GAMBELLA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCE

DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY
ASSESSMENT OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION STATUS IN GAMBELLA
TOWN 01 KEBELE (AGERFA)

A SENIOR RESEARCH SUBMITTED TO THE DEPARTMENT OF BIOLOGY,

COLLEGE OF NATURAL AND COMPUTATIONAL SCIENCES, IN PARTIAL
FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIREMENT FOR THE DEGREE OF BACHELOR OF
SCIENCE IN BIOLOGY

BY: ID.NO

1. MELAKU FEKEDE …………………………..RNSc/0497/2013

2. YOSEF MULUKEN ………………………......RNSc/ 0734/2013
3. HUNEGNAW ASMARE…………….…….......RNSc/0407/2013
4. YONAS JIMA ………………………………...RNSc/ 0731/2013
5. EJIGAYEHU OLI …………………………... RNSc/0281/2013
6. JALENE MITIKU ……………………….........RNSc/ 0419/2013
7. YADETE BACHA…………………….............RNSc/502/2013
8. DERARTU DESU ……………………………RNSc/0245/2013

ADVISOR NAME: MSc YIEN W. MAYUAK

MAY, 2024 G.C

GAMBELLA, Ethiopia
Contents page
Acknowledgements............................................................................................................... iii
List of Acronyms……………………………………………………………...iv
Abstract………………………...………………………………………………v
1. INTRODUCTION ...........................................................................................................1
1.1. Background of the study……………………………………………………………....1
1.2 Statement of the Problem..............................................................................................2
1.3. Significance of the Study.............................................................................................2
1.4 Objectives of the study..................................................................................................2
1.4.1 General Objective...................................................................................................... 2
1.4.1 Specific objectives.....................................................................................................2
1.5 Scope of the Study......................................................................................................3
1.5.1 Limitation of the Study............................................................................................3
1.5.2 Delimitation of the study............................................................................................3
2. LITERATURE AND REVIEW.........................................................................................4
2.1 Cause and Impact on Soil Erosion in Ethiopia..............................................................4
2.1.1 The Impact of Soil Erosion in Ethiopia......................................................................4
2.2 Soil and Water Conservation Practice in Ethiopia........................................................4
2.2.1 Biological Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Ethiopia..................................5
2.3 Soil Erosion Controlling Methods................................................................................5
2.4 Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Practices.....................................................5
2.5 Factors Affecting Adoption of Soil and Conservation Practices...................................6
2.5.1 Personal Factors.........................................................................................................6
2.5.2 Socio-Economic Factors............................................................................................6
2.5.3 Institutional Factor.....................................................................................................7
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS....................................................................................... 8
3.1. Description of the Study Area.........................................................................................8
3.1.1 Location.........................................................................................................................8
3.1.2 Demographics.............................................................................................................8

i
3.1.3 Climate....................................................................................................................... 8
3.1.4 Population..................................................................................................................9
3.1.5 Soil type.....................................................................................................................9
3.1.6 Economy....................................................................................................................9
3.1.7 Vegetation:.................................................................................................................9
3.2. METHODOLOGY..........................................................................................................9
3.2.1 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques......................................................................9
3.2.2 Sources of Data........................................................................................................10
3.3. Data Analyses............................................................................................................ 10
4. Results and Discussion................................................................................................. 11
4.1 Factors affecting farmers’ adoption towards soil and water conservation practices....11
4.2 Soil and water conservation measure/practices...........................................................12
4.3 Discussion...................................................................................................................... 14
5. Conclusions and Recommendations.................................................................................16
5.1 Conclusions................................................................................................................ 16
5.2 Recommendations.......................................................................................................16
6. REFERENCES.................................................................................................................18
7.APPENDIX……………………………………………………………………………….19

ii
Acknowledgements

First of all, we would like to thank to GOD. Next, I would like to express my greatest
appreciation and heartfelt thanks to my advisor Msc Yien W. mayuak who helped me in
giving advises and comment in my research. Finally, I would like to express my deepest
thanks to my family who helped me through financial provision encouragement.

iii
List of Acronyms

CSA Central statistics agencies

FAO Food and agricultural organization

HA Hectares

NGO Nongovernmental organizations

SWC Soil and water conservation

iv
Abstract

The study was conducted in South-west Ethiopia in Gambella Town 01

Kebele (Agerfa). The major objective of the study was to assess farmers’
adoption towards soil and water conservation mechanisms. It was more
specially designed to assess the present knowledge and attitudes of the
farming community about the adoption soil and water conservation. The
data were collected from field observation, questionnaires and interview
with 10 model farmers. These farmers were selected by using simple
random technique; the data were summarized by using tables and
percentages. The result of this study showed that farmers have good
perception and attitude towards soil erosion and also show that farm
land characteristics. On the other hand, the study revealed that factors
affecting adoption of soil and water conservation practices increases the
living standard of people increase by reduce soil and increasing land
productivity.

Key words, Soil conservation, water conservation, Soil, Soil Erosion, Land Productivity

v
1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study

At the contemporary time, the depletion of natural resources is among major problems
facing humans throughout the world. The international soil Reference and Information
Centre (1995) estimated that nine million hectares of the world land are tremendously
degraded and their original biotic functions are severely degraded. However, 1.2billion
hectares of the world land were moderately degraded. Worldwide in appropriate agricultural
practices account for 28% of the degraded soils (Addisu, 2011). Similarly in Ethiopia the
depletion of the soil and water resources is enormous. Dominate by small scale agricultural
practice. Ethiopia is one of the most severely eroded countries in the world. Natural resource
degradation is the main environmental problem in the county. Degradation mainly
manifested through soil removal nutrient, exhaustion, deforestation and run of surface water
The majority of the farmers in rural areas of Ethiopia are subsistence oriented, commonly
cultivating impoverished soils of sloppy and Marginal land where soil removal where highly
susceptible (Million and Belay, 2004). Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in Africa
and its economy is mainly depending on agriculture. The agriculture sector is the main
source of employment, as it provides employment for about 80% of the population (FAO,
1993). Its contribution to country's GDP is very large (MOFED, 2002). However,
agricultural sector of the country is dominated by small hold producers who cultivate
0.25ha. Despite the fact that the agricultural sector for the country is only 45% (MOFED,
2002). The main factor for low productivity is due to land degradation/soil erosion/. The soil
erosion has several impacts, such as loss of organic matter change of soil texture, low yield
are the major ones. In order to reduce these severities, different soil and water conservation
practices (over crops, strip cropping, mulching, and wind break) or physical soil and water
conservation practices can be done. Although, the soil and water conservation practices are
essential to minimize soil erosion problems, perception of farmers towards adoption of the
soil and water conservation practice and technologies are affected by different factors.

1
These are: personal factor (perception of erosion problem, education and age, Socio-
economic factors (farm size) and Institutional factors (information, land ownership) and
Land characteristics (slope of parcel, soil fertility).01 kebele(Agerfa) is found in South west
part of Ethiopia in Gambella Town, which is one of the areas affected by soil erosion,
mostly due to anthropogenic impacts such as over grazing, deforestation, expansion of the
agriculture and cutting the trees for fuel wood as for the purpose of constructions.
Therefore, this study was intended to assess different soil and water conservation practice
and factors affecting farmer’s adoption towards soil and water conservation practices and
technologies

1.2 Statement of the Problem

The farmers of 01 kebele (Agerfa) in Gambella Town engaged themselves in agricultural
activities. These agricultural activities also contributed to soil erosion which is resulted from
absence of soil and water conservation practices. As a result of this soil erosion, there is
shortage of food, ecological imbalance, change or reduction in organic matter and low crop
yield. The current status of soil and water conservation that affect the soil and water
conservation practices is yet not studded. Therefore, this study is helpful in assessing
farmers’ adoption towards soil and water conservation practices and factors that affect
farmer’s adoption of new technologies.

1.3. Significance of the Study

The study is important to provide advice for the farmers toward adoption of soil and water
conservation techniques. The result of this study would be used as secondary data as well as
literature for those who was conducted research on similar area.

1.4 Objectives of the study

1.4.1 General Objective

To assess farmers adoption of soil and water conservation practices in 01 kebele (Agerfa) in
Gambella Region.

2
1.4.1 Specific objectives

 To assess farmers adoption of soil and water conservation in Gambella Town, 01

kebele (Agerfa).
 To identify factors affecting farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation
practices
 To evaluate the performance soil and water conservation practices in the study area
and identify major challenges.
 To understand about awareness of local people about soil and water conservation
practices

1.5 Scope of the Study

1.5.1 Limitation of the Study

The primary data was collected from farmers using questionnaires, which may not be
representative for other population groups other than the study in kebele. Budget scarcity or
shortage of time and lack of access to data were major constraints that caused anticipated
problems that were prevalent during the study.

1.5.2 Delimitation of the study

This study mainly focused on the study of soil and water conservation in 01 Kebele
(Agerfa), and data were collected from residents in this Kebele.

3
2. LITERATURE AND REVIEW

2.1 Cause and Impact on Soil Erosion in Ethiopia

One of the factors causing soil erosion is high intensity of the rainfall and sloppy areas. The
impacts of rain dropped with tremendous amount on the bare land causes erosion by water
(Hudson, 1997). According to Hudson (1997), the impact of a heavy rain is infiltration and
evenly eroding the top soil. Thus, splash erosion grows to sheet and gully erosion. Lack of
farmers’ knowledge of conservation affects land degradation and soil erosion through poor
agricultural practices.

2.1.1 The Impact of Soil Erosion in Ethiopia

Soil erosion is one of the most important problems in Ethiopia among the various form of
land degradation that possess various challenges to food security of the country and future
development prospect of the country (Wogayehu and Lars, 2003). The phenomena in the
country is not new. It is direct consequences of the past and present agricultural practices in
the high lands (Kassaye, 2004). Crop production system is widely practiced in highlands.
Nearly, 70% of the high land having slope above 1090m and the high intensity of rainfall is
used as agricultural land. Researches indicated that large proportion of soil erosion occur
from cultivated land that cover only 1370 of the country and an average 42 tone of soil
being washed out from hectares of cultivated fields (Hurni, 1990).
It was estimated that in every year Ethiopian high lands lose 1.9-3.5 billion tons of top soil
(EFAP, 1994). This made the country to be one of the most seriously affected by erosion in
Africa (Backie, 1985).

2.2 Soil and Water Conservation Practice in Ethiopia

Crop slop barriers: The term “crop slop barriers” embrace the whole range of the terraces,
ditches, drains and banks used to manage runoff water on sloppy lands (Hurni, 1992).
Stone bands: Stone bands are quite common in dry zone. They are relatively easy to
construct during the dry season.

4
Bench terraces: bench terraces are widely used in Ethiopia. It is applied in Asia and spread
throughout Africa, western America and eastern Africa (Harlis Worth, 1987).

2.2.1 Biological Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Ethiopia.

Vegetative strip is a plant with grasses, shrubs and runs across the slope, slow down the
water following down the slope and catches sediments that have been eroded up the hills.
Rotational crops are one of the soil conservations in agriculture. Some crops have strong
deep roots and they can be back up in holding top soils and obtained nutrients from deep
soil which are necessary for their life (Habtamu, G. 2006). The principal crops in ratio may
have the soil unprotected at a times. Cover crops must be fast growing so that, it can be
established after harvest but before winter. It must answer the question, if the weather and
supply of moisture of soil permit one to grow plants (Hudson, 1992).

2.3 Soil Erosion Controlling Methods.

Soil nutrients and micro-organisms are found at a top soil mass which is called top soil. Top
soil is the productive and most vital part of soil which is necessary for healthy plant growth
under natural circumstance (FAO, 1993). Accelerated erosion reduces the amount of plant
growth since soil is unable to support it. This soil becomes shallow every year and unable to
take nutrients to the plants and as result, this could reduce productivity. The erosion is the
serious problem. So soil erosion can be controlled by adopting land management practice
and also by changing the pattern of some human activities which accelerate soil erosion.
Some of the soil erosion controlling methods are contour farming, strip cropping, terracing,
flood control, proper land utilization, expansion of vegetative cover and protective
afforestation. Therefore, soil erosion controlling measure should be primary objectives to
protect environment and to increase productivity and crop yield in agriculture (Morgan,
1981).

2.4 Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Practices.

The term “adoption” accepting full ideas as a best practice (Woldeamlak, 2003). The
adoption process is decision making process in which an individual possess from hearing
about an innovation. The adoption process starts with hearing the new technology or
information and goes to the final decision to adopt that particular new technology. Different

5
studies showed that the farmers' adoption of conservation measures will defined in different
way that are fare from uniform, for instance, Ervin and Erwin (1982), use reduction in farm
soil as measures 0f conservation adoption. Other used proportion of farm land management
with conservation practices indicate soil erosion control measure (Les and Stewart, 1983).

2.5 Factors Affecting Adoption of Soil and Conservation Practices.

2.5.1 Personal Factors

Perception of a soil erosion problem: Most adoption begins with perception that there is
problem to resolve (Ervin and Erwin, 1992). Berkeley (1998) perceiving problems stimulus
to adopt conservation practices that slow down the Problem (Long, 2003, Tremor et al.,
1998). Previous studies indicated that perceiving negative effect of erosion shape’s opinion
about erosion and conservation measures and their adoption (Berkeley, 1998). Education
influences farmers' decision to adopt technology exchanging farmer experiences
understanding and utilize practices, and improving overall management education
attainments affects conservation practices adoption decision positively (Ervin and Erwin,
1982). Tremor et al. (1998) states those who are more educated likely to use contouring
minimum tillage. Pasture rotation to control soil erosion. Education is an influential factor in
the adoption of practices that is used to conserve soil and water, in a given area.

Conservation practices such as terraces are long term horizon and they may less be
interested in long term negatively effect on resources depletion. This implies that they have
higher discount rate and this reduce the present values of long-term return from
conservations-based agriculture (Gould et al., 1989).

2.5.2 Socio-Economic Factors

Adoption conservation practices can be expensive and risky (Long, 2003). As physical
conservation practices imposed higher costs in term of land they
put out of production (Wogayehu and Lars, 2003). Different studies indicated that in
Ethiopia conservation practices take out cultivation increases rapidly with increasing slope
10-2090m to cultivation land embankment (Campbell,1991) and land take out cultivation
increase rapidly with increasing slope (Belay, 1992). These makes benefit that will be

6
obtained from the conservation the small farm to be compensated for the decline in
production.

2.5.3 Institutional Factor.

Farmers seek to reduce uncertainty about conservation innovation through information,

farmers who has no enough knowledge about conservation practice cannot be expected to
adopt the technology unless the understand it's expected cost and benefits. Accurate and
timely information has a positive impact on farmers’ conservation adoption decision
(Tremor et al., 1998). Farmers that have an assessed cultivated land through short-term
reacting law short term planning horizon (Lee and Stewart, 1983). As they have long-term,
the product of land they cultivate and they strong references for current income at the
expense of long-term conservation investment Ervin and Erwin (1982).

Observed that erosion is more sever in recent land utilized. Wu and Bab cook (1998),
Observed that the frequent conservation practice installed on steep slope cultivation field
which reflects the desire of farmers to control soil erosion from high erosion. Farmers who
are interested to invest in conservation and bear associate risk, if they do not perceive
significant threats based on productive due to soil erosion. Farmers ‘perceive the effect of
soil erosion, When its riches some critical level (Osgoog, 1992). In deep and fertile soil,
erosion processes do not affect farmers at least in the short term.

7
3. MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1. Description of the Study Area

3.1.1 Location
The study was conducted in Gambella Town 01 Kebele (Agerfa) is situated at 6°28'38"to
8°34' N latitude and 33°to 35°11'11" E longitude in Gambella Town774 km west of Addis
Ababa. The altitude of the area ranges from 400-550 m mean above sea level,
characterized by warm temperate. The temperature ranges from 23°C-35°C with average
annual temperature of 25.25°C. It to receives mean annual rain fall ranging from 900-
1500mm with an average of 1000mm the rain fall concentration occur s for May to
September and mean monthly relatively humidity various from (64.6%) in August to
(35.8%) in December. The soil types in country reddish, Haplic Cambisols, Vertic Luvisols
and Brown soil

3.1.2 Demographics
Based on the 2020 census conducted by the CSA this District has a total population of
39,022 of whom 20,790 are men and 18,232 Women. 10,402 or 4.16% of its population are
urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitant were protestants with 57.04% of the
population reporting that belief, 4.08% were Catholic, 9% were Muslim and 30.39% precise
Ethiopia Orthodox Christianity.

3.1.3 Climate
01 Kebele (Agerfa) is characterized by hot or semi-arid climatic conditions. The estimated
mean annual rainfall of the area varies between 1200 mm and 1599mm, with 15-to-19.9-

8
degree Celsius average annual temperature. And its altitude ranging from 1500-2500 meters
above sea level. The highest temperature is during March, April, May and June whereas
November, December and January have low temperatures. Short dry season is October to
November, the long dry season is January to May and the long rainy season is June to
September.

3.1.4 Population
Total population of the study area is estimated 3600 among these 1960 are males and 1640
are females (01 kebele yearly document, 2020).

3.1.5 Soil type

The study area is also characterized by different soil types. These are in top layer brown
clay, silt and very small amount of sand soil 01 kebele (1999).

3.1.6 Economy
The major economic activity in the study area is livestock which is subsistence in its nature.
The maximum land holding size in the area is 2-5 hectare, for the agriculture as well as
livestock rearing. Their income depends on crop (25.7%) on livestock (69.3%) and 5%, is
depending on neither crop nor animal rearing and their livelihood is trade. The major crops
produced are maize, masho, selit and wheat are also rare.

3.1.7 Vegetation:
Plants have developed special adaptations to live in such a hot and dry habitat.
The vegetation covers in such hot area are: Acacia species, junipers, pod carpus and mango
from the above vegetation the acacia species are dominated in the area. The acacia species
are very small and thick leaves to keep the loss of water from evaporating. The plants have
also adapted to protect themselves against animals by growing sharp needles and stickers. In
addition, most plant bloom in the spring to reproduce before the hot summer begins. In
years with a wet winter and spring, a surprising number of spring flowers may bloom across
the semi desert shrub lands.

9
3.2. METHODOLOGY

3.2.1 Sample Size and Sampling Techniques

Samples were taken from 01 kebele (Agerfa) which is purposive sampling method was used
to select eroded area due to soil erosion. Peoples (peasant association) were stratified in to
two peasant associations used to study soil and water conservation practices and not used to
soil and water conservation. From both used and not used Plant association. First list of
households was prepared finally households were taken by simple random sampling
method. The sample size is 30 households.

3.2.2 Sources of Data

For this study data were collected from primary and secondary sources, primary data was
collected from field survey, observation, interviewing and questionnaires. Secondary data
was also collected from kebele and woreda published other record materials and document.

3.3. Data Analyses

The collected data was analyzed by simple descriptive statistics and presented by using
percentage tables.

10
4. Results and Discussion

In this part the study is divided in to two sections. The first section focuses on factors
affecting farmers’ adoption towards soil and water conservation practices such as age,
educational status household size and training of days in farm. The second section deals
with soil and water conservation practice which is categorized in to biological and physical
soil and water conservation practices.

4.1 Factors affecting farmers’ adoption towards soil and water conservation practices.

Table 1. The household farmer characteristics

Description Number of Percentage (%)

respondents
Sex Male 20 60
Female 15 40
Age 25-50 30 100
Family size 3-5 8 50
6-10 12 33
>10 7 17
Education status Illiterate 25 55.7
Elementary 15 43.3
High School 5 10.3
College and above 3 7.7
Farm size in hectare <2 5 17
3-5 19 63
6-8 6 20

The above table (1) indicates that 60% of the households are male the rest of 40% of the
households in the study area of the households were women but none of them participate in

11
conservation practices. The age of all household was between 25-50 years, which is belong
to the young and middle age groups.
The family sizes of the sample house hold were found 3-5(50%),6-10(33%) and> 10 is 17%.
For the educational status the sample household heads it was found that 55.7% illiterate and
43.3% elementary school, 10.3% high school and college and above are 7.7% of the
respondent were able to read and write. As educational status of a house hold increases, it is
assumed to increase the transfer of relevant information and as result increase farmer’s
knowledge about the cause, severity and consequence of erosion. Education enables farmers
to know mechanisms to control soil erosion using various ways of physical and biological
soil and water conservation technologies.
The farm size of the house hold in study area was found < 2 ha (17%), 3-5 ha (63%) and 6-8
ha (20) as shown in table (1). Most of farmers have in the range of 3-5 hectare, which
constitutes 63% of house hold. Hence, pressure on land at house hold level has been
increasing as long as the population growth is there and the implement of the physical and
biological soil and water conservation depend on its technical design decreased as the
population per hectare increases.

Table 2. Farmer’s adoption of soil and water conservation practices based on training.

No of training days that household attended No of respondents Percentage (%)

4 17 56.6
5-7 6 20
8-15 4 13.3
16-21 3 10
Total 30 100

The above table (table 2.) shows the number of training days attended by the farmers which
were given by government organization and NGOS on soil and water conservation
practices. The respondents who participated 4 days, about 56.6%, 5-7 days about 20%, 8-15
days 13.3% and 16_21 days about 10% who were adopt soil and water conservation
practices. In the above table number of training days increase as number of respondents or

12
percentage decreases. This indicated as farmers’ adoption of soil and water conservation
practices decrease. Therefore, training influences farmers’ adoption towards soil and water
conservation practices.

4.2 Soil and water conservation measure/practices.

Biological soil and water conservation practices carried out by the households were given in
(table 2). Some biological soil and water conservation structures or practices such as
vegetative strips, crop rotation, planting trees, shifting cultivation and agro forester system
can improve soil and water conservation.

Table 3. Biological soil and water conservation practices

Types of biological soil and water conservation No of respondent Percentage (%)
Vegetative strip 3 23.3
Crop rotation 5 33.3
Planting trees 4 30
Shifting cultivation _ _
Agroforestry 4 13.3
Total 3 100

As it can be seen from table 3, most farmers (33.3%) practices crop rotation and 23.3%
practiced vegetative strip. Farmers those who practiced planting trees, about 30% and
agroforestry 13.3%. They did not need to use shifting cultivation practices, because shortage
of land.

Table 4. Physical soil and water conservation practices

Types of physical soil and water No of respondents Percentage (%)
conservation
Terracing 2 6.6
Check dam 15 50
Contour ploughing 13 43.4
Total 30 100

13
The above table 4 shows that most farmers practiced check dam 50% and 43.4 contour
ploughing. Other farmers practices 6.6% terracing. However, most of the time, many
farmers in their farm practiced and use biological soil and water conservation practices than
physical soil and water conservation practices (Table 3 and 4). Because biological soil and
water conservation practices require less cost, man power and as well as time when
compared with physical soil and water conservation practices.

4.3 Discussion

Strength of this study is that the respondents’ willingness to participate in the study and
obtaining the response rate about 80%. The study is focused on the assessment of soil and
water conservation practice. In the study area most farmers depend on agriculture and their
main income is also from it. From the sample house holds 60% were male households and
40% were under women but none of them participate in conservation practices. Farmers of
the study area classified in different age groups. Most of the households were aged from 26-
46 groups. As explored through interview, farmers of these age groups to have a good
understanding on the problem of soil and water conservation, and usually interested in
implementing soil and water conservation practice than the other age group. This is because
of older people doing not accept new technologies by depending on their indigenous
knowledge as younger people accept. However, these farmers especially the elder age
groups usually implement and accepted the soil and water conservation practice because of
having access to money.

As clearly known soil and water conservation practice is labor intensive, households with
larger house hold size make decision to retain practice. On the contrary, in the families with
large house hold to feed, most of house hold members should engage in other food
generating activities. Hence, house hold members fail to make decision to maintain and
retain conservation practice. The same study did by Habtamu (2006) in Gambella Town on
adoption of physical soil and water conservation practice indicate this result. As 01 Keble
(Agerfa) health office report (2014) shows there are more children than older people; this is

14
because of poor health care, poverty, shortage of clean water etc. People died at relatively
young age and this decrease the number of old age groups.

From the survey result about 55.7% are illiterate, 43.3% elementary school, 10.3% high
school and 7.7% are college and above. This shows most of farmers household in the study
area were not educated; because of this, they little information about newly introduced soil
and water conservation practice. The survey result indicates, better-educated house hold
have more perceptions that are realistic about soil erosion problem, have more knowledge
on SWC, and can easily involve in conservation activities. Also survey from group
discussion indicates the same result. Similarly, studies have been conducted in Koga
watershed (high land of Ethiopia), and Gromit waters shed shows the same result. Land
holding size is one of the most important factors that determine the level of agriculture.

According to the view of focus group discussion, there was no fair distribution of farm land
in the study area. This was due to house hold status, ethnic discrimination in the Dergue
regime and before. From the sampled total house hold of respondent about 17% have less
than 2 hectares, 63% have 3-5 hectare and 20% have 6-8 hectare. This indicates farmer
having small farm size rejected SWC practice and on the other hand those adopt soil and
water conservation practice are those who have large farm size in hectare. This implies that
farmers having large farm size are more interested for adopting soil and water conservation
practice. Training on SWC practice. According interview made with farmer have some
knowledge on causes, extent, and consequences of soil erosion on their living with varying
level. Training and education on soil erosion and conservation need to provide and create
further awareness on SWC practice and yield maximization, yield storage system, enhancing
soil fertility and land use.

In the study area, the training on controlling soil erosion has significant contribution on
application of practice. Farmers who have not accessed to training have gained experience
from their neighbor and traditional from their elder. About participation on training for 4
days 56.6% for 8-15 days 13.3% and 10% for 16-21 days farmers get training on SWC
practice. This indicates that most of the farmers get training on soil and water conservation
but less percent that cannot get training. Moreover, giving training on SWC practice

15
improve the relationship between farmers, agricultural office and NGO leaders etc., and
encourage them to implement new conservation practice. Generally, less respondent who
participated 4 days about 56.6%, 5-7 days about 20% 8-15 days 13.3% and 8-15 days
13.3%and 16-21 days about 10% who were adopted soil and water conservation practice.

This indicates the number of training days increase as number of respondent or percentage
decrease. This is farmer’s adoption of soil and water conservation practice decrease.
Therefore, training influences farmers’ adoption towards soil and water conservation
practice.

5. Conclusions and Recommendations

5.1 Conclusions

Ethiopia is one of the developing countries in Africa and its economy is driven by
agriculture. Yet, the agricultural sector is threatened by multitude of factors from which soil
erosion and degradation. Soil erosion and land degradation are caused by numbers of
factors, which are deforestation, overgrazing, intensive cultivation on the high lands; leads
to the country losses millions of dollars in every year and the livelihoods of millions of
people are affected. Some parts of the country practiced the soil and water conservation
structures such as biological and physical soil and water conservation practices to mitigate
these severities. The importance of soil and water conservation practices is to reduce loss of
soil and to increase productivity. To practice the soil and water conservation practices of this
technology in agriculture can play great role.

The study was conducted to analyze farmers’ adoption towards soil and water conservation
structure or practices in 01 Keble (Agerfa). It is mainly focused on farmers’ adoption
towards soil and water conservation practices in their age, educational status, household
size, training and farm size of households.

In general, in terms of adoption of soil and water conservation practices, higher proportion
of farmers who did not adopt soil and water conservation practices due to their socio-
economic conditions and factors like age, educational status, household size, training and

16
farm size, these factors affect farmers adoption of soil and water conservation practices
negatively.

5.2 Recommendations
On the basis of research conducted in study area, the researcher recommended to the local
communities and stakeholders as follows:

 The local community in study area depends on agriculture with little or no soil and
water conservation practices. As a result of this, soil is being eroded and
productivity is reduced. In order to maximize productivity, educating farmers
conserving issue of soil erosion.
 Some farmers and communities in study area practiced some biological and physical
soil and water conservation practices. Government, NGOS and technical experts
must encourage them to modernize their indigenous soil and water conservation
practices.
 All stakeholders must encourage and initiated to participate equally in soil and water
conservation activities with their own interest.

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6. REFERENCES

Addisu Damew (2011). Benefits and challenge of adoption soil conservation

techniques in goromt watershed central Ethiopia, Addis Ababa University,
Ethiopia.
Atakiltie, B. (2003). Soil and Conservation Properly right in Northern Ethiopia
understanding Environmental Change in Small Holders Farming Systems
Doctor Thesis Swedish University of agricultural Science.
Belay, T. (1999). Farmers’ perception of erosion hazards and attributes toward soil conservation
in Ethiopia journals of research 15, No 2;31-58.
•Bekela, S. (1998). Peasant Agriculture and Sustainable land use in Ethiopia.
Economic constraints and incentivizes for soil conservation. Agriculture University
of Norway
Degnet, M. (2000). Determinants of Adoption of High Yielding varieties of Maize of Ethiopia.
EFAP. (1999). The Change for Development Draft final report Addis Ababa Ethiopia. Ervin, E.
(1998). Factors Affecting the Use of Soil Conservation Practices, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
FAO. (1998). The Conservation and Rehabilitation of African Lands Towards the Sustainable
Agriculture. Rome, 378pp.
Habtamu, G. (2006). Farmers’ Adoption of Soil Conservation Structure in Water shed. Addis
Ababa University Ethiopia.

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Hurni, (1990). Degradation and Conservation of Soil and water Conservation in Ethiopia high
lands. Cambridge 27-61pp.
MOFED. (2002). Development and Poverty Problem in Ethiopia
Analysis based on the 1999 Household income Consumption and Expenditure
and Welfare, Addis Ababa Ethiopia.
Morgan, (1991). Soil Erosion and Conservation.
Million. T and Belay. K, (2004). factors affecting adoption of soil conservation
measures in southern Ethiopia: the case of gununo area journal of
agriculture and rural development in topics and subtopics, vol.105, no1,
p4962
Woods, (1990). Natural Resource Management and Rural Development in Ethiopia 2nd
books J. Ldt, London and Jersaypp 187-197.

APPENDIX

I am Abebe Kebede third year biology student at Gambella University. The purpose of this
questionnaire is to assess soil and water conservation practice in the surrounding area
Gambella Town 01 Keble (Agerfa). The response I obtain will be kept confidential.
Therefore, I will appreciate your cooperation if you provide information on this regard.

Part one

Personal information /mark X in the given box /

1/ Sex male
Female
2/ Age
Below 30 years
31 _ 40 years
41 _ 50 years
50 and above

3/ Educational background
Illiterate

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 Elementary
High school
College and above

4/ Marital status married

Single
5/ Family size .........................................................................................
6/Land size in hectare.............................................................................................................
Not cultivated land
Cultivated land
7/ With what crops did you cover trees or grass...................................................
8/ Major income source .................................................................................
9 Additional income sources ............................................................................................
PART TWO
Please for the following question make a circle on the letter of your choice and give answer
on blank space.
1/ What are the main cultivated crops in your area
.............................................................................................................................................
2/ Did you observe the productivity change in your crop yield A/yes B/ no
3/ if your answer is yes in question 2 what could be the reason for the productivity change.
....................................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................
4/ is there soil erosion in your area A/Yes B/ No
5/ if your answer for question 4 is yes, what could be the major causes for soil erosion
....................................................................................................................................................
....................................................................................................................................................
.........................................................................................................................................

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6/ Do you use any soil erosion controlling method A/Yes B/ No what major soil
erosion controlling methods you
use........................................................................................................................................
7/ Did you get awareness about soil and water conservation practice A/ YES B/NO
8/ Did you attend any training on soil and water conservation practice A/YES B/NO
9/ if your answer question for 8 is yes who arrange the program
...........................................................................................................................................
10/ What is the trend of the society awareness toward soil and water conservation in
general .......................................................................................................................................
.................................................................................................................................

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