Assessment of the Effectiveness of Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Bilacha Watershed, Adea Berga District, West Shoa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

The conservation of soil and water resources is the most important feature of sustainable development. Soil erosion may cause severe loss of topsoil where organic matter and vital nutrients needed by crops, in order to survive, usually reside. This loss harms the farmland’s suitability for farming and reduces its ability to retain water. This study was intended to examine the effectiveness of soil and water conservation in Adea Berga District specifically at three micro-watersheds of Bilacha sub-watershed. The three micro-watersheds were selected purposively based on level of degradation and corresponding conservation efforts. Simple random sampling technique was used to select sample household respondents to collect primary data using questionnaire. Interview of key informants and field observation were also conducted to collect related primary data. The collected data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics SPSS 20 version. The study revealed that many of the constructed physical soil and water conservation structures during social mobilization were not appropriate to the specific slope gradient and shapes, rainfall characteristics, and the prevailing farming system. The performance of soil and water conservation activities were not relevant to required activities for the plan lacked flexibility to bring effective output in the study area. This study also indicated that bund spacing and foundation of stone bund were implemented under the minimum technical design requirements that resulted in to decrease the effectiveness of SWC activities. Additionally, there were no focuses for the maintenance of constructed structures by campaign and it did not create sense of ownership by the landowners to maintain for sustainable uses. The assessment also identified major challenges of effective soil and water conservation of the watershed such as free grazing, lack of awareness of local community, absence of legal framework and institutional arrangement to enforce effective soil and water conservation activities at the study area. Then, implementers require creating suitable time for preparation phase, concerned governmental organizations require to give awareness for the users to carryout maintenance and management activities for sustainable use of soil and water resources for agricultural production and others recommendation are forwarded.