Mekuriaw, Asnake (2006) The Role of Land-Use on Impacts of Drought in Shebel Berenta Wereda, Amhara National Regional State, Ethiopia: A Case Study In Kutkwat Sekela Catchement. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.
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Abstract
This study focuses on the role of land-use on impacts of drought, and on societal and governmental response strategies against drought in Kutkwat-Sekela catchment, Shebel Berenta wereda, Misrak Gojjam Zone, Amhara Regional State. A field study was conducted to assess the impact of land-use on the intensity of drought, and the impact of drought on the socio-economic activity and on the environment, and to assess societal coping mechanisms and governmental response strategies. The study was conducted using socio-economic surveys, by investigating archival material on production, population related issues and local level impacts and responses, and through fieldwork on land use and land treatment practices, and soil conservation status adopted in the study area. Socio-economic survey on history of drought, its extent and impacts and response strategies was conducted using a structured questionnaire and focused group discussions. Environmental degradation of the study area was assessed using soil organic matter content, CEC (Cation Exchange Capacity), bulk density and changes in land cover. The change in land cover was assessed using aerial photographs (1957) and ground field survey of the current land uses (2005) as inputs to produce two GIS (Geographic Information System) based land cover maps of the study area for 1957 and 2005. The current land use and land treatment practices adopted in the study area were evaluated vis-à-vis the recommended Treatment Oriented Capability Classification (TO) scheme. The quality of stone made terraces was also evaluated using the Ministry of Agriculture/World Food Program (MOA/WFP) standard. A significant change in land cover was recorded in the study area between the years 1957 and 2005. The shift in land use was found to be towards more cultivated land and settlement. The area coverage of natural vegetation had decreased by about 48 % because of a rapid increase in population growth and associated demand for land and trees. The chemical and physical properties of the soils of the cultivated and grazing lands, which covered up to 66% of the study area, were found to be severely degraded. In Yekachera and Abaselama, two areas investigated in detail, current land use and land treatment practices were below the recommended level by about 32 % and 13 %, respectively. The impact of drought was found to be more severe in Yekachera than in Abaselama. The study indicated that the impacts of drought were related to land use and land treatment. Drought had adverse impacts on the socio-economic activities mainly on crop production and on the environment. To cope with the impacts of drought, farmers opted to lower food consumption, sale of livestock and reduced socialization. Governmental response strategies included relief aid and resettlement, food-for-work programmes, introducing drought resistant crops, soil conservation schemes and on-farm water harvesting. The investigation indicated that current drought coping mechanisms did not sufficiently address the impact of drought in the area. It is recommended that proper land use and land treatment should be implemented to reduce the impact of drought.
| Item Type: | Thesis (Masters) |
|---|---|
| Subjects: | G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences Q Science > QE Geology S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General) |
| Divisions: | Africana |
| Depositing User: | Selom Ghislain |
| Date Deposited: | 03 Sep 2018 14:37 |
| Last Modified: | 03 Sep 2018 14:37 |
| URI: | http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/4920 |
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