Suitability Analysis For Enset (Ensete Ventricosum Cheesman (Welw)) Cultivation In Mareka District, Dawuro Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted out in Mareka District, Dawuro Zone South West Ethiopia with topic of suitability analysis for enset (ensete ventricosum cheesman (welw). GIS based agricultural suitability analysis is very important for cultivation of given crop type. Environmental factors like land use /land cover, temperature, rain fall, soil type and altitude were classified based on suitability evaluation methods of FAO and experts opinion. Multi-criteria decision making methods of ranking and prioritizing the importance of criteria based on their weight of influence formulated for suitability analysis by employing analytical hierarchy process IDRISI software extension. GIS and spatial MCDM evaluation was used to get importance of GIS based MCDM evaluations and solve environmental decision making problem. The factor maps were reclassified and standardized in GIS soft were extension tools, which led to the preparation of suitability analysis map of the enset plant suitability classes. As part of spatial MCDM, AHP pair wise comparison module was used to derive internal and external weights for each individual factors and parameters respectively. More weight was given for rain fall automatically by AHP algorithm for the reason that enset cultivation needs availability of rain fall more than any other factors. Consequently, suitability analysis was done and weighted overlay suitability map was visualized with integration of GIS. The findings show that among total area of 46,724 hectare, 30.4% is highly suitable for enset cultivation and production. About 53.7% of the study area is moderately suitable, 12.1% is marginally suitable and 3.8% is currently not suitable to enset crop cultivation of study area. The suitability Analysis of criteria evaluation on the study area showed that the area has greatest potential of enset cultivation. The final suitable open area that can be used for enset cultivation is 635.3ha. This accounts for about 1.4% of the total study area and 4.5% of available open area with in highly suitable order. Based on finding, it could be recommended that this work would be used as policy guide for planners; enset investment could be successful in the District, further suitability research works should be carried out in order to optimize the enset crop cultivation and production.