The Effect of Livestock Production and Management System on Environmental Resources, in Mixed Farming Area. The case of Seka Chekorsa Woreda, Jimma Zone of Oromia Regional State.

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Date

2011-06

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Addis Ababa University

Abstract

The multiple contributions of livestock in natural resource based livelihood strategies are very well common in mixed farming system of the country. However,. with increasing in number of population, that followed with serious land fragmentatioll and resource depletion, have caused the positive livestockenvironment interaction to be deteriorated alld so that/he livelihood of the communities being adversely affected. This paper examines some environmental elements that are highly related with livestock sector and assess their degree of interaction in mixed farming area of Sekachekorsa wereda, Jimma zone of Oromia Regional State .. The household's livestock productioll system assessed in relation to some ellvironmental resources specifically, grazing lalld, forest land, and crop land. The role of livestock ill integrated land resource management, and some socia-economic cOllstraints, that affect livestock production system and its contribution ill natural resource management are also assessed.The data for the study was collected from both primary and secondmy sources. For primmy data, household survey was made by using structured questionnaires. For this end, a sample size of 120 hhs were proportionally selected from these foul' kebeies. Key informant interview, FGDs, and observation were also used for primmy data collectioll. The secondmy dOlo also acqUired from various documenls. Descriptive statistics like percelltage, frequency, correlalion etc. were used 10 analFe Ihe dala.Result revealed thaI, liveslock produClioll alld managemen,t system affecl envirollmental resources: wilh increase in number of households, demand for cropland and animal products illcreases. As result Ihe livestock size at community level increases, while the pasture land decrease or remain unchanged. This causes serious animal feed shortage, and forced most households, mainly those with small land size, to feed on forestland, crop land and other marginal lands as alternative sources. These, coupled wilh other variables, like grazing system, drought, as well as poor institutional collaboratioll and policy measures, resulted in over all resources degradalion alld reduce the positive role of liveSlock in reso urces management and agricultural produclioll ill Ihe area, wilh vmyillg ill degree of serious across rarious agro-ecologies in which each sludied kebele fall.Helice, it is recommended Ihat, for a lives lock to play a more positive role in promoting agricullural productivity and ecological sustainabilily in the area and to conlrol its negalive impacts, several illtervention are needed. Increasing the productivity of croplallds, pastureiand as well as liveslockfrom SllIaller sizeĀ· through material provision and professional support, is needed from government side. Participatory (community based) and inter- sectoral 'planning and working habit is needed for land resource development and management considering livestock as integral component of produclion in the area.

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Environmental Resources

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