Valuation of Cropland Ecosystem Products of Smallholder Farm Households in Hare River Catchment, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The crop production value of nature has to be boldly appreciated in Ethiopia where agriculture is the main livelihood source of most people. However, studies aimed at estimating cropland services were rare in Ethiopia and Hare Catchment. Thus, the objective of this study was to estimate the crop production value of the nature of smallholder farmers of Hare Catchment, Southern Ethiopia. The study applied a quantitative approach and survey design. Data was collected using a questionnaire of 465 households (identified via systematic random sampling) and interviews. Mean, t-test, analysis of variance, and linear regression were used for data analyses. The average net crop production value of nature in the lower, middle and the upper catchment of Hare was US$ 907.3, 455.1, and US$ 512.3 per household/year, respectively. The average production (20.4 quintals) and gross value (US$ 704.8) per/household/year of Hare catchment revealed significant variation among households based on the difference in gender, farm size, labor, and fertilizer used for farming at a 99% confidence level. 78.2% of the crop production variation among farmers was significantly predicted by farm size, labor, seedling, fertilizer, and seed used for farming. The average annual net crop harvest value (US$ 643) of nature was 91.2% of the average revenue (US$ 704.8) from cropland products of Hare. While farm size was the strongest predictor of crop production variation in the lower Hare, labor was the strongest predictor of its variation in the middle and the upper catchment. Thus, government bodies and farmers should take integrated actions to tackle the yield bottle-necks of croplands in Hare Catchment, Southern Ethiopia.