Volume :

2

Issue :

4

Abstract :

Soil erosion is one of the major causes of land degradation that resulted in low agricultural productivity in Ethiopia. In the study area, Soil erosion by water constitutes a threat to the maintenance of the subsistence living of the Ethiopia rural population. Efforts made in the earlier period efforts of soil conservation did not bring about significant results, mainly because of lack of bottom-up approach. Uprooting this past oversight and instating a participatory approach has since been strongly recommended as the right strategy which was being practices for some years now in the study area. This research analyses the extent of farmers’ perception and participation in the current SWC activities in the Doreba and Hobichika watershed, Kachabirra Woreda, Kembata Tembaro Zone. Formal household survey, informal and focus group discussions and field observation were used to generate the data. The result shows that the majority of the respondent farmers participated in the SWC against their will. The most important factor discouraging them from participating freely was the perceived ineffectiveness of the soil and water conservation structures measures under construction. Awareness about severity soil erosion as a problem, Participation in SWC activities, level of literacy, land be absolute private property and off-farm were found to be less significant in providing an explanation for the disinterest shown by most of the respondent farmers towards the SWC activities except farmers willingness of participation and adoptions of soil conservation. Therefore, the most important factors that require immediate consideration for SWC activities in the study area are: firstly, SWC structures have to be carefully designed and constructed taking into account ground realities in the study sites, and secondly, participation of the household farmers has to be through their own conviction regarding the effectiveness and efficiency of the soil conservation structures. In addition, Alternative soil and water conservation structures will have to be considered in this regard.