Factors Influencing Land Degradation in the Billate Water shade: The Case of Dimtu and Shelo Sub Water shade, Southern Ethiopia

The economic growth of developing countries depends on the performance of the agricultural sector which in turn depends on how the natural resources are managed. Agriculture in Ethiopia is hindered by many factors among which land degradation in the form of soil erosion and nutrient depletion plays major role. Land degradation resulting from soil erosion and nutrient depletion is one of the most challenging environmental problems in Ethiopia. It has economic loss (food, pasture, and fuel wood) at household level. Billate is particular water shade found in the southern Ethiopia which faces similar problems. The study was to analyze factors influencing land degradation by examining the degree of land degradation, by identifying the factors influencing land degradation at plot level and by assessing management techniques applied in the billate water shade in the case of Dimtu and Shelo sub water shades, Southern Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were collected. Primary data were collected from 92 sampled households. Binary logit model analysis was used to determine factors affecting land degradation. The results revealed that only 10.9% of the sample households’ plots were undegraded and 89.1%, degraded with different degrees (slightly degraded, moderately degraded and severely degraded). The model results reveal that seven explanatory variables, education, plot ownership, livestock holding, family size, slope, and market distance from the residence were found to be statistically significance in affecting degradation at less than 10% probability level. The Billate Water shade is one of highly degraded areas with different degrees of land degradation (slightly degraded, moderately degraded and severely degraded). Understanding some of factors that determine land degradation of the area would contribute to devise appropriate strategies to achieve the desired change in SWC measures and to alleviate damages of land degradation in the study area. Sustainable land management systems must be developed to reduce further degradation and restore the productivity of the eroded land. Thus selecting strategies and intervention areas need to be given due attention in the near future. Keywords: Land degradation, Water shade, Land management, Household, Plot size DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/9-7-04 Publication date: April 30th 201