Abstract:
The purpose of this study was to assess the status of community participation in the
rehabilitation of degraded land. In order to achieve the objective of the study, both primary and
secondary data were generated by employing qualitative and quantitative data. Stratified
sampling technique was used to select sample kebeles. Accordingly six rural kebeles were
selected two ago ecological zone by purposively. Field survey was also conducted to collect the
necessary data from 194 sample households, which were selected from six rural kebeles by using
simple random sampling techniques. Interview and observation were also used to collect the
relevant data. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistic such as percentage, frequency,
tables, figure, and Chi-square test among independent and dependent variables. All statistical
manipulations were done by SPSS 16.0 versions for windows. The result of the study revealed
that majority of the farmers hold moderate level of participation on the land rehabilitati on
practices, governmental experts are more participants in the practices. Tree planting, soil bund,
contour plowing and closure of grazing land were widely used land rehabilitation practices in
the study area. The study also revealed that there was statistically significant association in
participation of farmers in terms of age, educational back ground, family size and income level.
It shows that famer’s relatively young age, attended primary school, large family size and high
income level farmers found to have better participation about the land rehabilitation practices.
Based on the findings it was recommended that, continuous training and experience sharing
program, immediate action to increase the number of literate persons, to practicing compatible
practices for the agro climatic zone and extending effective practices, create opportunities for
alternative means of livelihood and promoting NGOs effort to involve in land rehabilitation
practices in the highly degraded area.
