Soil Erosion In Ethiopia

Introduction

Soil is the living outer layer of our planet, a basic natural and non-renewable resource which serves as a medium for plant growth and a habitat where animals and other micro-organisms live (NAAS, 2012). Soil erosion is the process by which soil are detached from their original sites, transported, and then eventually deposited at some new areas (Yusuf & Ray, 2011). Farmers` perception of soil erosion refers to individual farmer’s evaluation or awareness of soil erosion which is caused by socio-economic, demographic as well as others like topographic factors (Alemayehu, 2007).

In most developing countries, agriculture remains one of the largest sectors in the economy both in terms of its contribution to the GDP and generating

In most developing countries, including Ethiopia, human activity triggers these losses (Mohammad et al., 2001; Belyaev et al., 2004; Bewket & Sterk, 2005). This is associated with rapid population growth, inadequate attention to the basic natural resources (soils, water and vegetation), and the need to maximize production to meet the needs of the growing population (Shiferaw & Holden, 1999, 2000; Bewket, 2002; Feoli et al., 2013). This situation is more serious in poor developing countries like Ethiopia (Feoli et al., 2013), where subsistence production predominates. The Ethiopian farmer, who on average cultivates one hectare of food crops and keeps some livestock, is now a day’s dependent on natural conditions and cannot tolerate further deterioration of soil productivity (Sonneveld & Keyzer, 2003). Increasing population, intense land cultivation, uncontrolled grazing, and deforestation often lead to, or exacerbate, soil erosion (Tadesse, 2001; Bewket, 2002). These factors undermine agricultural productivity and frustrate economic development efforts, especially in developing countries where there is heavy land dependence (Shiferaw & Holden, 2000; Feoli et al., 2013) in low external-input farming systems (e.g., the Ethiopian

Secondly, it could be used as a stepping stone to examine farmers’ perception on soil erosion in other study areas with modification to immediate issue. Thirdly, it would be an input for planners and development practitioners who are primarily working on land degradation in general and soil erosion in particular. Moreover, it is helpful to be as a reference for other studies in the area with similar or other themes of study. Finally conclusions and recommendations given would help in designing and implementing soil erosion management practice in the study