The Effect of Land Degradation on Farm Size Dynamics and Crop-Livestock Farming System in Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

Ethiopia is among the poorest countries in which poverty, land and resource degradation appear to feed off each other. The irony is that Ethiopia is a country with high biodiversity and distinctive ecosystems and the natural resource base is critical to the economy and the livelihood of a high percentage of the population. Being the owner of varying agro ecology, the country's agricultural production system had practiced for decades with a maximum potential. However, because of the presence of interrelated problems, the productivity had not sustained as its potential. From the interrelated problems, land degradation takes the first and challengeable problem in many countries. Land degradation refers to a temporary or permanent decline in the productive capacity of the land, or its potential for environmental management as a result; the long-term biological and environmental potential of the land has been compromised. Land degradation in the Ethiopian highlands (i.e. areas above 1500 m.a.s.l.) has been a concern for many years and is a great threat for the future that requires great effort and resources to ameliorate. It had adverse effect on lowering of livestock production by shrinking grazing land, the fertile soil types were washed and the grazing land was dominantly covered by unpalatable pastures and grasses which had low nutritive value and fertility for crop-livestock production system. In other cases, degradation induces farmers to convert land to lower-value uses; for instance, cropland converted to grazing land, or grazing lands converted to shrubs or forests. Equitable and secure access to land is a critical factor for the rural poor, especially livestock owners, who depend on agriculture and animal-related activities for their livelihood. Having secure access to land for agriculture and pastoral activities reduces their vulnerability and enhances their opportunities to invest in land for agriculture and livestock activities. Historical patterns of feudal ownership of land followed by government ownership and despite policy change uncertain status of land ownership. These land distribution and ownership patterns coupled with continuous fragmentations and degradation disrupt the balance between crop, livestock, and forest production. These things nowadays enforce Ethiopian farmers to put more land into crop production than working on livestock sector. Livelihoods are complex, dependent on animal and crop production based on land and water resources, with emerging market opportunities. And from year to year, the size of farms is getting minimized because of land degradation and segmentations, and these make a change in farm size dynamics and farming shift. Currently, there is a great scenario towards the land policy pattern and agricultural production system, which is the backbone of the country's economy. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to review the effect of land degradation on farm size dynamics and crop-livestock production since the impact of these things is not well measured.

Analysis of farmers perception on the impact of land degradation hazard on agricultural land productivity in Jeldu district in West Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

“…About 35% of the respondents associated land degradation to low adoption and sustained implementation of soil and water conservation measures used in their farmlands while, 32.5, 30.83, 28.33, 27.5, 25.83 and 18.33% considered cultivation of marginal areas and steep slopes, overgrazing and continuous cropping, torrential rains (high intensity rainfalls), expansion of eucalyptus trees, deforestation and clearing of vegetation and soil erosion vulnerable soil type, reported to be responsible for the land degradation and soil erosion proms, respectively. This finding clearly corroborates with Tesfa and Mekuriaw (2014) report, which elucidates those vast areas of the highlands of Ethiopia, and could be classified as suffering from severe to moderate soil degradation. Increasing intensification and continuous cultivation on sloping lands without supplementary use of soil amendments and conservation practices poses a serious threat to sustainable land use.…”

“…Theoretically, those farmers who perceive soil erosion as a problem, having negative impacts on productivity and who expect positive returns from conservation are likely to decide in favor of adopting available conservation technologies (Tesfa and Mekuriaw, 2014). On the other hand, when farmers do not acknowledge soil erosion as a problem, benefits from controlling erosion will not be expected and it is very likely that they will decide against adopting any conservation technologies.…”

“…Unfortunately, the literature on determinants of the adoption of conservation technologies has given little attention to perception variables (Tesfa and Mekuriaw, 2014). Agricultural technology adoption studies in Ethiopia started in 1970's, but few of them were considered as a role of farmer perceptions in the adoption of improved varieties (Pender and Gebremedhin, 2006;Bekele and Drake, 2003;Bewket and Sterk, 2002;Haregeweyn et al, 2015).…”

“…Land degradation is a dangerous hazard and slow process therefore need by farmers to perceive its severity and the associated yield loss before they can consider implementing soil and water conservation (SWC) practices (Tesfa and Mekuriaw, 2014). Land and water degradation and its effect on agricultural activities may be unintentional and unperceived; it may result from carelessness or from the unavoidable struggle of vulnerable populations, for the necessities of survival (Teshome et al, 2016).…”

“…Among the SSA countries, Ethiopia has a high level of soil erosion (FAO, 2011;World Bank, 2012;Tesfa and Mekuriaw, 2014;Aklilu, 2006). Agriculture is the economic mainstay of the overwhelming majority of Ethiopian people and will continue to remain so in the near future.…”