article · International Soil and Water Conservation Research
Investigating the adoption of watershed management practices in the upper Gibe basin of southwest Ethiopia shows how socio-economic and institutional factors influence farming decisions. Evaluating survey data from 304 households across six sub-catchments reveals that 82.6 percent of households adopted at least one conservation method. Soil bunds, grass strip cultivation combined with soil bunds, and compost represent the most common measures implemented. Adoption rates and the intensity of implementation proved higher among participants in watershed programmes and in upper and middle topographic zones. Statistical analysis indicates that household size, access to extension services, availability of credit, training participation, and awareness of soil erosion positively and significantly influence both the rate and intensity of adoption. Scaling up these conservation technologies requires policy planners to account for requirements in labour, capital, technical knowledge, and farmer awareness.
Land degradation poses serious risks to rural livelihoods and environmental sustainability in highland ecosystems. Understanding the precise socioeconomic drivers of farmer behaviour enables development agencies and government planners to design better interventions. By addressing barriers related to finance, labour, and technical know-how, agricultural policies can more effectively scale soil and water conservation measures across vulnerable agricultural landscapes.
The findings can inform agricultural extension organisations, rural development planners, and financial service providers designing targeted interventions and credit schemes for smallholder farmers. Because the research assesses applied practices currently in use within farming communities, it provides actionable evidence to refine existing conservation programmes. Commercialisation potential is largely indirect, focusing on improving the delivery and uptake of advisory services, credit products, and land management programmes rather than developing novel commercial products.
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Watershed management practices have been implemented to avert land degradation and to enhance people's livelihoods in the highlands of Ethiopia for several years. However, the successes of these practices have been quite limited and the main factors affecting these practices have not been examined in detail. This study intended to investigate rates and intensities of adoption of watershed management practices and to determine the main factors affecting farmers' adoption decisions in the upper Gibe basin. Data were collected from 304 household heads in six sub catchments across different topographic settings using household interview. Focus groups discussions, key informant interviews and transect walk observations were also used. Descriptive statistics and econometric models such as, multivariate and ordered probit were used to analyze the data. The results revealed that the majority of households (82.6 percent) used at least one of the six practices considered in this study. Soil bund, grass strip cultivation with soil bund and compost were the major watershed management practices adopted by farmers. Adoption rate and intensity of adoption were better for program participants and in upper and middle topographic settings. The results of the multivariate and ordered probit analysis indicated that household size, extension services, credit services, training services and perception of soil erosion had positive significant relationship with both rate and intensity of adoption of most practices. Hence, policy makers and planners need to consider labor, knowledge and awareness, and capital intensive nature of the practices for the up scaling planning and implementations of watershed intervention technologies.
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DOI: 10.1016/j.iswcr.2019.08.006
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