Assessment of sustainability and related socio-economic and cultural factors of large scale agricultural investments in Gambella, Ethiopia

Abstract

Large scale agriculture in Sub-Sahara is debatable issues and in the global for its impact on rural communities and environment. Beside these many of study was conducted but the sustainabity of this farms on socio-enonmic,cultural factors ,projects farms operation, impact on water ,soil ,plants and sustainable development and mitigation method of Assefa Birhane ,Saudistar ,Verdanta ,Ge-lana farms ,Sannati and Toren farms was not studied . Objective: To assess the sustainability and related socio-economic and cultural factors of large scale agriculture investment in Gambella, Ethiopia. Materials and Method :Cross-sectional descriptive study design was employed from August to September .Data was collected purposely by FDG,KI from Local community, youth and farms manager ,field observation ,soil ,water.4L water was collected accordingly ;1L from Saudistar GM,1LSuadistar pond ,1L from Toren GW and 1L from Gelana GW .9 composite soil was col-lected from farms accordingly Assefa Birhane 1,Toren 2 ,Gelana 2,Saudistar 2 ,Akula 1and Abobo forest and analyzed for nutrients .GIS was conducted to quantify forest cover change .Method for assessing overall performance Results: In the region the performance and operation of the project farms is low because many challenges .The investments farms have shown have positive impact to local community through employment opportunities ,corporation of social responsibility and negative impact by losing the land right local community ,displacement ,loss of indigenous land right ,disruption of traditional way of life ,land disputes ,deprivation of access to vital resource and damage to cultural herniates .Water analyis has shown high nutrient of TN,TP,SRP ,Nitrates ,TSS and TDS.The soil PH was found in normal range ,Low %OM,High range of CEC,Very high range of AvP ,Medium range TN and High range of Mg and Ca nutrients .The impact of soil is mitigated by constructing buffer to control erosion , biological ,soil management .The impact of water can be mitigated by soil conservation, water source buffer zone protection and water pollution prevention. The impact plant or forest can be mitigated by re-vegetation. Conclusion and Recommendation Projects farms have caused serious social, economic, environmental, and cultural impacts soil and water pollution by agrochemical, deforestation, Loss of local land right and indigenous land use, forced displacement/Villagation, Land dispute/boundary dispute between investor and natives dis-ruption of tradition way of life and deprivation of access to vital resources settlement. The perfor-mance of the project farm in terms of sustainable development have shown problematic in Social, Ecological and Cultural dimension .Whereas improvable condition in social dimension theme of the sustainable development .Gambella region Environment and Climate change need to protect the region.