ASSESSMENT OF IMPACTS OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES ON FARMERS’ LIVELIHOOD IN ZEIY WATERSHED, MAJANG ZONE, GAMBELLA REGION, ETHIOPIA.

Abstract

With the intention to assess the impacts of soil and water conservation (SWC) practices on crop production, household income and agricultural inputs uses, this study entitled assessment of impacts of soil and water conservation practices on farmers has been conducted in Zeiy watershed, Gambella, Ethiopia. Multistage, simple random and snowball sampling techniques were used to select appropriate sample size. A total of 132 household respondents were determined from a total of 2,943 households in three sampled kebeles. Household-based interview, key informants interview (KII) and transect walk were used in order to collect necessary data. Collected data were analyzed in statistical package for social science (SPSS). Analysis results indicated that practiced households have harvested an average of 44.74 quintal of crop production per hectare per year while non-practiced households reaped a mean of 23.29 quintal of crop production per hectare per year with mean difference equivalent to 21.5 kilogram of crop production per household. While practiced households earned an average of 3282.58 Ethiopian birr per household per year, non-practiced households earned a mean of 2661.97 Ethiopian birr per household per year with mean difference equivalent to 620.6 Ethiopian birr of household income. In terms of labour demand, practiced households demand an average of 4 persons per household for agricultural activities whereas nonpracticed households require an average of 2 persons per household. Even though practiced households demanded an average of 2 additional persons per household to be hired, non-practiced household required approximately a mean of zero extra human power. But this is only true for families with medium and high family size. While practiced households use a mean of 30.89 kilogram of Di-amonnium phosphate (DAP) fertilizer in crop fields, non-practiced households use an average of 62.92 kilogram of the same type of fertilizer in their crop fields with mean difference equivalent to 32.03 kilogram of DAP per household. Practiced households use a mean of 22.27 kilogram of Urea fertilizer per household in their crop fields whereas non-practiced households use an average of 53.56 kilogram of Urea fertilizer per household in their crop fields with mean difference equivalent to 31.28 kilogram of Urea fertilizer per household. With these findings, it is rationale to conclude that SWC measures have positive impact on crop production. It has slight contribution to household income. Labour demand (household and hired) increase, level of inorganic fertilizer use decrease but use of organic fertilizer increase. Thus it is worth to recommend that non-practiced households need to be aware about the advantages of conservation measures but with due consideration to challenges hindering adoption. SWC measures need to be integrated with other income generating activities. There is need to assist socially and economically disadvantaged sections of the community that have desire for conservation but incapable to make it reality.