Assessing The Role Of Traditional Land Management Practice In Improving Cropland Productivity: The Case Of Gewata Woreda, Kaffa Zone, South West Ethiopia

Abstract

A Land management practice has many forms and the focus of this research is on traditional land management practices. The main objective of this study was to assess the role of traditional land management practices in improving cropland productivity in the study area. The study was mainly focused on describing the quality of Traditional biological and physical land management practices in improving crop land productivity. Researcher selected 162 sample size from total population of the study area and gather the necessary information through questionnaire, key informants and group discussion. Data was analysis and it revealed that, crop yield land with traditional practices has relatively showed high value. The traditional land management practices improved cropland productivity through addition of organic matter to the soil, and improving the increasing of water infiltration in soil and reducing run off. The most common practices were: crop rotation, intercropping, strip-cropping, residue management, contour farming, Agro-forestry and minimum tillage. Crop rotation and contour farming are very significant among traditional BLM and PLM practices respectively. The Majority of the farmers reported that, combinations of practices are very effective in improving cropland productivity. The study indicated that, households are affected by different factors for improving cropland productivity. The main factors are: low access of agricultural extension services, land form characteristics and agro-ecological zone. Therefore, experience sharing program should be given to the local farmers, the extension agents and farmers should be interact with each other and a combination of traditional biological and physical land management practices should be practiced for effective cropland improvement.