Impacts of Adopting Sustainable Land Management Practices on the Livelihoods of Smallholder Farmers  The Case of Benishangul Gumuz Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land degradation has been identified as one of the most serious problems that threaten the sustainability of agriculture. In an effort to address these problems, the basic paradigm and approach to soil and water conservation has itself evolved over time. In recent years more holistic and land-scape wide approaches that go beyond resource conservation towards improved land husbandry and water management for beneficial conservation have been promoted using a national guideline. Hence, the major concern of this study was impact of adoption of SLMP. To meet this objective a total of 156 sample households, consisting 78 Sustainable land management adopter and 78 non adopter/ non- participants, were randomly selected from three kebeles in sample district. Descriptive statistics with appropriate statistical tests, 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. Estimates of propensity score matching (PSM) indicate the existence of significant crop production increment on average 2.5 quintal production increment per hectare in each household head that were participated in adoption of sustainable land management practice value premium compared to non-adopter. The result indicated that Sustainable land management is crucial in improving the livelihoods of the farm households. However, to realize the intended outcomes, solving the fragmented nature of land holding, motivating development agent, rewarding model farmers require immediate attention.

Keywords:  Sustainable land management, Propensity Score Matching, livelihoods