THE STATUS OF COMMUNITY PARTICIPATION IN THE REHABILITATION OF DEGRADED LAND. A CASE STUDY OF SHEBEDINO WOREDA, SIDAMA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA.

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.