PERCEPTION OF FARMERS TOWARDS SOIL EROSION AND CONSERVATION MEASURES IN ENEMAY WOREDA, EAST GOJJAM, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT In Ethiopia, soil erosion is one of the major causes of land degradation which resulted low agricultural productivity. The study examines on farmers’ perception towards the problems of soil erosion and their conservation knowledge in EnemayWoreda. Hence, the objective of this research was to examine farmers’ perception on soil erosion and their adoption of soil conservation measures in the study area. With the use of structured questionnaire and interview, a total of 132 farmers were surveyed for the study. For many farmers, absence of fertile topsoil and stoniness of soil were main indicators to soil erosion on their land. Others recognize by observing poor crop and grass growth of the soil. They also perceived well the causes of soil erosion in their lands as slope steepness of cultivation fields, ceaseless cultivation and absence of fallowing with many time preparations of soil for cropping; still other causes have great roles. Severity of soil erosion in the study area explained as severe, moderate, minor soil erosion and a few cultivation fields had no erosion risk. Consequently, farmers well understood the results of severe soil erosion on their farms and recognized as loss of topsoil, reduction of yield over time, loss of vegetation cover and grasses, change in soil color, requiring high input and management, formation of uncross-able gullies, lack of farm land and grazing field, and out migration. The major soil conservation methods implemented by farmers in the study area were terracing, tree planting, contour plowing and leaving crop residue. This research finding also concludes that almost all interviewed farmers perceived the main problems associated with the use of soil conservations methods in EnemayWoreda were mainly includes; served as a shelter for pests and rats, difficult to tillage, need much labor, need incentives to implement, difficult to implement and reduce farm size. . In order to effectively plan for soil conservation measures application and introduce new techniques there is a need of participate local farmers and modifying educational/training programs which were provided for farmers by considering the existing knowledge and practices.