EFFECTS OF SOIL EROSION ON CROP PRODUCTION AND LOCAL COMMUNITY PERCEPTION ON SOIL CONSERVATION PRACTICES IN CHILGA WOREDA, CENTRAL GONDAR ZONE, AMHARA REGION, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethiopia is considered to be one of the least developed countries where agriculture had always played a central role in the country’s economy. Although agriculture has always been the mainstay of the economy, it is characterized by a very low or stagnant growth rate and a declining trend. This is mainly the result of the low productivity of the sector. The rapidly increasing population has led to a declining availability of cultivable land and a very high rate of soil erosion. In the study area, soil erosion by water constitutes to the most widespread and damaging process of soil degradation. This study was examine soil erosion effects on crop production, local community perception and conservation practices in chilga woreda, Central Gondar Zone Amhara regional state. Data was obtained from 180 systematic random selected farmers households’ heads. Field observations, questionnaire and in-depth interviews was hold with the farmers, agricultural extension agents, and traditional community agricultural chiefs to obtain additional information. The data obtained was subjected both to descriptive and inferential statistics using correlation analysis. Descriptive statistics such as frequency mean and percentage was used to describe and characterize respondents’ socio-economic characteristics and binary logit regression model was used to analyze factors that influence farmers’ perceptions of soil erosion. To present the result, tables and figures were also used. The finding of the study reveals that deforestation, slope steepness of the cultivated land and overgrazing were the main reason for an increment of soil erosion in the study area. In the study area, though not well organized and implemented improperly, farmers have been applied various types of SWC technologies to arrest soil erosion. The most common practices recognized by farmers are contour ploughing, soil/stone bund, cut-off drain, waterways, and check dam. The study result also showed that loss of soil fertility and the reduction of yield over time were major consequences of soil erosion in the study area. The results of binary logistic regression model showed that Age, Educational level of household head, Extension service, farming experience, Slope of farm land and Land holding size were among the major determinants factors for farmers` perception on Soil Erosion in the study area. The data obtained from the community of the study area through focus group discussion states that crop production has declined continuously over the past decades and the amount of rainfall received generally does not cover the whole growing period of some crops. Short but intense precipitation had led to flooding and soil erosion, while the late onset and early cessation of rain caused crop failures. Thus to effectively address issues of soil erosion problems, it is possible to recommended that, the study area Agriculture and Rural Development office, non-governmental organizations and other concerned bodies should take in to consideration the factors that discourage farmers adoption of SWC measures, and different projects should integrate the indigenous and biological measures with the physical measures to ensure further sustainability of soil erosion measures