EFFECTS OF BIOLOGICAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION ON MAIZE CROP PRODUCTION IN BORICHA DISTRICT SIDAMA REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT The soil and water conservation practices were introduced by different nongovernmental and governmental organizations to rehabilitated the degrade lands and eroded soils and to mitigate the degradation and soil erosion in boricha district. The study was conducted about the effects of Biological Soil and Water Conservation on Maize Crop Production in Boricha District Sidama Regional State, Ethiopia. The sampling technique of the study, combination of multi stage sampling techniques was employed to get a total of 194 sample respondents’. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources. The primary data were collected by interviewing 194 smallholder household heads, focus group discussions which had total 12 FGD 4 focus groups in each Kebeles having 5 members from each group. 24 key informants, which included 6 DAs, 15 elders and 3 officials from district. The secondary data was obtained from Boricha district office of agriculture. The collected data were analyzed through descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, maximum, minimum, percentage, Chi-square and independent T-test to identify variables that vary significantly between groups and Econometrics such multiple linear regressions analysis by using SPSS version 20. The results revealed that significant difference in the number of years of schooling, availability of BSWC practices training, and access to extension services and credit access.The level of the adoption of BSWC practices was increasing from year to years under adopters households. The results also showed that, BSWC components such as intercropping, agroforestry, alley cropping, and grass strip were very effective in reducing soil erosion through crop diversification was effective in controlling soil erosion and provided soil cover, to protect the impact of rain drop on soil and minimize erosion soil fertility. A comparative analysis of maize crop production between biological soil and water conservation adopters and non-adopters showed that BSWC practices adopters had more than 31.4% higher maize productivity than that of non-adopters. In addition, there were greater than proportionate unit increases in maize productivity with unit increase in land size and labor among BSWC practices adopters. The adopter farmer had better perceptions about the biological soil and water conservation practices in increasing soil fertility, maize crop production, controlling soil erosion etc. Based on the findings this study recommended that GOs, NGOs, planners, researchers and different concerned bodies should give attention to increase the adoption of BSWC practices through providing, information, farm demonstration, training, providing timely information, increasing access to different agricultural incentives and credit access in order to create awareness and perceptions.