EFFECTS OF FARMLAND DEGRADATION ON THE LIVELIHOOD OF RURAL COMMUNITY: A CASE OF LOMA WOREDA, DAWURO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Abstract Livelihood of Ethiopian farmers’ is most severely affected by natural and man-made farmland degradation problem. The main objective of this study is to assess the effects of farmland degradation on the livelihood of rural communities in Loma woreda, Dawuro zone, South Ethiopia. Combination of both purposively and random sampling techniques were used to select study Woreda, Kebele and HHs. Data were collected from three agro-ecological zone representative kebeles, namely Fulassa-Borthe, Dissa-qera and Yello-Worbati, totally 132 households, 21 FGD participants and 18 key informants were participated. The instruments used for data collection were questionnaires, interview, focus group discussions, and observation. Data obtained from questionnaires were analyzed using descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, percentage, frequency and inferential statistics, like one way ANOVA and chi-square test with the help of SPSS version 20. In addition, multinomial logistic regression model was used to analyze the determinants of livelihood strategy. Landsat image, GIS and RS were also used to analyze LULC change. The result from satellite image interpretation indicated an increase in farmland and water body and increase in shrub/grassland and forestland. The result showed that the area before 18 year was low problem. The recent data shows over cultivated land, with very low crope product and productivity due to farmland degradation. The main factor is land management problem, and it final output was economical shortage in the community. Besides, the multinomial logistic regression model analysis showed that, the rural livelihood strategy determined by Livestock, lack of diversified income, Input use, Contact with DAs, Sex, Land holding size Family size, Age and Education were statistically significant explanatory variables in rural livelihood strategy. To cope up the problem, about 47.67% farmers developed strategies, like AG+ non-farming, AG+ off-farming and the combination of three (AG only, AG+non- farming and AG +off-farming) livelihood choice than agriculture only. In order to alleviate the FLD problems and to increase productive capacity of farmland local government, NGOs and study area community should work jointly to change degraded farmland use wisely without compromising the next generation.