SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICESAS PERCIEVED BY FARM HOUSEHOLDS: THE CASE OF KERSA MALIMA WOREDA, SOUTH WEST SHEWA ZONE, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study was conducted on soil and water conservation practices as perceived by farm households in the case of Kersa malima woreda, southwest Shewa zone, Oromia regional state, Ethiopia. The main objective of the study was to assess soil and water conservation practices and to identify major factors that affect soil and water conservation practices in Kersa Malima woreda. The specific objectives of the study are: 1. to assess the major SWC practices employed in the study area;2. To discuss the major factors that influences farmers SWC practice in study are and 3. To identify the sources of farmers’ information regarding SWC practices in the study area. The data for this study was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was collected via questionnaire, interview, field observation and focus group discussion. 302 sample households for questionnaire and 9 key informants and 12 participants for focus group discussion were used. Descriptive survey research design was used. The obtained quantitative data were analyzed by basic Statistical Package for Social Science version 20. Descriptive analysis was employed. The major structural soil and water conservation practices in the study area includes: contour ploughing (17.9%), soil bund (23%), check dams (12.7%) and cutoff drain (26%). While biological soil and water conservation practices were compost (15.3%), application of fertilizers ((24.7%), strip vegetation (16.2%), crop rotation (13.3) and application of manures are the major one. The result indicated that, major factor influencing farmers’ soil and water conservation practices were found to be physical, socio-economic, cultural and institutional factors. The research results also showed that farm size, age, educational status of households, lack of awareness, lack of information, degree of contact with development agents, lack of training and distance of farm land from residents ,lack of farm land influences soil and water conservation practices in the study area. However, a number of soil and water conservation practices were introduced and practiced; the study area has been experiencing decline of soil fertility and water loss due to continuous cropping of farm land, high population pressure, over cultivation and absence of continued use of soil and water conservation practices. Therefore, it is recommended that in the future soil and water conservation practices should follow a real farmers’ commitment approach in the study area. Furthermore, development agents, experts of natural resource management as well as non-governmental organizations should advice and train farmers on soil and water conservation practices to control soil erosion. Farmers with labor shortage need to be provided support that enables them to retain their conservation practices. The government should implement clear policy and strategies about soil and water conservation as well as the communities should take the responsibility to natural resource protection involvement in soil and water conservation practice.