Farmer's Perceptions of Sustainable Land Management Practices in Sekota District, Northeastern, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land degradation is a significant threat to agricultural productivity and economic growth in Ethiopia. Despite the promotion of sustainable land management practices (SLMPs) by government and development agencies to enhance agricultural productivity, the perception level among smallholder farmers remains low. This study aimed to analyze farmers’ perceptions on SLMPs and practices utilized by farmers. Data were collected from 267 randomly selected households using a multistage sampling technique, which included an interview schedule, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions from three sample kebeles in Sekota district during in 2024 production season. Descriptive statistics was used for analyzing quantitative data while qualitative data was analyzed by narrations, interpretation, and conceptual generalization. The most common SLM practices included crop rotation (30.71%), livestock manure (25.84%), integrated methods (20.97%), inorganic fertilizer (17.6%), and compost (4.87%). Our study shows farmers had positive perception index scores for SLMPs, with livestock manure (4.78), livestock manure + inorganic fertilizer (4.14), compost (4.12), and crop rotation (3.99) respectively, although lack of transportation, high price inflation, and labor-intensive were mentioned as the major factors in livestock manure, inorganic fertilizer, and compost respectively. The majority (78.3%) of farmers believed that soil fertility would continue to decline, while 12.7% perceived it would remain unchanged, and 9% perceived it would improve. The finding of the study shows that almost all farmers of the study area had a good perception on the land management practices, as well as the causes and consequences of soil degradation. The major causes of soil degradation perceived by farmers were over-cultivation without fallowing, soil erosion, the slope of the land and poor tillage practices. Whereas declining land productivity, declining crop production, land becoming out of cultivation, hunger and migration, and poverty were the major consequences of soil degradation in the study area. Therefore, increasing farmers’ perception about land degradation risks, enhancing extension service, improving access to training,  improving land productivity per unit area, and addressing barriers specific to each practice are essential to promoting sustainable land management in the study area

Full Text:

PDF

References

Ademe Mihiretu. (2017). Goat Farmers’Adaptation Choices To Climate Change in Abergelie District of Wag-Khimra Zone, Eastern Amhara, Ethiopia. MSc. Thesis, Haramaya University, Haramaya, Ethiopia, 114pp.

Akkaraboyina, M. K., & Tareke, B. M. (2018). Community Perception And Participation Towards Soil And Water Conservation Practices : A Case Study Of Gubalafto District Of Amhara Region ,. International Journal of Food Engineering • July 2018, 6(2), 832–837.

Amanuel Tadesse, & Worku Hailu. (2024). Causes and Consequences of Land Degradation in Ethiopia : A Review. International Journal of Science and Qualitative Analysis, 10(1), 10–21.

Anastasiadou, S. D. (2011). Reliability and Validity Testing of a New Scale for Measuring Attitudes Toward Learning Statistics with Technology. Acta Didactica Napocensia, 4(1), 1–10.

Anto, A., Sugiyanto, S., Yuliati, Y., & Kustanti, A. (2023). Validity and Reliability of the Adoption Questionnaire of Agricultural Mechanization in the Food Estate Area of Central Kalimantan Indonesia. International Journal of Science, Technology & Management, 4(4), 736–741. https://doi.org/10.46729/ijstm.v4i4.855

Bujang, M. A., Khee, H. Y., & Yee, L. K. (2022). A Step by step Guide to Questionnaire Validation Research, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia: Institute for Clinical Research, NIH MY (Shamsul Azhar Shah (ed.); Issue September). https://doi.org/10.5281/zenodo.6801209

Cortina, J. M. (1993). What Is Coefficient Alpha? An Examination of Theory and Applications. Journal of Applied Psychology, 78(1), 98–104. https://doi.org/10.1037/0021-9010.78.1.98

Dallimer, M., Stringer, L. C., Orchard, S. E., Osano, P., Njoroge, G., Wen, C., & Gicheru, P. (2018). Who uses sustainable land management practices and what are the costs and benefits? Insights from Kenya. Land Degradation and Development, 29(9), 2822–2835. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.3001

Das, M. K., Islam, M. M., & Billah, M. M. (2019). Farmers’ Knowledge, Attitude and Practice (KAP) Regarding Nitrogen Fortified Organic Manure in Crop Production. Asian Journal of Agricultural Extension, Economics & Sociology, 33(3), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.9734/ajaees/2019/v33i330176

Dessalew Meseret. (2016). Land Degradation in Amhara Region of Ethiopia: Review on Extent, Impacts and Rehabilitation Practices. Journal of Environment and Earth Science, 6(1), 120–130. www.iiste.org

Ehiakpor, D. S., Danso-abbeam, G., & Mubashiru, Y. (2020). Land Use Policy Adoption of interrelated sustainable agricultural practices among smallholder farmers in Ghana. Land Use Policy, October, 105142. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.landusepol.2020.105142

Ephrem Tilauhun, & Isreal Zewide. (2021). Causes and Impacts of Land Degradation. British Journal of Earth Sciences Research, 9(2), 28–37.

Estefanos, E. (2023). Land Degradation Causes , Consequences and Sustainability of the Restoration Efforts : The Case of Soro. International Journal of Sustainable Development Research, 9(2), 18–27. https://doi.org/10.11648/j.ijsdr.20230902.11

FAO. (2011). Sustainable Land Management in Practice: Guidelines and Best Practices for Sub-Saharan Africa.

Farouque, G., & Takeya, H. (2007). Farmers’ Perception of Integrated Soil Fertility and Nutrient Management for Sustainable Crop Production: A Study of Rural Areas in Bangladesh. Journal of Agricultural Education, 48(3), 111–122. https://doi.org/10.5032/jae.2007.03111

Gashaw Tenna, Atsushi Tsunekawa, Nigussie Haregeweyn, Zerihun Nigussie, Mitsuru Tsubo, Asres Elias, Zemen Ayalew, Daregot Berihun, Enyew Adgo, Derege Tsegaye Meshesha, Dessalegn Molla, Okoyo Ndemo, E., & Zemedu, L. (2021). Smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for sustainable land management practices in the Upper Blue Nile basin, Ethiopia. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 23(4), 5640–5665. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10668-020-00835-6

Gebrehana Girmay, Awdenegest Moges, & Alemayehu Muluneh. (2020). Estimation of soil loss rate using the USLE model for Agewmariayam Watershed , northern. Agriculture & Food Security, 9(9), 1–12. https://doi.org/10.1186/s40066-020-00262-w

Gedefaw Abebe, & Debebe Sisay. (2019). Factors affecting use of organic fertilizer among smallholder farmers in Sekela district of Amhara region, Northwestern Ethiopia. Cogent Food and Agriculture, 5(1), 1–11. https://doi.org/10.1080/23311932.2019.1669398

Gonde, G. E. (2022). Assessment Of Farmers ’ Perception Towards Soil And Water Conservation Measures At Bako Tibe District , Western Ethiopia. 1, 1–22.

Guta Regasa, & Yadeta Bekele. (2019). Causes, consequences and coping strategies of land degradation: Evidence from Ethiopia. Journal of Degraded and Mining Lands Management, 7(1), 1953–1957. https://doi.org/10.15243/jdmlm.2019.071.1953

Habtamu Nebere, Degefa Tolossa, & Bantider Amare. (2021). Analyzing Factors Affecting the Sustainability of Land Management Practices in Mecha Woreda , Northwestern Ethiopia. Sustainability, 13(7007), 1–15.

Habtamu Sewnet, & Amare Sewnet. (2016). Author ’ s Accepted Manuscript. International Soil and Water Conservation Research. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.iswcr.2016.01.002

IFPRI & ZEF. (2016). Economics of Land Degradation and Improvement: A Global Assessment for Sustainable Development. International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI) Washington, DC: and Center for Development Research (ZEF) Bonn, Germany. (E. Nkonya, A. Mirzabaev, & J. von Braun (eds.)). Springer Open. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-319-19168-3

IPBES. (2018). The IPBES assessment report on land degradation and land restoration (L. Montanarella, R. Scholes, & A. Brainich (eds.)). https://doi.org/10.4324/9781315640051-105

Kebede Wolka, Muldera, J., & Birhanu Biazin. (2018). E ff ects of soil and water conservation techniques on crop yield , runo ff and soil loss in Sub-Saharan Africa : A review. Agricultural Water Management, 207(January), 67–79. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.05.016

Kiptoo, K. O., & Mirzabaev, A. (2014). Economics of land degradation in Eastern Africa (Issue 128). https://hdl.handle.net/10419/99988

Lanckriet, S., Derudder, B., Naudts, J., Bauer, H., Deckers, J., Haile, M., & Nyssen, J. (2015). A Political Ecology Perspective of Land Degradation in the North Ethiopian Highlands. Land Degradation and Development, 26(5), 521–530. https://doi.org/10.1002/ldr.2278

Molla Mekonnen. (2016). Sustainable Land Management. Journal of Environmental Protection, 7(March), 502–506.

Mushir Ali, & Kedru Surur. (2012). Soil and Water Conservation Management Through Indigenous and Traditional Practices in Ethiopia: A Case Study. Ethiopian Journal of Environmental Studies and Management, 5(4), 343–355. https://doi.org/10.4314/ejesm.v5i4.3

Mustafa-Msukwa, A. K., Mutimba, J. K., Masangano, C., & Edriss, A. K. (2011). An Assessment of the Adoption of Compost Manure by Smallholder Farmers in Balaka District, Malawi. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 39, 17–25.

Nanjundeswaraswamy, T. S., & Divakar, S. (2021). Determination of Sample Size and Sampling Methods in Applied Research. Proceedings on Engineering Sciences, 3(1), 25–32. https://doi.org/10.24874/pes03.01.003

Odhiambo, J. J. O., & Nemadodzi, L. E. (2007). Soil Fertility Management Practices By Smallholder Farmers in Vhembe District, Limpopo Province. South African Journal of Agricultural Extension, 36(1), 53–61.

Oyetunde-Usman, Z., Ogunpaimo, O. R., Olagunju, K. O., Ambali, O. I., & Ashagidigbi, W. M. (2021). Welfare Impact of Organic Fertilizer Adoption: Empirical Evidence From Nigeria. Frontiers in Sustainable Food Systems, 5(July), 1–17. https://doi.org/10.3389/fsufs.2021.691667

Pacheco, F. A. L., Fernandes, L. F. S., Junior, R. F. V., Valera, C. A., & Pissarra, T. C. T. (2018). Land degradation: multiple environmental consequences and routes to neutrality. Current Opinion in Environmental Science & Health, June, 1–17. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.coesh.2018.07.002

Pimentel, J. L. (2010). A Note on the Usage of Likert Scaling for Research Data Analysis. USM R&D Journal, 18(2), 109–112.

Place, F., Barrett, C. B., Freeman, H. A., Ramisch, J. J., & Vanlauwe, B. (2003). Prospects for integrated soil fertility management using organic and inorganic inputs : evidence from smallholder African agricultural systems. Food Policy, 28, 365–378. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.foodpol.2003.08.009

Sungbaahee, S. B., & Kpieta, A. B. (2021). Smallholder farmers’ perception of Sustainable Land Management Practices (SLMPs) in the Upper West Region, Ghana. African Geographical Review, 40(4), 444–458. https://doi.org/10.1080/19376812.2020.1845216

Tesfaye Samuel. (2017). Determinants of the Adoption of Sustainable Land Management Practices among Smallholder Farmers ’ in Jeldu District , West Shewa Zone , Oromia Region , Ethiopia. Journal of Economics and Sustainable Development, 8(5), 96–116.

Vanlauwe, B., Bationo, A., Chianu, J., Giller, K. E., Merckx, R., Mokwunye, U., Ohiokpehai, O., Pypers, P., Tabo, R., Shepherd, K. D., Smaling, E. M. A., Woomer, P. L., & Sanginga, N. (2010). R. Tabo is with the International Crops Research Institute for the Semi-Arid Tropics (ICRISAT) BP 12404. Niger. K.D. Shepherd Is with the World Agroforestry Centre, 39(1), 17–24.

Vanlauwe, B., Descheemaeker, K., Giller, K. E., Huising, J., Merckx, R., Nziguheba, G., Wendt, J., & Zingore, S. (2015). Integrated soil fertility management in sub-Saharan Africa: Unravelling local adaptation. Soil, 1(1), 491–508. https://doi.org/10.5194/soil-1-491-2015

Viladrich, C., Angulo-Brunet, A., & Doval, E. (2017). A journey around alpha and omega to estimate internal consistency reliability | Un viaje alrededor de alfa y omega para estimar la fiabilidad de consistencia interna. Anales de Psicologia, 33(3), 755–782.

Wawire, A. W., Csorba, Á., Tóth, J. A., Michéli, E., Szalai, M., Mutuma, E., & Kovács, E. (2021). Soil fertility management among smallholder farmers in Mount Kenya East region. Heliyon, 7(3). https://doi.org/10.1016/j.heliyon.2021.e06488

Wudu Abiye. (2020). Review on Impacts of Land Degradation on Agricultural Production in Ethiopia Review on Impacts of Land Degradation on Agricultural Production in Ethiopia. Journal of Resources Development and Management, 57(June), 21–29. https://doi.org/10.7176/JRDM

DOI: https://doi.org/10.46676/ij-fanres.v%25vi%25i.479