The Impact of Farm Tree Degradation on Rural Livelihood in Manna District of Jima Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

This research was conducted in Mana district of Jimma zone to assess the impact of farm tree degradation on rural livelihood. For socio-economic data collection 60 households were selected randomly. Focus group discussions and direct field observation were made to verify and supplement the results from questionnaires. Thirty (30) soil samples were taken from the canopy of randomly selected four different trees species (Gravellia robusta, Sesbania Sesban, Coffee arabica, and Avocado), and the land where farm tree degraded land with six replication. Soil texture, pH, Electrical conductivity (EC), soil OM, soil OC, and Total nitrogen were analyzed. The qualitative data was narrated, while quantitative data was analyzed by using descriptive statistics. One-way ANOVA was computed for the soil data by using SAS version 9.2, and least significant difference (LSD) at P<0.05. This study has shown that the high level of illiteracy in the study area might be contributed to the low rate of adoption of farm tree management practices since the educational level affects house hold decision. Thus, as a response of farm trees degradation, the decline of crop productivity and loss of tree products including household energy source were becoming prominent constraints that affected the livelihood in the district. Farm trees which could have been used to maintain soil quality and enhance crop productivity; and support local livelihood with different tree products are degraded. Consequently, some soil physico-chemical properties deteriorated under the lands where farm trees degraded. Hence, to make the livelihood more sustainable, it is necessary to integrate varies tree species and its management practices in the farmlands. Besides, there is an urgent need to look for alternative forest products harvesting strategy to reduce the pressure on farm trees.

Keywords: Agroforestry, Crop production, Farm tree, Rural livelihoods, Soil property