Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia

This paper provides details of soil and water conservation (SWC) investments in Ethiopia over the past 20 years. It presents SWC practices and estimates the level of SWC investments in different regions. The paper focuses on four principal agricultural regions: Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray. Prim...

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Autores principales: Adimassu, Zenebe, Langan, Simon J., Barron, Jennie
Formato: Artículo preliminar
Lenguaje:Inglés
Publicado: International Water Management Institute 2018
Materias:
Acceso en línea:https://hdl.handle.net/10568/97204
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author Adimassu, Zenebe
Langan, Simon J.
Barron, Jennie
author_browse Adimassu, Zenebe
Barron, Jennie
Langan, Simon J.
author_facet Adimassu, Zenebe
Langan, Simon J.
Barron, Jennie
author_sort Adimassu, Zenebe
collection Repository of Agricultural Research Outputs (CGSpace)
description This paper provides details of soil and water conservation (SWC) investments in Ethiopia over the past 20 years. It presents SWC practices and estimates the level of SWC investments in different regions. The paper focuses on four principal agricultural regions: Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray. Primary and secondary data were collected for the analysis, and consultations were conducted at regional levels. Primary data on diverse SWC practices, their numbers and areal extent were obtained from the archives of regional Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs). The results of this study show that several projects involving significant financial investment have been implemented to reverse land degradation and improve land productivity in Ethiopia since the 1970s. The list of projects is not comprehensive due to a lack of documentation at all levels, but it does provide some insights into the scale of SWC investments and implementation. The projects analyzed in the four regions fall into the following categories: farmland management, hillside management and gully rehabilitation practices, including check dams and cut-off drains. The analysis shows that these practices involved both paid and unpaid labor, together representing an estimated investment of more than ETB 25 billion (or approximately USD 1.2 billion) per year over the past 10 years. It is clear that large investments have been made in SWC activities in Ethiopia. However, the outcomes in terms of impact on yield and livelihood benefits are yet to be fully understood. A comprehensive assessment is needed to measure the impact of SWC activities on farmers’ livelihoods and the environment. A key recommendation arising from the analysis is that more data and information are needed on the successes and failures of SWC practices, which will assist stakeholders to better guide and target future projects and investments. An additional recommendation is to consider the biophysical and financial impact of soil erosion, both on and off farm.
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spelling CGSpace972042025-11-07T08:43:15Z Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia Adimassu, Zenebe Langan, Simon J. Barron, Jennie soil conservation water conservation waterways financing gully erosion land management landscape land productivity land degradation farmland farm management investment runoff living standards dam construction farmers watershed management environmental monitoring capacity building sediment hillside operations sloping land rural areas rural communities terraces nongovernmental organizations This paper provides details of soil and water conservation (SWC) investments in Ethiopia over the past 20 years. It presents SWC practices and estimates the level of SWC investments in different regions. The paper focuses on four principal agricultural regions: Amhara, Oromia, SNNPR and Tigray. Primary and secondary data were collected for the analysis, and consultations were conducted at regional levels. Primary data on diverse SWC practices, their numbers and areal extent were obtained from the archives of regional Bureaus of Agriculture (BoAs). The results of this study show that several projects involving significant financial investment have been implemented to reverse land degradation and improve land productivity in Ethiopia since the 1970s. The list of projects is not comprehensive due to a lack of documentation at all levels, but it does provide some insights into the scale of SWC investments and implementation. The projects analyzed in the four regions fall into the following categories: farmland management, hillside management and gully rehabilitation practices, including check dams and cut-off drains. The analysis shows that these practices involved both paid and unpaid labor, together representing an estimated investment of more than ETB 25 billion (or approximately USD 1.2 billion) per year over the past 10 years. It is clear that large investments have been made in SWC activities in Ethiopia. However, the outcomes in terms of impact on yield and livelihood benefits are yet to be fully understood. A comprehensive assessment is needed to measure the impact of SWC activities on farmers’ livelihoods and the environment. A key recommendation arising from the analysis is that more data and information are needed on the successes and failures of SWC practices, which will assist stakeholders to better guide and target future projects and investments. An additional recommendation is to consider the biophysical and financial impact of soil erosion, both on and off farm. 2018 2018-09-14T04:08:46Z 2018-09-14T04:08:46Z Working Paper https://hdl.handle.net/10568/97204 en Open Access application/pdf International Water Management Institute Adimassu, Zenebe; Langan, Simon; Barron, Jennie. 2018. Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI).. 35p. (IWMI Working Paper 182) doi: 10.5337/2018.214
spellingShingle soil conservation
water conservation
waterways
financing
gully erosion
land management
landscape
land productivity
land degradation
farmland
farm management
investment
runoff
living standards
dam construction
farmers
watershed management
environmental monitoring
capacity building
sediment
hillside operations
sloping land
rural areas
rural communities
terraces
nongovernmental organizations
Adimassu, Zenebe
Langan, Simon J.
Barron, Jennie
Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia
title Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia
title_full Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia
title_fullStr Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia
title_full_unstemmed Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia
title_short Highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of Ethiopia
title_sort highlights of soil and water conservation investments in four regions of ethiopia
topic soil conservation
water conservation
waterways
financing
gully erosion
land management
landscape
land productivity
land degradation
farmland
farm management
investment
runoff
living standards
dam construction
farmers
watershed management
environmental monitoring
capacity building
sediment
hillside operations
sloping land
rural areas
rural communities
terraces
nongovernmental organizations
url https://hdl.handle.net/10568/97204
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AT langansimonj highlightsofsoilandwaterconservationinvestmentsinfourregionsofethiopia
AT barronjennie highlightsofsoilandwaterconservationinvestmentsinfourregionsofethiopia