Land degradation is increasing in severity and extent in many parts of the world. Success in arresting
land degradation entails an improved understanding of its causes, process, indicators and impacts.
Various scientific methodologies have been employed to assess land degradation globally. However,
the use of local community knowledge in elucidating the causes, process, indicators and effects of land
degradation has seen little application by scientists and policy makers. Land degradation may be a
physical process, but its underlying causes are firmly rooted in the socio-economic, political and cultural
environment in which land users operate. Analyzing the root causes and effects of land degradation from
local community knowledge, perception and adapting strategies perspective will provide information that
is essential for designing and promoting sustainable land management practices. The main objective of
this study was to analyze the perceptions of farmers’ on the impact of land degradation hazard on
agricultural land productivity decline, associated with soil erosion and fertility loss. The study used a
multistage sampling procedure to select sample respondent households. The sample size of the study
was 120 household heads and 226 farm plots managed by these farmers. The primary data of the study
were collected by using semi-structured Interview, focus group discussions and field observation. Both
descriptive statistics and econometric techniques were used for data analysis. Descriptive results show
that 57% of the respondents perceived the severity and its consequence on agricultural land productivity.
The following indicators of soil erosion and fertility loss were generally perceived and observed by farmers’
in the study area: gullies formations, soil accumulation around clumps of vegetation, soil deposits on
gentle slopes, exposed roots, muddy water, sedimentation in streams and rivers, change in vegetation
species, increased runoff, and reduced rooting depth. The direct human activities which were perceived
to be causing land degradation in the study area include: deforestation and clearing of vegetation,
overgrazing, steep slope cultivation and continuous cropping. The farmers’ possibility of perceiving the
impact of land degradation hazard on agricultural land productivity was primarily determined by
institutional, psychological, demographic and by bio-physical factors. Farmers who perceive their land as
deteriorating and producing less than desired, tend to adopt improved land management practices. On the
other hand, farmers who perceive their land to be fertile tend to have low adoption of conservation
practices. In order to overcome this land degradation and its consequent effects, the study recommended
a need for the government to enforce effective policies to control and prevent land degradation and these
policies should be community inclusive /participatory founded up on indigenous and age-honored
knowledgeandtraditionoffarmers’naturalresourcemanagementaswellasintroducedscientificpractices.
Home AGRICULTURAL EXTENSION PROJECT TOPICS AND MATERIALS
