Soil and Water Conservation Management Through Indigenous and Traditional Practices in Ethiopia: A Case Study

Abstract

Soil erosion and related forms, now constitute serious problem in many part of Ethiopia. Particularly in Southern Nation, Nationalities and People Regional State (SNNPRS) situated on high and step-faulted western sides of the Ethiopian rift system. An attempt was made attempted, to identify the traditional and indigenous of soil conservation practices, to assess thesocio-cultural, economic system constraints for the implementation and maintenance of conservation practices and to evaluate the performance and identify problems and opportunities in the application of soil conservation practices. The study was conducted in Siliti woreda where on the basis sampling of four highland kebeles were selected and 120 farm households were purposively sampled. There was annual soil loss recorded 114.59 tons/ha/year on the steep slopes. The traditional and indigenous methods were applied and practiced as fallowing land 24.2%, contour ploughing 13.3%, structure of planted tress 7.5%, indigenous drainage ditches 8.3%, contour ploughing 13.3%, leaving crop residues 5% and Fanya juu bench-like terraces 4.2% terraces for the soil conservation and management in study area. Key words: Soil erosion, indigenous method, bio-physical factors, productivity, management.