Exploring soil and water conservation practices in southwestern part of Ethiopia: Quick survey and documentation

Abstract

The study was conducted to assess the indigenous and introduced soil and water conservation practices in Kafa and Benc-Sheko zones of Ethiopia. In areas having similar farming systems, Focus Group Discussion was used to identify the technical and socio-cultural aspects of existing indigenous and introduced soil and water conservation practices. Some of the most common identified indigenous conservation practices were furrow making, Planting Yam across slope, Planting sugarcane across slope, making gulgualo and gilalo, making trash lines, planting Jatropha curcas across slope and while introduced practices were; Fanya juu terrace, Stone faced soil bund, Soil bund as well as planting Vetiver, Desho and Elephant grass on terraces. Therefore, the identified practices could be documented and further studied by the researchers and technically modified to be effective practice to wider context so as to incorporate farmers’ best practices to advanced use for reducing soil erosion in the area.