview, focus group discussion and field observation. The household
survey questionnaire data have been tabulated and summarized by utilizing the
statistical package for social science (SPSS).Mostly used soil and water conservation
structures were soil bunds, fanya juu, cutoff drains and water ways. Farmers in the
study area differently perceive the existence and severity of erosion problem in their
farms. Many farmers perceived loss of top soil and expansion of gullies and rills as
indicators of erosion while slope steepness of cultivation fields, intensive cultivation
and absence of fallowing were causes of erosion. Severity of soil erosion in the study
area explained as severe, moderate and minor. Introduced soil and water conservation
measures were structural. Some biological measures in combination with structural
measures were used. Farmers differently responded to the introduced soil and water
conservation measures on cultivation fields. From 122 respondents, 35 (28.7%)
removed conservation structures completely, 17(13.9%) selectively removed and the
remaining 70 (57.4%) of the interviewee retained these structures in their original
state. Adoption of introduced soil and water conservation structures varies depending
on farmers’ perception to erosion as a problem, educational back ground, age, off farm
income, plan and objective of farmer, family size, farm size, source of land and tenure
security, distance of farm from homestead, contact with DAs and training, livestock
holding and effectiveness of the introduced technology. Those Farmers who perceived
the problem of soil erosion have better, plan to continue SWC in their farm. Farmers
with better educational background and attained conservation trainings adopt the soil
and water conservation structures in their farmlands. In contrary farmers who have
smaller farm size, elderly farmers, farmers with off farm income, cultivating renting
and share cropping lands were non adopters of conservation measures in the study
area. Soil and water conservation activity needs an integration of different bodies in
problem identification, planning and implementation. The study recommended that to
effectively plan soil conservation measures, introduce new techniques and manage
resources in the right way, it is necessary to involve local farmers
Key Words: Adoption, Perception, Soil and Water Conservation, Soil erosion
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Keywords
Adoption, Perception, Soil and Water Conservation, Soil Erosion