CROPPING SYSTEM, SOIL CONSERVATION AND TECHNOLOGY ADOPTION IN THE ENSET (Ensete ventricosum (Welw.) Cheesman) BASED FARMING SYSTEM IN GEDEO ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Enset (Ensete ventricosum) is a multipurpose crop used for food, fodder, fiber production, fuel, traditional medicine, and other cultural practices. The Gedeo enset based farming system is diversified and unique in its design and function. The objective of this study was to assess cropping system, soil conservation, and technology adoption in the Gedeo enset based farming. The enset based farming system of Gedeo was stratified based on the agro-ecological zones. Accordingly, two kebeles from Dega (highlands), four kebeles from Weyna Dega (midland), and one kebele from Kola (lowland) woredas were selected. Data were collected through key informant interviews, structured questionnaires, and focus group discussions. A total of 230 randomly selected households were interviewed, which was about 10% of the total number of enset producers. The study provides an overview of enset based farming systems, traditional and modern tools, soil erosion conservation activities, and technology adoption of the Gedeo. The result revealed that compared to other existed mixed crops, as altitude increases, enset cropland coverage increases. In lowland areas, the land cover of enset was insignificant. Comparative enset-coffee land covers mainly maters in the midland. The type and the number of animals holding differ across and within the households. In the Gedeo agroforestry system, the problem of soil erosion and conservation practices was insignificant. The result suggests the need for the involvement of the concerned body in the introduction and dissemination of improved technologies by considering the agroforestry system and the mixed crops.