Abstract

Lemma Tiki, Gonfa Kewessa and Alemayehu Wudneh

Land degradation is a main ecological and economical problem in Ethiopia. The expansion of agricultural land on steep slope and continuous cultivation of agricultural fields with little protection measures exacerbated the problem. Thus, currently the Ethiopian government launched the new integrated participatory watershed management activity in different parts of the country including Goba District. But, the effectiveness of this management activity was not yet examined. This research is, therefore, intended to evaluate the effectiveness of watershed management intervention in Goba District. The study was mixed research approach which includes both qualitative and quantitative research. Household survey was conducted on 119 randomly selected respondents. Field visit, FGD and transect walk were also used for triangulation. Assessments of design and layout parameters and sediment accumulation were conducted on 60 level soil bunds. The qualitative data were analysed by categorizing in to different thematic areas and narrating. The quantitative data were analysed by using simple statistics with Microsoft excel. The result of the study indicated that soil bund (23.5%) is the dominant physical conservation intervention practiced. Out of measured parameters average depth, height, base width and top width of the bunds are out of the permissible range of Ethiopian MOA standard while average width and length are in permissible range. 100% of the structures have not got any maintenance and 58.3% of them have no any integration to stabilize the structures. The mean sediment accumulation rate of soil bunds is 45.74 t/ha/yr. Major challenges mentioned by farmers about not to construct SWC structures on their farmland were shortage of man power, poor institutional mechanism and lack of follow up and untimely seedling supply. Therefore, institutional mechanisms need to be stronger, regular maintenance and implementation of structures in line with the recommended standards need attention to increase their effectiveness.