Determinants ofadoption of physical soil and water conservation measures in central rift valley of ethiopia: the case of dalocha district

Abstract

In central rift valley of Ethiopia, land degradation resulting from soil erosion and nutrients depletion is a serious environmental and socioeconomic problem. Although different soil and water conservation technologies have extensively been introduced and implemented over the past decades, adoption of the measures was not glamorous. Therefore, this study was conducted to identify the determinants of soil and water conservation structures adoption, and to assess the current and common soil and water conservation practices in Dalocha district of Siltie zone. A three-stage sampling procedure was used to identify kebeles, villages and sample households. The data were collected from 120 sample households selected randomly using probability proportional to sample size sampling technique. Qualitative data were generated from focus group discussions, key informant interviews and field observation using checklists, while quantitative data were collected from sampled households using structured interview schedule. Descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model were employed to analyze the data collected from sample households. Both indigenous and improved soil and water conservation measures are practiced in the study area. The study results revealed that 64% of sample households were adopters and 36% of sample households were non adopters of soil and water conservation measures during study year. Results of the binary logistic regression model showed that land holding size, extension service or contact, active family labour force and slope of farm land positively and significantly affect farmers’ decision to adopt soil and water conservation structures. On the other hand, family size and number of dependent members in the household have a negative and significant influence on the adoption of soil and water conservation activities in the study area. Whereas, age, sex, education level, off-farm activities, livestock holding, training, distance of farm plot, tenure security and perception of soil erosion problem show not significant influence on farmers’ adoption decision. The result of this study indicates that determinants of adoption of soil and water conservation technologies are a result of interplay of factors such as household demographic, socio-economic, physical and institutional characteristics of specific area. Hence, soil and water conservation intervention should consider not only physical performance of the measures but also recognize the heterogeneity in household characteristics such as family size, dependency ratio, active family labour force, access to extension service, land holding size, slope of farm land and farming system of specific area. Finally, intensive agriculture, strengthening agricultural extension service through extension events and training, promoting family planning in program intervention and integrating engineering practices with food, fodder and other vegetative measures are suggested as recommendation.