Farmers' Knowledge of Soil Erosion and Control Measures in the Northwestern Highlands of Ethiopia

This study examines farmers' perception and knowledge of the soil erosion process and its impacts and control techniques in the northwestern highlands of Ethiopia. It is based on interviews with 119 farmers and informal discussions with 12 farmers from four villages. Of the interviewed farmers, over 83 percent stated that soil erosion was damaging their agricultural lands. Visible soil erosion results like rills and gullies were not only identified by respondent farmers as indicators of erosion, but were also used to assess the severity of the problem. Almost all of the interviewed farmers were aware of the major causes and on-site consequences of soil erosion as well as the link between soil erosion and declines in soil fertility. The study also found that farmers knew and applied one or more measures for soil conservation (water ways, diversion ditches, check-dams, fanya juu bunds, and planting trees) and soil fertility maintenance (compost, manure, chemical fertilizers, soil conservation, and the growing of legume crops). However, most farmers asserted that the measures used were inadequate to counter the problems of soil erosion and declining soil fertility. Additionally, the study found that there were other soil erosion control and fertility enhancement techniques that farmers knew but did not use because of labor shortages, inadequate support by extension workers, too small landholdings, lack of tree seedlings, lack of money, decreased livestock herds, and lack of secure land tenure. Addressing these barriers that hinder the full utilization of soil erosion control measures and building on farmers' knowledge through participatory processes is likely to have positive impacts on sustainable soil conservation in the study area.