Abstract:
Soil erosion had been serious problem in the Ethiopia high lands. To minimize this problem
farmers genuine participation in soil and conservation practice perception about soil erosion and
managing activities is permanent important. The main objective of this study was to assess
farmers’ perception on soil erosion and their conservation practice in Damot woyde woreda
Southern region Ethiopia. Interviewees, and questionnaire, data collection tools were used and
also the data was collected from 26 selected households from six PAS and three villages by using
stratified random sampling techniques, descriptive statistics with appropriate statistical tests were
employed to analyze the data. The collected data was analyzed by descriptive data was using spss
version 17 software farmers perceived indictors of the existence erosion and soil fertility loss
differently. Farmers have perceived the existence of soil erosion problem on their farm land had
good motive to participate soil conservation practice. There also perceived well the causes of soil
erosion in their farmland as slope steepness of cultivation fields, ceaseless cultivation and
absences of fallowing, overgrazing, poor agricultural practice and other causes have great roles
severity of soil erosion in the study area explained as severe. Moderate, minor soil corrosion and
a small cultivation has no erosion risk. Farmer good thinking the result of severe soil erosion on
their farmland and recognized as loss of Top soil, reduction of agricultural production, loss of
vegetation cover change in soil color, lack of farm land grazing land. Soil conservation efforts
need hand in hand cooperation with concerned experts while planning and implementation. To
effectively plan for soil conservation and introduce new techniques to manage soil in the right
way, it is necessary to involve local farmers. The study concludes that future land management
policies and strategies should target on the importance of variables such as farmers perception
on soi erosion impacts and control measures preferences.
