Effect of Socio-Economic Factors on Adoption of Soil Conservation Measures in Kurundu Oya Sub Catchment

Abstract

Human induced soil erosion continues to be a major issue in terms of crop production and river water quality of the Upper Mahaweli Catchment Area (UMCA). Although the direct causes of soil erosion are well known, the underlying root causes are embedded in socio-economic conditions in the society. Many researchers have pointed out that the problem of low adoption is associated with incompatibility of the technology with the prevailing socio-economic condition of the community. Therefore, an attempt was made to identify the constraints to adopt soil conservation measures in the study area. The study consisted of three steps including a questionnaire survey, in depth interviews and transects walks. According to the results of the study, the investment on soil conservation measures is likely to increase with the farm income, level of awareness and the ownership security of the land. It was identified that even the encroachers (people who encroached the state lands) can be mobilized towards soil conservation to a certain extent through awareness programs. The capacity of the extension service has to be strengthened in order to make the farming community aware of soil conservation. Land alienation programs could make effective changes in soil conservation by giving social values to the land owner through a more secure land tenure system. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.4038/tar.v21i1.2587 Tropical Agricultural Research Vol. 21(1): 62-72 (2009)