DETERMINANTS, PROSPECTS AND CHALLENGES OF AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES IN SOUTH GONDAR ZONE: THE CASE OF LIBO KEMKEM WOREDA AMHARA REGION

Abstract

Agroforestry has been used widely in developing world as a strategy to manage effects of climate variability. However, its contribution to the welfare of farmers in rural communities is not well researched. Agroforestry is increasingly being recognized as a holistic food production system that can have numerous environmental, economic, and social benefits. This study aims at Determinants, prospects and challenges of AFP towards farmers’ perception, role and contribution to increase farmer’s knowledge, diversify their sources of income and reduce their vulnerability to wards deforestation, land degradation and soil erosion. Taragedam and Derita kebeles are purposively selected in this study due to the economic base of residents living in the study area is highly dependent on the agroforestry practices such as, sold of charcoal, fuel wood and animal dungs as well as the study kebeles are near to the researcher’s work place. Primary and secondary data will be collected by using structured and semi- structured questionnaires as well as interview. Two hundred Six (206) households for sample survey, key informants interview and focus group discussion will be the main source of the primary data collection. In addition to this secondary data was gathered from various reports and other relevant documents. The collected data was analyzed descriptively and used Statistical Package for Social Science (SPSS). The researcher was employed cross-sectional survey design. Based on the analyzed data gathered through questioners, interview, group discussion and observation, the researcher found that statically there is significant variation between house hold respondents of farming practices of agroforestery in terms of total income earned from crop, livestock, land size, house hold education level and used expenditures. Education level, awareness level and environmental factors of the households positively and significantly influenced for the respondents of agroforestry practices and the main contributing factors that household’s respondents. Therefore, the researcher has recommended some possible recommendations based on the results of the findings drawn from FGD, household survey, field observation and better improvement ideas of small holder farmer’s respondents of agroforestery farming practices particularly; in the study area. Thus, it is better to understanding, the trends, experience of farming situation of the attitude and awareness level of farmers’ indigenous knowledge. Understanding of farmers perception and awareness helps to decide and put the expected solutions for the limitations of the findings either developer’s or policy decision makers, important further to scale up and update/ formulate policies, programs and projects, helps to prioritize and set criteria’s for identification of farm households in certain areas of the intervention to improve food security and helps to understand gaps of awareness and perception in to practice technologies to provide training best suited in the respondents of AFP in the study areas.