A Senior Research Paper on Adoption of Physical Soil andWaterConservation Measure in Yirgalem Zurya Woreda.

Abstract

Dif erent SWC works have been done in many parts of Ethiopia .but, the farmers' perception of soil erosion and their responses to soil and water conservation practices need investigation. Often contact between planners and stakeholders used to be minimal. The failure of conservation programs partly emerges from the fact that planners and implementing agencies ignore or fail to consider the socio-economic factors as critical determinants of the success or failureof conservation programs. Therefore, this study's objective was to identify what factors af ect theadoption of physical soil and water conservation practices and examine farmers' perceptions of soil and water conservation practices. . This study indicated that farmers' adoption of theSoil and Water Conservation decision was influenced more by socio-demographic, economic, institutional, and physical factors. The household head age, education levels, family size, and dependency ratio influenced socio-demographic factors; economic factors influenced farm sizeand household income. The slope category of the farm was of physical factor that influence dtheadoption of soil water conservation practices. Of these significantly influenced variables, the dependency ratio was negatively af ected, while the rest of the factors positively influenc edtheadoption of SWC practices. Based on the obtained result, the following recommendations were made: There should be a clear understanding of the socio-economic conditions of agivenlocality to undertake SWC activity; a closer relationship will need to be developed between land-use planners and soil conservationists; strengthening resettlement in unused areas; the wayof farming culture has to be investigated before planning to undertake conservation activity of agiven community; To implement SWC, exploring existing local resource and availabilityof farmland is vital because most farmers who have stones availability in their locality werereplayed that they choose stone bunds to protect their farm.