Determinants for Farmers’ Perception of Soil Erosion: The Case of Elfeta District, West Shoa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil erosion is one of the major causes of land degradation and often results in reduction of agricultural production and productivity in Ethiopia. Although it is a natural process, its rate has increased significantly due to anthropogenic activities. Thisresearch was conducted in Elfeta district, central Ethiopia with the purpose of assessing farmers` perception of soil erosion. A mixed research design (a combination of quantitative and qualitative methods of data collection and analysis) was employed and both primary and secondary data were collected. Data were collected through interview schedule assisted survey questionnaire, focus group discussion, personal observation, and life history methods. Descriptive, inferential, and econometric were employed for quantitative analysis while description, narration and content analysis were employed for qualitative analysis. The findings of the study reveal that the major causes of soil erosion identified by farmers were: deforestation, ceaseless cultivation and absence of fallowing and population growth. Farmers` perception of soil erosion wasfound to have statistically significant association with sex, education, land holding size, tenure security, farming experience, access to training, access to information, past awareness, on soil conservation and extension contact. The ordered logit analysis employed with statistically significant variables to analyze determinants for farmers’ perception in the study area showed that farmers land holding size, tenure security, years of schooling, and farmers experience were significant factors determining farmers` perception of soil erosion in the study area.Ensuring community involvement in planning, designing and implementation process of conservation activities deserves special attention in the study area to improve the understanding of farmers about the dynamics of soil erosion in their area which is of paramount importance for sustainable soil and water conservation in the study area.

Keywords: Farmers perception, Soil Erosion, Elfeta District