Constraints to Utilization of Rainwater Harvesting Ponds by Farmers in Derra Woreda, Central Ethiopia
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The purpose of this study was to assess the constraints to the utilization of rainwater harvesting
ponds by farmers in Derra woreda, Oromia region. To achieve the objectives of the study, the
researcher collected primary data through household questionnaires, interviews with various
officials and key farmers as well as group discussions with PA level administrators; and
secondary data from written materials. The collected data were analyzed through both
quantitative methods like frequencies, percentages and significance tests; and through
qualitative methods.
The results of the study disclosed that most farmers have good perceptions for the technology
and have gained enough awareness about the benefits obtained from the ponds. But, the
utilization of the technology is surrounded by various constraints. The major constraints include:
the low quality of the constructed and hence short service duration of the ponds; inferior
utilization of the stored water resulted mainly from low involvement and from limited training of
stakeholders during the implementation of the program, and from the wrong site of the ponds.
Furthermore, high cost of construction has hindered farmers not to have additional ponds; and
limited financial power of farmers has resulted in low maintenance of old ponds and also
decreased the capacity of farmers of purchasing materials and equipments to utilize the
technology. Low investigation of soil types and ground slope by experts during the construction
periods have contributed to the existence of unutilized ponds. The results of the study also
identified that the incidence of local disputes among the society and reducing cultivation land as
a major negative impacts that the unutilized ponds have exerted on the community. From the
results of the study it is also known that households with large family labor, better land size and
oxen, and better income have better possibility of utilizing the technology than their
counterparts.
On the basis of the findings, it is recommended that the government shall give due attention for the construction of quality and long lasting ponds; facilitate ways for the involvement of NGOs in the technology; create financial institutions assist technology users; and repairing or closing of unutilized ponds through mobilizing the community
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Geography and Environmental Studies