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Proceedings of the International Academy of Ecology and Environmental Sciences, 2022, 12(3): 157-167
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Article

Assessment of the farmers' perception on watershed degradation and management practices in Wera sub-watershed, Southern Ethiopia

Tamrat Sinore¹, Mulatu Chernet¹, Wondimu Ayele², Serkalem Lemaike³
¹Department of Natural Resource Management, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia
²Department of Animal Science, Wachemo University, Hossana, Ethiopia
³Department of Natural Resource Management, Bureau of Agriculture, Hossana, Ethiopia

Received 22 May 2022;Accepted 10 June 2022;Published online 14 July 2022;Published 1 September 2022
IAEES

Abstract
Land degradation has become an ecological and agricultural productivity issue in the Wera sub-watershed. To curb this, farmers' mobilization was used to execute various watershed management methods. As a result, in the Wera sub-watershed, this study investigated farmers' perception of watershed degradation problems and management practices. The data was collected using a random sample of 110 respondents, a focus group discussion with the households, and field observation. Farmers were aware of the occurrence of watershed degradation (89.5%) and how it was hurting their livelihoods, while 10.5% of respondents said there was no watershed degradation problem on their plots. Watershed degradation was attributed to uncontrolled grazing (81.2%), intensive cultivation (79.6%), deforestation (65.1%), inappropriate conservation practices (64.7%), topographic nature of land (62.8%) and indigenous farming practices (48.4%). The common practices in the Wera sub-watershed included soil bunds, fanya-juu, cutoff drains, check dams, trenches, area exclosure, agroforestry activities, and grasses with and without physical soil and water conservation structures. The approach was benefit-driven and site-specific. In conclusion, watershed management practices via identifying and integrating technical as well as site specific can help to cope with degradation, thus increasing the benefits obtained from the practice.

Keywords farmers' perception;watershed degradation;watershed management.

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