Documentation of Indigenous and Introduced Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Southern Ethiopia
In Ethiopia soil erosion by water significantly contributes to food insecurity among rural households and poses a real threat to the sustainability of existing subsistence agriculture. In many parts of Ethiopia particularly southern Region many introduced and indigenous soil and water conservation practices were implemented using different approach. However, indigenous soil and water conservation practices adopted at farmers field, types, their names, technical dimension and their socio economic importance in the village is not well documented for further studies. Therefore, the present study was conducted in Gamo Gofa, Segen area peoples and Basketo special distict of the Sothern Ethiopia. As a methodology, discussion was organized at zonal and woreda level agricultural offices and sample of woredas and kebeles having similar farming system were selected with systematic sampling approach. Focus group discussion, questioner and transect walk were made in the selected kebele and the technical aspects of identified SWC practices were measured and described as well. Some of the most common identified indigenous and introduced conservation practices are, mulching, Intercropping, Trenches, cut of drain, grass integrated with soil ,stone terraces , Targa, pataya, korayida, Aflimayita fanyajju terraces, Agro-forestry practices like Home garden, live fence, park land agro forestry (combination of Moringa Stenophetala , Mangifera indica, Gravelia rebusta Terminalia browenii ,Cordia africana, banana, maize and other fruit tree species. Therefore, the identified practices provide information for researchers, extensions and other conserved body to do more in the area of soil and water conservation and should be proven in the research. It is better to conduct detail study and disseminate.
