Impacts of integrated soil and water conservation measure on the livelihoods of rural Community in Selected Watersheds of Bambasi Woreda

Abstract

Nowadays, most of the people in the world remain heavily dependent on soil resources as their main livelihood source, which leads to soil degradation. Soil erosion is a worldwide environmental problem that reduces the productivity of all natural ecosystems and agriculture, which threatens the lives of most smallholder farmers (Dai et al., 2015; Erkossa et al., 2015). Hence, the major concern of this study was to assess the impacts of integrated soil and water conservation measure on the livelihoods of small holder farmers in Selected Watersheds of Bambasi Woreda. To meet this objective a total of 356 sample households, consisting 178 soil and water conservation  participant and 178   non-program participants, were randomly selected from  seven  kebeles of Bambasi districts (Amba16, Mender 45, Mender 46, Mender 47, Mender 48, Mender 49 and Sonka). Descriptive statistics with appropriate statistical tests, logit and propensity score matching (PSM) were used to meet the stated objective. Descriptive statistical analyses such as mean, standard deviation and percentage were used to analyses basic household characteristics and the types of technologies adopted by the farmers. Estimates of propensity score matching (PSM) indicate the existence of significant crop production increment on average 3.5 quintal production increment per hectare in each participated household head compared to non-participant. The result from the logistic model analysis revealed that participation soil and water conservation technologies was significantly influenced by variables such as severity of erosion, credit use, total land, access to media and soil fertility, distance from market and perception on soil erosion. Therefore, in agriculture dependent country like Ethiopia, soil and water conservation is crucial in improving the livelihoods of the rural farm households. However, to realize the intended outcomes, solving the fragmented nature of land holding, motivating development agent, rewarding model farmer and developing timely fire breaker require immediate attention.