Factors influencing adoption of sustainable land management practices among rural households in Godere District, Southwest Ethiopia

Abstract Soil degradation threatens agricultural productivity and food security in Ethiopia. This study provides the first empirical evidence of interdependent Sustainable Land Management adoption decisions in southwestern lowlands by examining five practices among 154 rural households in Godere District using a Multivariate Probit model. The results reveal that farmers treat practices as interconnected portfolios rather than isolated technologies. Soil bunds and fanya juu exhibit strong complementarity, as do tree planting and soil bunds, indicating that farmers combine these practices to achieve synergistic erosion control. In contrast, fertilizer competes with both fanya juu and tree planting, reflecting how cash constraints compel households to select one practice over another. The joint probability of adopting all five practices is 24%, signifying that most households cannot implement complete conservation packages due to binding resource limitations. Several determinants shape adoption decisions. Gender strongly influences tree planting, with male-headed households demonstrating higher adoption rates. Education moderately affects fertilizer use, whereas training strongly determines soil bund construction. Labor availability influences fertilizer application and strip cropping, while credit access exhibits a negative effect on fanya juu, revealing credit product misalignment. Landholding size enables physical structures for larger landholders but restricts fertilizer use and strip cropping for smaller holders. Slope strongly drives fanya juu adoption where erosion risk is visible, and farmers who perceive erosion as a serious problem show greater commitment to tree planting. Farmers adapt conservation investments to their specific resource endowments. Effective interventions must replace generic recommendations with tailored practice bundles matched to household resource profiles, supported by practical training, redesigned credit products with extended repayment periods, and gender-responsive extension services.