FACTORS AFFECTING SMALHOLDER FARMERS' ADOPTION OF SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICES: THE CASE OF MIRAB BADAWACHO WOREDA, HADIYA ZONE, SNNPR, ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT This research work was conducted on adoption of soil and water conservation practices, among smallholder farmers’ in Mirab Badawacho Woreda, Hadiya Zone, SNNPR, Ethiopia. The objectives of this study were to assess factors that affect SWC practices, and to identify the soil and water conservation activities commanly practiced and to investigate farmers’ adoption level of introduced SWC practices interms of non-adopters and adopters. The data for this study was collected from both primary and secondary sources. Both data was collected from four purposively selected kebeles. The primary data was generated from 346 sample household heads as well as 12 people for FGD and 8 people for interviews selected using non-probability sampling techniques. Similarly the secondary data was collected from published and unpublished documents.The collected data was analyzed using quantitative data analyses methods. To make analyses the investigator first edited the data which were collected by using questionnaires, intreviews, field observations, and FGD. Finally, the quantitative data generated from questionnaire, that filled by sample household heads were analyzed using descriptive statistics and binary logistic regression model. While, information gathered using field observations, intreviews, FGD were analysed and transcribed in the fom of description and used as supportive data to the main questionnaire. Demographic, economic, bio-physical, psychological and institutional factors influence the investment of household heads require to soil and water conservation measures. The result indicated that, age, sex, family size and farm size were significant factors whereas, marital status, educational status and involvement in off farm activities were insignificant factors on the adoption of soil and water conservation activities in the study area. In order to improve SWC practices; farmers’, local people or communities, the woreda and kebele administrative and the office of agriculture at local level should give more attention for those significant variables that determine farmers’ adoption of SWC measures.