Determinants of Adoption of Physical Soil and Water Conservation Technologies in Dengab Micro-Watershed, Ethiopia

Enawugaw Alemayehu

doi:10.7176/jaas/69-02

Abstract

Land degradation due to soil erosion is the critical factor that contributes for a decline in production and productivity. To reverse the situation the concerned government agencies and NGOs are undertaking some measures in some degraded areas of the highlands including the study area. However, the adoption of soil conservation technologies by farmers is hindered by a number of factors. Therefore, the objective of this study was to identify and examine the socio-economic, institutional and physical factors that determine the adoption of physical soil and water conservation technologies in the study area. To address the objective of the study both primary and secondary data were collected. Three-stage sampling technique was used to draw the sample respondents for the study. The primary data were collected from 77 sample households by using stratified probability sampling method. In line with this, the combination of data collection methods by the help of agricultural extension agents’ interview using questionnaires and focus group discussions were employed. The binary logit model was used to identify the factors affecting the adoption of physical soil and water conservation technologies. In addition, descriptive statistics were also used. The result of logit model indicated that education level of household head, land holding, training, slope, land ownership, extension contact and perception positively and significantly affected the adoption of physical soil and water conservation technologies at conventional probability levels. While, age, distance and fertility affected the adoption of these technologies negatively and significantly. Therefore, any soil and water conservation plans should consider the farmers’ willingness and factors impeding their practices before introducing these technologies; create awareness on the farmers about the overall benefits and challenges of the technologies and follow down-top approach and include farmers in any decision making processes. Keywords: adoption, improved PSWC measures, Determinants , Basoliben District DOI: 10.7176/JAAS/69-02 Publication date: October 31 st 2020

Highlights

Soil degradation is a worldwide environmental crisis that requires urgent interference measures
The Chi-square test result indicated that there is no significant difference between the two groups regarding the perception on physical soil and water conservation practices
The result of the binary logistic regression model indicated that seven variables were found to have positive and significant influence on the adoption of physical soil and water conservation technologies

Summary

Introduction

Soil degradation is a worldwide environmental crisis that requires urgent interference measures. It is responsible for 84% of corrupted land (Blanco and Lal, 2008). The principal causes of soil degradation are rainfall and wind which causes soil erosion leading to low agricultural production, food insecurity, underfeeding and scarcity (FAO, 1986). Agriculture in Ethiopia is the base of the country's economy accounting more than 50% of gross domestic product (GDP), 84% of national export and 80% of total employment (Meseret & Amsalu, 2017). In recent times, there is rising concern that soil erosion seriously limits agricultural sustainability in Ethiopia (Gessesse et al, 2015). Land degradation in the form of soil erosion has vulnerable agricultural productivity and economic growth of the state (Balana et al, 2010)

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