The Effects of Community Based Watershed Management on Livelihood Resources for Climate Change Adaptation the Case in Gemechis District, Oromiya
Year: 2018
Type: article
Study design: Observational Study
Abstract: This study was carried out in Gemechis district, Oromiya regional state to evaluate effects of community-based watershed management on livelihood resources for climate change adaptation.A total of 240 sample households were selected randomly from all farmers engaged in farming activities.Data were collected through field observations, household questionnaires survey, focused group discussion and key informants interview.The qualitative data obtained were analyzed qualitatively using appropriate words.Quantitative data were analyzed by descriptive statistics such as frequency and percentages.Results of this survey indicated that more than half, i.e. 94.2%, 91.3% and 68.3% of the respondents were gained good attentiveness about soil bunds, stone bunds and contour plowing respectively.Likewise, crop rotation, intercropping, organic manure/compost and tree planting have acquired good attention by 85%, 90.8%, 100% and 100% of the respondents, correspondingly.However, only 10%, 6%, 6.7%, 11.7, 5% and 22.5% of the respondents revealed good awareness about trenches, eye brow basins, micro basins, check dams, and water ways construction, respectively.Considering watershed management practices as an alternative measure, 84.2%, 94.2%, 35% and 68.3% of the respondents were implement soil bund, stone bund, water ways and contour plowing on their farm land consecutively.Additionally, 27.03%, 90.8, 19.58, 1.7%, of them were implemented crop rotation, intercropping, mulching and fallowing on their farm land consecutively.Even though the study area is categorized under moisture stressed, the attention given for implementation of in-situ moisture conservation structures were very low.Only 16.6%, 15%, 6.7% and 11.7% of them were implemented trenches, eye brow basins, micro basins and semicircular bunds on their farm lands sequentially.This implemented watershed management interventions through community mobilization results multiple positive effects on people's livelihoods resources.In line with this, 96.7% of the respondents were stated that soil erosion was reduced moderately (25-50%), 98 %, 93% and 78.8% of the respondents were also stated change in soil moisture retention, ground water table and capacity as a moderate (25-50%), respectively.And 96.7 % and 75% of the respondents were observed moderate improvement in soil fertility and crop yield respectively.Therefore, based this survey result it can be possible to conclude that watershed management intervention can bring significant change on the livelihood resources for climate change adaptation.
Author: Dejene Teressa
Institution: Oda Bultum University
Language: English
Subfield: Agronomy and Crop Science
Domain: Life Sciences
Open Access status: diamond
OpenAlex ID: W3038675804