Abstract
Community’s perception of land degradation by erosion is a key social factor that is important in deciding options for controlling soil losses. Therefore, understanding Community’s knowledge and their perception and factors that influence their land management practices are of paramount importance for promoting sustainable land use in the study area. Community of the study area have good perception of soil erosion in general and its causes, indicators and the area of their plot of land vulnerable to soil erosion in particular. Moreover, they have good traditional and modern measure of soil conservation methods. However, various hindering factors such as lack of capital, poverty, small size of their land and other socio-economic and physical factors were observed which obstacle to apply the SWC technologies. In addition, Community’s perception of importance of modern SWC technologies was very high. However, the way of their perception seems wrong. Because, they perceive that modern SWC is government strategy to rehabilitate highly degraded area through campaigns rather than method of soil conservation on the agricultural land. They consider that the structure occupy large area that it hinder them to fully utilize their highly fragemented farmland due to high dependency on agriculture. Therefore, it is recommended that good policy and strategies by the government, corrective intervention from any concerned organizations aimed at this issue as well as the community’s participation on encouraging farmers’ participation in soil conservation practices are very important to solve current soil erosion devastations and environmental deterioration of the study area. Key words: Participation, perception, soil erosion.
Highlights
Soil erosion studies have gained great prominence because of the potentail threat it has to land resource and crop productivity
66.7% were below 15 years of age and 2% above 64 years.This indicate, that the study area is characterized by high dependency ratio mainly with young age dependence
The current trend of land degradation by soil erosion is a threat to food security, and Alaltu watershed is not an exception
Summary
Soil erosion studies have gained great prominence because of the potentail threat it has to land resource and crop productivity. About 80% of the current degradation of agricultural land is caused by soil erosion (Angima et al, 2003). Soil erosion in association with inappropriate land management practices is one of the main factors causing degradation. Poor land management practices and lack of effective planning and implementation for soil conservation are responsible for accelerating degradation on agricultural land (Hurni, 2005).
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