Physical soil and water conservation measures in the Rift Valley area of Ethiopia: Adoption and management challenges

Inadequate management and dis-adoption of physical soil and water conservation (SWC) measures such as soil bunds and Fanya juu is a challenge for sustainable land management in eroded croplands. Empirical information on farmers’ management and adoption or dis-adoption of introduced physical SWC measures is fundamental to support sustainable land management. Thus, this study was designed to evaluate adoption, dis-adoption and management of the introduced physical SWC measures. Following multi-stage sampling, 266 households, including adopter, dis-adopter and non-adopter were selected and interviewed. Results showed that soil erosion is among top problems in agricultural production as 82% of the farmers recognized soil erosion on their farmlands in past 10 years. More than 72% of the physical SWC adopters were agreed that soil erosion reduces soil fertility and crop yield. About 82% of the adopter farmers exhibit effort to mitigate erosion by using physical SWC measures, while 33% of the non-adopter and dis-adopter farmers also attempt to control erosion by using traditional cutoff drain and vegetation. About 72% of the adopters replied that physical SWC measures implemented on their farmland were constructed through public campaign. Seventy four percent of the adopters claimed that their family involved in construction of physical SWC measures. About 98% of the adopters attempt to protect the constructed measures from damage and claim their effort to repair, which is essential to sustain the measure as they agree on benefit of physical SWC on soil and crop. Even 48% of the dis-adopters and 58% of non-adopters agree on the positive effect of the physical SWC on soil and crop. Adoption of physical SWC was significantly (p<0.05) and positively affected by farm size, livestock and perceived erosion. On the other hand, farmers are likely to dis-adopt physical SWC measures when age of the head of household increases but the probability of dis-adoption significantly (p<0.05) decreases with family size, livestock and severity of erosion. To reduce dis-adoption and to ensure sustainable management of the introduced physical SWC measures, specific socio-economic characteristics should be taken into account.