The Role Of Participatory Watershed Management For Sustainable Rural Livelihood:The Case Of Gawuso Watershed, Sibu Sire Woreda, East Wollega Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Participatory watershed management development practice have found to change the responsibility of individuals over natural resource conservation, employment opportunities for rural poor and finally make development effort that are socially desirable and ecologically suitable. However, its implementation has not been successful in most cases due to various barriers. The major challenges that faced in sustained livelihood were the concern of this study. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the role of participatory watershed management for sustainable rural livelihood in case of Gawiso watershed in Sibu Sire Woreda of East Wollega zone. Multi-stage sampling design was employed to conduct this study. From the Kebele found in the Woreda, three Kebeles were selected using purposive sampling techniques, two hundred four (204) household and six (6) key informants were selected for study. The data obtained from survey questionnaire entered into SPSS software to analyze the data. Then descriptive statistics like frequency, percentage, graphical tables are used. The major finding of this study shown that lack of communities participation, non-sustainable watershed management due to lack of awareness, Biophysical, socio-economic and political challenges, little technical support and training, and lack of coordination between government and communities. Some recommendations were forwarded including training for development agent and other stakeholders to change the livelihood of communities in the study area by generating income from agriculture and nonagricultural activities encouraging the community develop proper watershed management and give them support.