FARMERS’ PERCEPTION OF SOIL EROSION AND MANAGEMENT PRACTICES. A CASE OF ARBEGONA WOREDA “WOINA-DEGA” AGRO-ECOLOGY ZONE, SIDAMA ZONE, SNNPRS

Abstract

Soil erosion is a complex process that involves the detachment, movement and deposition of soil particles mainly by wind and water but the problem is not noticed and perceived by all farmers at the same fashion and level. Thus, the study is aimed to assess the status of farmers’ perception of soil erosion and management practices in Arbegona woreda woina-dega agro-ecology zone. A two-stage systematic sampling procedure was employed to select four sample kebeles and 175 sample household heads to collect primary data. Interview and observation were also used to collect the relevant data. Descriptive statistics, chi-square analysis and Likert scale were employed to show the frequency and percentage distribution of respondents. As the study has been shown the farmers perception of difficulty for farming, desertification, poverty and economic backwardness and increase the requirement for fertilizer as the consequences of soil erosion were found relatively less and not reported by majority of the respondents except few educated farmers. Concerning the perception to soil erosion management practices, closure of grazing land, windbreak, fallowing and mulching perhaps are said to have been the least perceived as management practices used by farmers except those who attended primary and secondary education. On the other hand, tree planting, contour plowing, terracing and organic manure were indicated as the frequently used soil management practices. Windbreak, fallowing, closure of grazing land, rotational grazing, mixed cropping, and making waterways were also another important soil management practices but not used by the majority of the respondents except educated farmers. Pertaining the sources of information for farmers extension agents and training were found as the most important one. As the chi-square analysis has been shown age, education, family size, income level, and information access were major factors that influence perception of farmers. Therefore, continuous education, training and disseminating information is very important to arouse farmers’ perception of soil erosion and management practices by considering their current perception level in the study area.