Abstract:
Land degradation is an environmental problem that reduces the productivity of all natural ecosystems and agriculture, which threatens the livelihoods of society. Low land productivity due to land degradation in form of soil erosion is one of the leading challenges to improving the performance of the smallholder farming sector in Ethiopia. In this context, Sustainable Land Management (SLM) is quite crucial to increase agricultural productivity, ensure food security and improve the livelihoods of smallholder farmers. Therefore, this study aims to examinechoice of SLM practice and its determinants among smallholder farmers in Dendi district in West Shewa zone, Oromia regional state.To achieve the objectives of the study primary data were collected through scheduled questionnaires from 168 sampled smallholder farmers while secondary data were collected from relevant local authority reports and records. In addition focus group discussions, and key informants interviews were used to support the result of the survey.Descriptive statistics and Multinomial logistic (MNL) econometric model were used to analyze the data. The descriptive analysis result revealed that from SLM practices trees planting (26.2%), soil and stone bund (25%), terracing (24.4%),and gabion check dam (24.4%) practices were the dominant land management practices chosen in the study area. The results of multinomial logistic (MNL) regression model result show that sex of household head, family size, education level household head, household experience, and slope of farm plot have positively associated and significant effect at least on one SLM practice while farmers’ perception on SLM, household occupation, marital status, farmer status, soil erosion hazard and frequency of extension contact, were negatively associated with choice of SLM practice. Based on the finding of the study recommended that planners and policy makers consider the choices of farmers when scale up choice of SLM practice. Furthermore, need to give attention for slope of land, extent of soil erosion, experience and perception of farmers on SLM for successful scaling up of SLM practice in the district and other areas
