Cropland Change to Eucalyptus Plantation and Associated Impacts on Small Landowners' Livelihoods in Metta Robi District, West Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

Human intervention leads to land conversion and intensification, which disrupts the equilibrium of an ecosystem and results in a response that is represented as system changes. It may have an impact on the sustainability of environmental services as well as land (agricultural) productivity. This study was aimed to assess cropland change to eucalyptus plantation and associated impacts on small landowners' livelihoods in Metta Robi District. A cross-sectional research design was used among systematically selected samples. The study sites, interviewees (model and ordinary farmers) and key informants were chosen using a purposive sampling technique. A prepared questionnaire was employed to collect quantitative data, while in-depth interviews and key informant interviews were utilized to collect qualitative data. Both primary and secondary data sources were used. SPSS version 23 was used to analyze the quantitative data, and descriptive and inferential statistics were used in the study. On the other hand, the qualitative data were transcribed and analyzed thematically. The study's findings suggested that land-use change was a significant issue in the studied area. Small landowners described climate change (14%), market accessibility (12%), demographic characteristics (11.8%), crop yield reduction (10.8%), land degradation (9.4%), geographical location (6.9%), soil erosion (6.5%), rural urban migration (5%), lack of labor (3.8%), and population pressure (2.9%) as major causes of cropland change to eucalyptus plantation. On the other hand, the reported major impacts of cropland conversion to eucalyptus plantation on small landowners' livelihoods include: reduced crop production (93%), increased food insecurity (87%), decreased grazing land (73%), increased poverty rate (72%), reduced farmland (68%), increased starvation (66%), loss of livelihood assets (65.6%), and increased market food costs (64%). They stated, "Young people are moving to urban areas to look for new jobs while planting eucalyptus trees on farmlands." The chi square test found that at less than 5% (0.05) of the significant level, all explanatory factors have a substantially high connection with land-use change. Thus, this study suggests that increasing awareness and doing more to minimize the rate of land-use change and its consequences can change entire communities' attitudes toward land-use conversions. In addition, the government should pay close attention to the causes and effects of land-use change on rural communities' livelihoods and make necessary interventions.