| Soil erosion and consequent degradation of agricultural land is a serious environmental and socio-economic challenge in the highlands of Ethiopia. Soil and water conservation (SWC) measures have been extensively carried out during the past three decades under various packages by governmental and non-governmental organizations. However, it is widely recognized that conservation works have often failed to meet the objectives anticipated. This is mainly attributed to a wider range of technical, socio-economic, and policy constraints that make the recommended technologies inappropriate to local conditions. In particular, conservation plans and strategies have been prepared and executed in a "top-down" approach without the consent and full participation of the land users. And not integrating the indigenous knowledge and practices which they have developed and to which they have become accustomed. Direct incentives were used to encourage farmers to adopt the recommended conservation measures. However, the instruments lack continuance and were finally found out to be ineffective. Therefore, the need for a new approach to deal with the matter is indispensable. The good use of indigenous knowledge and practices in developing, with end-users, best SWC technologies is proposed in this research project for effective technological transfer and suitable solution. The overall objective is to assess and evaluate the technical and socio-economic suitability of indigenous and introduced SWC practices within a case study watershed, and identify best practices that enhance suitable land use. |
