IJASFT 4 132[1] (original) (raw)
Related papers
The main objective of this study was to evaluate the farmers’ perception on soil erosion and their use of structural soil conservation measures. The data for this studywas collected via interviewees, key informants and field observations. Farmers perceived indicators of the existence of erosion and soil fertility loss differently. For many farmers, gully development and stoniness of soil were main indicators to soil erosion on their land. Others recognize by observing soil color. They also perceived well the causes of soil erosion in their lands as slope steepness of cultivation fields, ceaseless cultivation and absence offallowing with many time preparations of soil for cropping; still other causes have great roles.Severity of soil erosion in the study area explained as severe, moderate, minor soil erosion and a few cultivation fields had no erosion risk. Consequently, farmers well understood the results of severe soil erosion on their farms and recognized as loss of topsoil, reduction of yield over time, loss of vegetation cover and grasses, change in soil color, requiring high input and management, formation ofuncross-able gullies, lack of farm land and grazing field, and out migration. Structural soil conservation measures practiced in the study area included cutoff drains, soil bunds, fanya juu, waterways, check dams, and trench digging. Yet farmers have been using biological and agronomic soil conservation measureseither separately or in combination with structural soil conservation measures. Practices ofstructural soil conservation measures have been influenced by many factors. Aged farmers have practiced structural soil conservation less likely than young farmers. Female farmers also showed high interest towards structural soil conservation, yet they invested little and rarely practiced. On the contrary, educated farmers, household sizes, farmers involved in off farm jobs, perceiving soil erosion well, having contact with DA and training provide a fertile ground for increased practice of structural soil conservation measures. Soil conservation efforts need hand- in- hand cooperation with concerned experts while planning and implementation. To effectively plan for soil conservation measures application and introduce new techniques to manage resources in the right way, it is necessary to involve local farmers and have knowledge of local concepts such as that of soil classification, soil quality, soil fertility and soil erosion.
Soil erosion is an imperative environmental deterioration almost all over the world, which leads to reduction of crop yield. Present study investigates farmers' views of soil erosion problems and their conservation measures in the Gummara-Maksegnit watershed to understand interrelationships between perception of farmers' knowledge and soil conservation practices. Data was obtained from a survey of 332 farm households and informal discussions selected by stratified random sampling from upper, middle and lower catchment at Fertamit, Enkri and Dilkana districts respectively. Both open ended and close ended questionnaires were employed to acquire required data. The result revealed that 81% of the local people realize the occurrence of soil erosion in their farm land. Moreover, 67% of the population recognizes the formation of rill forms of soil erosion on their farm land. 45% of the communities perceive soil erosion as primary factor for productivity reduction while 48% of them consider as second cause. Finally, there are several soil conservation measures done by the society living in the watershed. 84% of the population constructed stone bund on their farm land to control soil erosion. Other soil conservation measures like soil bund, draining ditch, tree planting and contour plowing were practiced. The varieties of conservation measures were very limited and incapable to control erosion forms like gully. Therefore it is highly recommended to teach farmers concerning different soil and water conservation measures and its relevance for tackling soil erosion.
Soil erosion is one of the major problems challenging farmers in Ethiopia. Though a number of soil and water conservation methods were introduced and practiced, sustaining the application of these measures is far below expectations and soil degradation is still a persistent problem. This research was conducted with the aim of finding out the type of indigenous and introduced soil and water conservation measures, determining the farmer’s adaptation mechanism to erosion and biophysical factors that influence the use of these measures in the area. For this study, a total of 35 households were interviewed and farm fields were visited. The results showed that farmers in the area were mainly annual crop producers on slope farmland with traditional as well as newly introduced conservation structures. Contour farming for maize and furrow making, gulgualo and gilalo methods for millet and pepper production are the common ones. Continuous farming, tillage on slope land with no conservation structures, deforestation and frequent tillage up to 5 times for some crops are important factors aggravating soil erosion. As a recommendation, the very sloppy nature of the study area has to be given due emphasis and priority for an appropriate designed soil and water conservation practice.
Soil erosion and conservation in Ethiopia
Progress in Physical Geography: Earth and Environment, 2015
This paper reviews Ethiopia’s experience and research progress in past soil and water conservation (SWC) efforts and suggests possible solutions for improvement. Although indigenous SWC techniques date back to 400 BC, institutionalized SWC activity in Ethiopia became significant only after the 1970s. At least six national SWC-related programs have been initiated since the 1970s and their focus over time has shifted from food relief to land conservation and then to livelihoods. The overall current soil erosion rates are highly variable and large by international standards, and sheet, rill, and gully erosion are the dominant processes. The influence of human activities on the landscape has traditionally been deleterious, but this trend seems to have recently reversed in some parts of the country following the engagement of the communities in land management. The efficiency of SWC measures show mixed results that are influenced by the type of measures and the agro-ecology under which t...
Soil erosion in Ethiopia: Extent, conservation efforts and issues of sustainability
Soil degradation is a global environmental problem which started since the innovation of agriculture by human kind. One third of the world's agricultural soils, or roughly 2 billion hectares of land, was reported as being affected by soil degradation. Water and wind erosion account for 84% of this observed damage. The problem is very high in Africa and Asia. Ethiopia is considered to have one of the most serious soil degradation problems in the world. The average annual rate of soil loss in Ethiopia is estimated to be 12 tons/ha/yr, and it can drastically exceed this on steep slopes with soil loss rates greater than 300 tons/ha/year, where vegetation is denuded. The problem is very much serious in the Ethiopian highlands. In mid 1980's, 27 million ha or almost 50% of the highland area was significantly erchoded, 14 million ha seriously eroded and over 2 million ha beyond reclamation. Recognizing the seriousness of the problem, the Ethiopian government launched a massive soil conservation program beginning the mid-1970s. However, most performance measures of soil and water conservation efforts of the country were failed. In 1980s, the concept of watershed management was implemented as a way of redressing the degradation of the natural resource base and increasing land productivity. From its introduction up to know, watershed management has being implementing in the country. Some success of conservation efforts following watershed management was reduced run off, soil erosion and associated downstream siltation, increased vegetation cover and surface roughness, increased soil depth, increased recharge of groundwater table, increased production area and green environment, increased crop production and productivity and improvement in fodder availability. The successes are indicators of sustainable resource conservation.
Soil erosion is one of the major causes for low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia and particularly in Assosa Woreda. The study was carried out in Assosa Woreda, in Benshangul Gumuz Regional state to assess farmers' perception on soil erosion and biological soil and water conservation practices. In this study, both primary and secondary data collection techniques were used. These include interviews, focus group discussions, field observations, and questionnaires were the source of this research. The sampling technique employed in this study were stratified, purposive and simple random were applied to select sample kebele and representative households heads. A sample of 150 heads of households was used to gain insight into soil erosion perceived by farmers and conservation practices in the study area. The finding of the study shows that almost all farmers of the study area had good perception on the causes, indicators and problems of soil erosion. The main causes of soil erosion perceived by farmers in the study area were high intensity of rainfall, continuous cultivation, topography and inappropriate soil conservation practices. The major biological soil and water conservation practices implemented by farmers in the study area were vetivers grass, elephant grass, desho grass, savanna grass, bamboo plantation and other local grasses. This research finding also concludes that the main constraints to implement biological soil and water conservations in Assosa Woreda were mainly related to socioeconomic and biophysical factors such as uncontrolled (free) grazing, distance between homestead and their farm land and farmers' low level of the economic capacity. Therefore, any concerned bodies need to investigate the issue and take appropriate measures. Keywords: Farmers' perception, soil erosion and biological soil and water conservation practices 1. Introduction Soil erosion in Ethiopia can be seen as a direct result of past agricultural practices in its highlands (Badege, 2001). Some of the farming practices within the highlands also encourage erosion. These include cultivation of cereal crops such as Teff and wheat, which require the preparation of a finely tilled seedbed, the single cropping of fields, and down slope final plowing to facilitate drainage. On the other hand, socioeconomic and political influences, especially insecurity of land and tree tenure have discouraged farmers investing in soil conservation practices (Badege, 2001). As a result of this, soil erosion is the most immediate environmental problem facing the nation at present time. The pressure on arable land is growing and this forces people to convert more marginal, available forest and grazing lands to arable lands. Hence, forest resources are very few and continuously decreasing both in quantity and quality. These results in firewood shortage and people are forced to use animal dung as a fuel wood substitute. The major source of organic matter is thus not brought back to the soil but used for other purposes. Soil erosion is the most significant ecological restriction to sustainable agricultural production, mainly under subsistence agricultural production system like Central Ethiopian highlands (Gete and Huni, 2001). Soil erosion is triggered and become a principal obstacle for sustained and integrated socioeconomic development of the nation. As a result, the present status and rate of soil erosion in Ethiopia call for immediate action to reverse soil erosion. Hence, to protect soil resources from erosion different remedial action should be taken with the help of soil conservation mechanisms to sustain the productivity of the land. This study was conducted in Assosa Woreda (NorthWestern Ethiopia). The Woreda, as one part of Benshangul Gumuz regional state, it is affected by land degradation particularly soil erosion. Farmers' attitudes towards soil erosion and biological soil conservation practices are decisive in protecting soil losses from erosion. Hence, farmers' perception of soil erosion is a key social factor that is also important in deciding options for controlling soil losses (Graaff, 1993). However, for many years, soil conservation programs in the highlands of Ethiopia were premised on the notion that farmers did not perceive erosion and had no interest in combating it (Mekuria, 2005). As a result, conservation programs and approaches performed poorly (Yohannes and Herweg, 2000). In Assosa Woreda farmers practices different biological soil and water conservation measures with different proportions. For selecting and implementing appropriate conservation methods, it is important to identify constraints that affect farmers to be appropriate biological soil conservation practices. Therefore, this study was designed to assess farmers' perception about soil erosion and biological soil and water conservation practices in Assosa Woreda, Northwestern Ethiopia. A number of empirical studies have been undertaken on perception of farmers on soil erosion and biological conservation practices; the existing soil conservation