INDIGENOUS SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES AND THIER ROLE IN CLIMATE CHANGE ADAPTATION AND MITIGATION, THE CASE OF DERASHE PEOPLE, SOUTHWEST ETHIOPIA

Abstract

In struggling climate change through adaptation and mitigation, indigenous people’s knowledge has been given less attention. This study was conducted in Derashe people, South Nations, Nationalities and Peoples Region, Ethiopia. The present study assessed the role of Derashe people’s indigenous soil and water conservation practice in climate change adaptation and mitigation. The study was based on a survey of 120 farm households and additional data collected through focus group discussion in the lowland and midland kebeles of the people. Representative soil samples were collected from 36 farm plots (24 plots from the conserved and 12 from the non-conserved farm plots) for comparison of the effect of the indigenous soil and water conservation practice on key soil physico-chemical properties and potential of climate mitigation through carbon sequestration at a depth of 0-15 and 15-30cm. Statistical analysis of descriptive statistics (mean, frequency, percentage and standard deviation) and Chi-square test were used to analyze the survey data. To test the effect of indigenous soil and water conservation measures on soil physico-chemical properties and carbon sequestration potential, one-way ANOVA mean comparisons were used with p < 0.05 and p<0.01 confidence levels. The analysis was done by statistical software SPSS version 20. The result showed that crop rotation, zero tillage, soil and stone bund, trash lines, mixed cropping and agroforestry were major indigenous soil and water conservation practices. The result showed that the people of Derashe were aware of climate change and perceive an increase in temperature and decrease in rainfall trend. The people used indigenous SWC as a major strategy to adapt climate change along with planting trees, using improved seeds, water harvesting, irrigation, early or late planting, diversify crop varieties, selling livestock and praying to God. The indigenous soil and water conservation practice showed significant effect on soil key physico-chemical properties. The soil carbon sequestration potential of farmlands showed significant variation where higher carbon stock recorded in conserved farmland. These results indicated that indigenous SWC measures in farmland have great role in climate adaptation and mitigation and improving soil quality. The findings generally suggested that incorporating indigenous knowledge and supporting indigenous people were found to be the better option in climate change adaptation and mitigation.