Farmers Perception On The Problem Of Soil Erosion And Conservation Knowledge A Case Study Of Rural Kebeles In Dessie Town

The study examines farmers’ perception towards the problems of soil erosion and theirrnconservation knowledge in Dessie town rural kebeles. With the use of structuredrnquestionnaire and interview, a total of 83 farmers were surveyed for the study. For manyrnfarmers, gully development and stoniness of soil were main indicators to soil erosion onrntheir land. Others recognize by observing soil color. They also perceived well the causesrnof soil erosion in their lands as slope steepness of cultivation fields, ceaseless cultivationrnand absence of fallowing with many time preparations of soil for cropping; still otherrncauses have great roles. Severity of soil erosion in the study area explained as severe,rnmoderate, minor soil erosion and a few cultivation fields had no erosion risk. They alsornperceived well the causes of soil erosion in their lands as slope steepness of cultivationrnfields, ceaseless cultivation and absence of fallowing with many time preparations of soilrnfor cropping; still other causes have great roles. Severity of soil erosion in the study arearnexplained as severe, moderate, minor soil erosion and a few cultivation fields had nornerosion risk. Consequently, farmers well understood the results of severe soil erosion onrntheir farms and recognized as loss of topsoil, reduction of yield over time, loss ofrnvegetation cover and grasses, change in soil color, requiring high input andrnmanagement, formation of uncross-able gullies, lack of farm land and grazing field, andrnout migration. Farmers use a range of methods for soil erosion control. From the findingrnof this study, multidimensional factors of demographic and socio-economicrncharacteristics were responsible for farmers’ differential perception to the problem ofrnsoil erosion. In order to effectively plan for soil conservation measures application andrnintroduce new techniques there is a need of involve local farmers and modifyingrneducational/training programs which were provided for farmers by considering thernexisting knowledge and practices

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