Abstract
Investments by farmers in soil and water conservation (SWC) practices are influenced by the physical effectiveness, financial efficiency and social acceptability of these practices. The objective of this study is to evaluate different SWC practices in the north-western highlands of Ethiopia using various qualitative criteria and weightings based on ecological, economic and social impacts using Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA). The study reveals that MCA is a useful evaluation tool that takes into account non-monetary and less quantifiable effects of SWC practices. Farmers employ a range of criteria to evaluate the performance of SWC practices. The relative importance of each criterion in their selection of SWC alternatives depends mostly on slope categories. In steeply sloping areas, farmers assigned the highest score for criteria related to ecological impacts; whilst preferring practices with stronger positive economic impacts in moderate and gentle sloping areas. Policy makers and development practitioners are encouraged to pay greater attention to both farmer preferences and slope specific circumstances when designing SWC strategies and programmes.
Highlights
Agriculture is the major source of livelihood in Ethiopia
In our formal and informal surveys we found that the major objectives of farmers in relation to soil and water conservation (SWC) investments are ecological restoration, economic benefits, and diminishing socially adverse effects of erosion and SWC measures
The study revealed that Multi-Criteria Analysis (MCA) is an effective evaluation tool that can take into account nonmonetary and less quantifiable effects of SWC measures, which is not possible with a CBA
Summary
Agriculture is the major source of livelihood in Ethiopia. land degradation in the form of soil erosion has hampered agricultural productivity and economic growth of the nation (Haileslassie et al, 2005; Hengsdijk et al, 2005; Balana et al, 2010). Investments1in soil and water conservation (SWC) practices enhance crop production, food security and household income (Adgo et al, 2013). Recognizing these connections, the government of Ethiopia is promoting SWC technologies for improving agricultural productivity, household food security and rural livelihoods. In the Ethiopian highlands, different SWC technologies have been promoted among farmers to control erosion. These technologies include stone bunds, soil bunds and Fanya juu bunds (made by digging a trench and moving the soil uphill to form an embankment). The adoption rates of these SWC technologies vary considerably within the country (Kassie et al, 2009; Tefera and Sterk, 2010; Tesfaye et al, 2013; Teshome et al, 2014), largely because investments by farmers in SWC are influenced by the ecological, economic and social impacts of the SWC technologies
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