INDIGENOUSKNOWLEDGEFOR SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION IN SHEBEDINO WEREDA, SIDAMA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract The present study was conducted in Shebedino woreda with the main objective of assessing indigenous soil and water conservation practices in the study area. The study involved three kebeles namely; Bonoyamirede, Diramoafarara and Morochonagasha and one hundred ninety two households from three kebeles selected randomly. Data collection was done through household survey and key informant interviews. Percentages and frequencies were used in analyzing the collected data. The finding indicated that the main causes of soil erosion in the study area are slope steepness of the farmland, over cultivation and absence of fallowing, types of soil intensity of rainfall, absence and delay of soil conservation structures, deforestation and desertification. As the result shows that 92.7% of households believed that soil erosion has its own consequences on their farmland. Indigenous soil and water conservation activity of farmers is influenced by various ranges of technical related problems, socio-cultural related problems, demographic related problems and physical related factors. Based on the findings of this study, it is recommended that farmers awareness raising through training or education on sustainable indigenous soil and water conservation practices should be encouraged by District agriculture offices and other concerned stakeholders, Integrating soil conservation measures of the local people with the currently working farming system, and finally it is reasonable to recommend that adequate consideration for determinant factors that influence soil and water conservation by district agriculture office, administration office, stakeholders and other donation providing organizations in order to increase the sustainable soil and water conservation and improve living standard of farmers in the study area.