FARMERS' PERCEPTIONS ON SOIL EROSION AND ADOPTION OF PHYSICAL SOIL AND WATER CONSERVATION PRACTICE IN THE CASE OF ARBEGONA WOREDA ETHIOPIA

ABSTRACT
Land degradation through soil erosion poses a critical threat to agricultural productivity
and food security in the highland area of the country.. soil erosion has reached alarming
levels, severely impacting smallholder farmers who depend on the land for their
subsistence. The Arbegona woreda, known for its hilly terrain and unpredictable rainfall,
faces considerable soil degradation issues, exacerbated by the traditional farming
practices that often neglect soil conservation techniques This problem leads to the
depletion of fertile soil, reduced agricultural yields, and increased vulnerability to climate
change Physical measures such as terraces, bunds, and check dams, have been widely
promoted as solutions to reduce soil erosion and improve soil fertility. However, the
uptake of these practices among farmers remains inconsistent, largely due to their
perceptions of the effectiveness and feasibility of these methods Additionally, many farmers
in the this Woreda are deterred from adopting physical conservation measures due to the
perceived high costs, labor intensiveness, and the lack of immediate, visible benefits.
This study assessed farmers' perceptions of soil erosion and the adoption of physical soil
conservation measures in Arbegona Woreda, . A mixed-methods approach was employed,
combining a survey of 148 randomly selected farmers with key informant interviews, focus
group discussions, and field observations. A survey results revealed that majority (86.5%)
of farmers perceived soil erosion as a severe or moderate problem, accurately identifying
heavy rainfall (91.9%), steep slopes (83.8%), and deforestation (75.7%) as primary causes
of soil erosion. Likewise, adoption of physical soil conservation measures was moderate,
with soil bunds (43.2%) and stone bunds (39.2%) most common, while about 10.8% of
farmers were high adopters. A survey finding reveals that, overall, 24.3% of farmers were
non-adopters, 39.2% were low adopters, 25.7% were medium adopters, and only 10.8%
were high adopters of physical soil conservation measures. Binary logistic regression
model identified that access to extension services, training, landholding size, and
perception of erosion severity as the strongest predictors of adoption. However, only
53.6% of adopters rated measures as effective, and field observations revealed only 21.4%
of structures in good condition. Maintenance was inadequate, with 28.6% of farmers
performing no maintenance due to labor shortages (75%) and dependency mindsets
(43.8%). The study concludes that while farmers possess strong awareness of soil erosion,
adoption is constrained by institutional, economic, and labor factors, and sustainability is
compromised by poor maintenance and lack of ownership. Therefore, the study
recommends that strengthening extension services, providing practical training, promoting
participatory approaches, and shifting policy focus from adoption targets to ensuring long-
term functionality and maintenance of soil conservation structures.