Int. J. Advanced Structures & Geotechnical Engineering
ISSN 2319-5347, ISI Impact Factor: 0.763
VOLUME 02 NO. 02 APRIL 2013:
Title: Adoption
of Structural Soil and Water Conservation Technologies
by Small holder farmers in Adama Wereda, East Shewa,
Ethiopia
Authors: Tesfaye Gebre, Zerihun
Mohammed, Menfese Taddesse, S. Chenchu Narayana
Abstract: This study identifies factors that
influence farmer’s decision to adopt the structural
conservation measures introduced to selected sites in
the Dabe and Goro Kebeles, in Adama wereda, East Shewa.
The study also examines farmer’s acceptance and adoption
of structural conservation technologies that were
implemented by the various projects. A total of 92
sample farmer’s were selected and data about farmer’s
acceptance and adoption of conservation technologies
were collected using a household survey, interviews,
focus group discussions and field observations. The data
was analyzed using frequency, descriptive and the
chi-square statistics. The result indicates that the
majority of respondents totally removed the previously
installed conservation technologies. However, the
majority of the farmer’s accepted that the newly
introduced conservation technologies were effective
combating soil erosion and improving land productivity.
The factors discouraging the farmer’s from adopting the
technologies were found to be labour shortage, difficult
designs to implement, lack of adequate extension
service, shortage of land, distance of cultivation
fields, and source of income. The study emphasizes that
many of these problems were related to a lack of
farmer’s involvement in the conservation efforts and
suggests that future SWC interventions should follow a
real farmer participatory approach in the areas. In
addition, farmer’s should have a greater awareness of
the economic significance of soil
erosion on their cultivated fields; they need training
on the impacts of erosion and the conservation
technologies available to control soil loss; and
farmer’s with labour shortages need to be provided with
support that enables them to retain their conservation
technologies.
Keywords: Adoption; Ethiopia;
Soil Erosion; Soil and Water Conservation; Technology
pages: 58-68