IMPLICATIONS OF LAND REHABILITATION PRACTICES ON LIVELIHOOD CONDITIONS: THE CASE OF LANFURO WOREDA, SILTE ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Land degradation is one of the major environmental hazards. It is one of the major causes of low and decline agricultural productivity, loss of biodiversity and poverty in Ethiopia. In order to combat the problem of land degradation, various efforts of land rehabilitation practices have been made throughout the country. Therefore, the objective of this study is to assess the implication of land rehabilitation practice on livelihood condition of people in Lanfuro woreda, Silte zone, Southern, Ethiopia. Data require for this study were gathered using questionnaire survey of 277 households (who were identified via systematic random sampling), interview, FGD and observation, and also from secondary sources. Tools like percentages, chi-square, t-test, etc., were used for data analysis. Currently farmers applied different land rehabilitation practice like SWC (terracing, soil/stone bound, gabion and mulching), agro-forestry and area enclosure. The finding of the study indicated that the trend of land rehabilitation practices have been increasing and resulted in increasing crop productivity, livestock productivity and household income in the study area. However, population pressure, age, access of education, off- farming activities, community participation are the major determinant factors in implementing land rehabilitation practices in effective way. The study strongly recommended that limiting family size or regulating population growth, awareness creation and training advocacy for SWC activities should be given for farmer by government. To achieve this, working in coordination with local communities and strengthening partnership between local government and NGOs in land rehabilitation practices need to be given due attention.