Livelihood and Soil Conservation Practices among the Farmers of Yaii Chebo, Oromiya Regional State,Ethiopia
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Date
2009-11
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AAU
Abstract
This study aims at analyzing the interaction between livelihood and soil conservation
practices in Yaii Chebo, Ambo wereda. It particularly focuses on the factors which
contribute for making decision to adopt soil conservation practices among farmers and
power relations emerging as different actors interact in the conservation scheme.
Observations, semi-structured interviews, focus group discussions, survey method
and cases were used to collect data for this study. The farmers at Yaii chebo reside in
an environment characterized by rugged and mountainous topography with steep
slopes which naturally makes it vulnerable to land degradation in the form of soil
erosion. Various factors like population pressure and a consequent deforestation, at
different times in history, have made the degradation process aggravated. The
interaction between the livelihoods of farmers and the environmental changes is so
enormous to the extent of forcing farmers continually make small livelihood
adaptations to their farming practices with their available resources. Among the major
adaptations are soil conservation practices which were also encouraged and supported
by governmental and nongovernmental organizations at various levels. Yet, the
decisions to adopt soil conservation practices have more to do with other social factors
than awareness level of farmers regarding soil erosion and soil conservation practices.
Lack of resources mainly ownership of small plots of land impeded resource poor
farmers from actively engaging in soil conservation practices. As soil conservation
practices are long term investments, most farmers rather prefer to focus on the
immediate subsistence of their households. Moreover, the soil conservation
interventions has created a power hierarchy whereby access to farm information and
alternative livelihood diversifying means are linked to previously existing ownership of
farm resources leading to the relative advantage of resource rich farmers . The
analysis showed; there is no guarantee that awareness leads to adoption of soil
conservation practices. Holistic and contextual dimensions of soil conservation
interventions will be needed to maintain a sustainable environment.
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Keywords
Yaii Chebo, topography, Livelihood adaptation, environmental change, soil erosion, soil conservation, awareness, adoption, sustainability