SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN LAILAY MAY CHEW WOREDA, CENTERAL TIGRAY, TIGRAY REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Land degradation in the form of soil erosion by water and nutrient depletion in the high lands of Ethiopia has reached the point where it has became increasingly difficult even to maintain the present level of production of basic food, which is already in sufficient in many regions of the country. In response to this problem the government has taken some SWC measures to reduce problem of soil erosion and to increase soil moisture in the degraded highlands, including the study area. This study tries to assess the soil and water conservation activities in the study area. The data for this study was collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data was generated from200 sample household heads from 6 sample kebeles as well as from the focus group discussion and interview by selecting using both probability and non-probability sampling techniques. Similarly the secondary data was collected from published and unpublished documents and from woreda agricultural and rural development office. The collected data was analyzed using qualitative and quantitative data analyses. The most common soil and water conservation practices in study area includes soil bund, stone bund and check dam by public participation in the name of productive safety Nate program and the traditional soil and water conservation practices includes application of manure, cut-off drain, plantation and fallow. The findings of the study suggest that for a successful SWC practices inter-household socio-economic should be considered in formulating policy regarding the conservation practices. Thus, the important recommendations which are found to be of paramount important from the findings of this study include: strategies which focus on ensuring the participation of local farmers on planning and site selection: extension organization and the rural communities should discuss about SWC practices through establishment of farmers resources: the need to create awareness and learning opportunities through establishment of farmers training center: the need to emphasize on the DAs to give adequate information/guidance about agricultural and conservation practices to the farmers: involving women education and training program. These measures may partly reverse the threatening land and soil degradation due to accelerated soil erosion by water, which is a critical challenge for agricultural land dependent Ethiopian economy.