Challenge and Opportunities of Watershed Management Practice in Kochere Woreda Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

This research study investigated the challenges and opportunities of watershed management practices in Kochere Woreda, Gedeo Zone, Southern Ethiopia Region. The research aims to provide valuable insights into the complexities surrounding watershed management in the region, highlighting both the obstacles faced and the potential avenues for sustainable water resource management practices in Kochere woreda. In this study, primary and secondary data were used. Primary data were obtained or gathered through personal observation; secondary data were obtained from different written materials,published and unpublished sources, and different books. The total number of households in the kebele was 1228. This sample size was determined by 7% of the total study, which is 1228 households. This was done using simple random sampling techniques to give equal chances to all respondents to be selected and minimize biases by every 92 respondents. The data was collected using a questionnaire from sampled households and personal observation. The collected data was analyzed qualitatively by using statements and quantitatively by tables, frequencies, and percentages, presented, and interpreted. Identifies and analyzes the primary challenges hindering effective watershed management in Kochere Woreda, such as deforestation, soil erosion, water pollution, a lack of community participation, and inadequate infrastructure. The challenge of watershed management has its own impacts on the environment. It leads to poverty, food insecurity, and social conflict. The negative socio-economic consequences of unsustainable resource use are significant. According to the respondents, there are watershed management practices in the study area, and they practiced physical methods of watershed management. However, farmers and most stakeholders were not aware of the major constraints for increasing effective watershed management practices, specifically in terms of economic, social, technological, technical, physical, natural, and environmental aspects. While practicing watershed management measures, the community was hindered by a lack of management equipment, a lack of incentives, a lack of advanced technology, and a lack of awareness. As recommended by the researcher, awareness, provision of equipment's provision, and incentives by governments were strategies forwarded by the researcher to minimize the problem in the study area.