FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS ON SOIL EROSION AND ADOPTION OF PHYSICAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICE IN THE CASE OF ARBEGONA WOREDA ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT<br> Land degradation through soil erosion poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity<br> and food security in the highland area of the country.. soil erosion has reached alarming<br> levels, severely impacting smallholder farmers who depend on the land for their<br> subsistence. The Arbegona woreda, known for its hilly terrain and unpredictable rainfall,<br> faces considerable soil degradation issues, exacerbated by the traditional farming<br> practices that often neglect soil conservation techniques This problem leads to the<br> depletion of fertile soil, reduced agricultural yields, and increased vulnerability to climate<br> change Physical measures such as terraces, bunds, and check dams, have been widely<br> promoted as solutions to reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility. However, the<br> uptake of these practices among farmers remains inconsistent, largely due to their<br> perceptions of the effectiveness and feasibility of these methods Additionally, many farmers<br> in the this Woreda are deterred from adopting physical conservation measures due to the<br> perceived high costs, labor intensiveness, and the lack of immediate, visible benefits.<br> This study assessed farmers' perceptions of soil erosion and the adoption of physical soil<br> conservation measures in Arbegona Woreda, . A mixed-methods approach was employed,<br> combining a survey of 148 randomly selected farmers with key informant interviews, focus<br> group discussions, and field observations. A survey results revealed that majority (86.5%)<br> of farmers perceived soil erosion as a severe or moderate problem, accurately identifying<br> heavy rainfall (91.9%), steep slopes (83.8%), and deforestation (75.7%) as primary causes<br> of soil erosion. Likewise, adoption of physical soil conservation measures was moderate,<br> with soil bunds (43.2%) and stone bunds (39.2%) most common, while about 10.8% of<br> farmers were high adopters. A survey finding reveals that, overall, 24.3% of farmers were<br> non-adopters, 39.2% were low adopters, 25.7% were medium adopters, and only 10.8%<br> were high adopters of physical soil conservation measures. Binary logistic regression<br> model identified that access to extension services, training, landholding size, and<br> perception of erosion severity as the strongest predictors of adoption. However, only<br> 53.6% of adopters rated measures as effective, and field observations revealed only 21.4%<br> of structures in good condition. Maintenance was inadequate, with 28.6% of farmers<br> performing no maintenance due to labor shortages (75%) and dependency mindsets<br> (43.8%). The study concludes that while farmers possess strong awareness of soil erosion,<br> adoption is constrained by institutional, economic, and labor factors, and sustainability is<br> compromised by poor maintenance and lack of ownership. Therefore, the study<br> recommends that strengthening extension services, providing practical training, promoting<br> participatory approaches, and shifting policy focus from adoption targets to ensuring long-<br> term functionality and maintenance of soil conservation structures.