Abstract
While the benefits of soil water management practices relative to soil erosion have been extensively documented, evidence regarding their effect on yields is inconclusive. Following a strong El-Niño, some regions of Ethiopia experienced major droughts during the 2015/16 agricultural season. Using the propensity scores method on a nationally representative survey in Ethiopia, this study investigates the effect of two widely adopted soil water management practices – terraces and contour bunds – on yields and assesses their potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is shown that at the national level, terraced plots have slightly lower yields than non-terraced plots. However, data support the hypothesis that terraced plots acted as a buffer against the 2015 Ethiopian drought, while contour bunds did not. This study provides evidence that terraces have the potential to help farmer deal with current climate risks. These results can inform the design of climate change adaptation policies and improve targeting of soil water management practices in Ethiopia.
Highlights
Research suggests that conventional agriculture creates unsustainable erosion rates that can result in decreased agricultural potential (Montgomery, 2007)
Slightly less than one third of sampled plots are terraced – this figure is similar for contour bunds
Households that cultivate terraced plots have a better access to extension services (85% vs 78%, p = < .0001)
Summary
Research suggests that conventional agriculture creates unsustainable erosion rates that can result in decreased agricultural potential (Montgomery, 2007). Following a top-down approach, soil water management practices have been promoted according to the land’s physical limitations and erosion risks. These interventions, often implemented at the water catchment level, are designed to foster community labor mobilization (Desta et al, 2005). Climate-smart agriculture has emerged as an approach whose objective is to integrate climate change into the planning and implementation of sustainable agricultural strategies (Lipper et al, 2014) Three pillars define this approach: sustainable production; adapting and building resilience to climate change; and developing opportunities to reduce greenhouse gas emissions from agriculture. The question of whether soil water management practices can increase resilience in the context of climate change can best be assessed through crop yield response to extreme events
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