The Local Peoples’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice towards Land degradation and Conservation Efforts

Abstract

The study was conducted in Soro woreda, to investigate local people’s knowledge, attitude and practice towards land degradation and conservation efforts.In order to achieve the above stated objectives both primary and secondary data were generated. The techniques of collecting primary data sources includes household survey questionnaires with farm households, group discussion with farmers, field observations and in-depth interview with development agents, agriculture office officers and individual farmers. Secondary data were collected from published and unpublished materials like research reports, journals, books and electronic documents. The study used stratified sampling technique to select sample Kebeles. Simple random sampling technique was also employed to select household participants among the total households under each sample Kebeles. This was also to give equal chance of inclusion of farm households for household survey questionnaire. The data collected was analyzed using both statistical tools such as percentage, frequency and qualitative approach. The finding of the study revealed that, farmers were positive knowledge and attitude on agricultural land management options that are more associated with their agricultural practices like contour plowing, crop rotation,agroforestry,terracing,manure, use of improved crop and diversion ditches. Additionally, farmers’ use of organic sources fertilizer and their indigenous soil fertility management practices were found to be limited. The agricultural land in the study area was found to be under serious degradation problem indicted by the development of rill and gully areas over crop farm fields and communal grazing fields. It was identified that institutional capacity related constraints, technical gaps, unsuitable agricultural fields and the attitude of local farmers were among the major challenges that obstruct the practice of more effective agricultural land management options in the study area. Finally, in light of these findings, wider range of support and awareness creation, the provision of practical based trainings, urgent intervention to expand biological management practices and institutional capacity development help the practice of effective agricultural land management in the study area.