Abera, Yohannes (PhD)Mollo, Gedeno2018-10-082023-11-182018-10-082023-11-182009-07http://etd.aau.edu.et/handle/12345678/12474The /{onso people of SNNPR have experienced various SWC practices for several centuries. The practices had enabled the people to obtain yields from hilly and rugged environment with poor soils and unreliable rainfall. These days, the sustainability of such practices seems to suffer from a number of problems. The main objective of this study was to examine factors that undermine the sustainability of SWC practices in /{onso Special Woreda, SNNPR. In order to achieve the objective of the study both primary and secondary data were generated by employing quantitative and qualitative methods. The quantitative method involved household survey while qualitative methods used included focus group discussion key informant interview and direct personal observation. Both probability and non-probability sampling techniques were used to select the participants of the study. The selection of households included in the sample involved probability sampling (simple random sampling) while the selection of kebeles, the participants of focus group discussion and the key informant interview involved non-probability sampling (purposive sampling). The process of analysis of the study was carried out using qualitative description and quantitative statistics. The quantitative data was analyzed using frequency, percentage and mean where appropriate. A Chi-square test was applied to see opinion differences. Qualitative data was discussed to substantiate the study. The findings of the study indicated that the status of SWC practices in the study area was characterized by frequent damage of the structures for farmers stress on SWC structures that demand less effort. The overall trend of the practices was found to be deteriorating. Socio-culturally, the weakening of the role played by the traditional institutions, decrease in the willingness of the household members to involve in the practices, decrease in assistance gained from outside, decrease in the participation of youth in the practices and deterioration of social norms important for the practices contributed for undermining the sustainability of the practices. Economic factors that undermine the sustainability of the practices include: decrease in farm productivity, involvement in off farm activities during labor shortage and increase in labor wages. Concerning institutional support related factors, lack of access to extension services, poor attention from Woreda Agriculture and Rural Development Office, and lack of access to reliable credit sources were identified Based on the findings of the study the following measures can be taken. In order to rejuvenate the essential role played by traditional institutions, strong cordial environment of work has to be created by the government administrative bodies at local level measures like resettlement program, continuous trainings and awareness creation on family planning, and creating wider opportunities for involvement in offfarm activities can help solve population pressure problems. SpeCific measures to be taken to improve the participation of the youth in the practices could include: organizing the youth into self supporting groups so that they can have more opportunity to discuss on their own lives and share experience with adults, encouraging the youth to learn the necessary skills and participate in the SWC practices, and promoting the voluntary effort of NCOs on indigenous knowledge system and local practices.enSoil and Water Conservation PracticesThesis