Abstract:
Soil erosion is one of the major challenges in agricultural production in many parts of the
world, especially in developing nations, such as Ethiopia. A number of soil conservation
methods were introduced to combat soil erosion but the use of these practices below
expectations. The main objective of the study is to examine how farm households were trying
to meet the challenges of agricultural productivity decline because of soil erosion and what
determines farmers’ decision to undertake a soil conservation activity that enhances
sustainable productivity of farming. The study revealed that factors such as slope of the area,
contact with extension workers, age, size of household and training influenced farmers to
adopt soil conservation methods. For this purpose household questionnaire, key informant
interview, focus group discussion and observation were used to generate both qualitative and
quantitative information. Field survey was conducted to collect the necessary data from 150
sample households, which were selected via simple random sampling and multistage
sampling technique. The household survey questionnaire data have been tabulated and
summarized by utilizing the statistical package for social science (SPSS). Soil bund, fanya
juu, water way, cut off drain and grass strips are the major soil conservation methods
adopted in the area. Regarding to the factors associated for soil conservation in Meta
woreda the researcher finds out that due to the frequent consequences of soil erosion. The
study found that contour plaguing, production of forestry, avoidance of deforestation,
avoidance of overgrazing the main factors for enhancing of soil conservation. Despite the
benefits the study also revealed that some farmers failed to maintain adopted methods of soil
conservation. Therefore, it is reasonable to recommend that adequate consideration of these
variables may greatly contribute to increase the sustainable use and widespread uses of
introduced conservation structures in the study area and elsewhere in the country which
might have a more or less similar physical set up
