Farmers’ perceptions and determinants of watershed development approaches for sustainable land management in Northwest Ethiopia

The Ethiopian Highlands support nearly 80% of Ethiopia’s population, but agricultural expansion and unsustainable land-use practices continue to degrade biodiversity, soil and water resources. Degradation of these land resources has been threatening agricultural productivity and rural livelihoods. In response, government and development partners have promoted community-based and project-supported watershed development (WSD), yet empirical evidence on farmers’ perceptions and their determinants remains limited. This study assessed farmers’ perceptions of WSD approaches and identified factors associated with perception levels in northwest Ethiopia. Data were collected from 417 households using a five-point Likert-scale questionnaire, complemented by key informant interviews and focus group discussions. Quantitative data were analyzed using non-parametric tests and ordered logistic regression, while qualitative data were thematically analyzed and integrated with the survey findings. Farmers generally reported positive perceptions of WSD, particularly its contributions to reducing soil erosion, improving soil fertility, and increasing land productivity. Community-based WSD was generally associated with more favorable perceptions than project-supported WSD, although this difference varied across watersheds. Social, financial, and institutional benefits, including community satisfaction, trust, and conservation commitment, received comparatively lower ratings. Access to training and household labor availability were positively associated with perceptions, whereas family size and distance from Farmers’ Training Centers were negatively associated. Qualitative findings highlighted the importance of community participation, institutional trust, accountability, and local ownership in shaping farmers’ experiences. The findings suggest that sustainable WSD requires integrating technical conservation measures with participatory governance, accessible training and extension support, equitable benefit-sharing, and sustained institutional collaboration.