Determinants of Physical Soil and Water Conservation Practices in Ethiopia’s Semi-Arid Tropics: The Case of Bati District

In Ethiopia, soil erosion by water is one of the most devastating problems that threaten the sustainability of agriculture. Several soil and water conservation (SWC) practices have been developed and promoted. Despite the efforts made the use of new practices by farmers has not been widespread. Therefore, this study was initiated to identify determinants of physical soil and water conservation (PSWC) practices in Bati district. A multistage sampling technique was used to select 160 farm household heads managing 295 farm plots from three Kebele Administrations. A multinomial logistic regression model was employed to analyze determinants of PSWC practices. Results of Multinomial Logit showed that farmers’ use of introduced stone bunds and soil bunds was positively and significantly determined by education level of small farm household, extension service on SWC practices, age of household head and fertility level of plot. Moreover, plot ownership type has negative and significant influences on the use of introduced stone bunds and check dams and slop of a plot has positive and significant influences on the use of stone bund and check dam. Similarly, farmers’ use of introduced check dam was positively and significantly affected by duration of use of a plot, extension service on SWC and fertility level of a plot. In addition, the use of soil bunds is positively and significantly determined by access to irrigation and negatively and significantly determined by dependency ratio. These results suggest SWC intervention should consider inter-household and inter-plot heterogeneity in the design and promoting of SWC practices.