The Implications of Hillside Enclosure on the Local Livelihoods of Communities in Kajimma Umbulo Kebele of Hawassa Zuria District in Southern Ethiopia

Lambe, Biruk Tagesse (2012) The Implications of Hillside Enclosure on the Local Livelihoods of Communities in Kajimma Umbulo Kebele of Hawassa Zuria District in Southern Ethiopia. Masters thesis, Hawassa University.

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Abstract

Land degradation is seriously affecting Hawassa lake catchment where Kajimma Umbulo kebele is found, with an area of 8050 ha degraded land out of which 5% is composed of extremely degraded bare soil and exposed rocks. The decline in soil fertility, land productivity and gully formations exposed the local people to flooding problems. Land degradation influences the livelihoods of rural people for their dependence on natural resources are huge. As a result, hillside enclosure activities have been undertaken to reduce the effect of land degradation and thereby improve livelihoods in Kajimma Umbulo. This study focused on land intervention project on hillsides by Mendel University in Kajimma Umbulo kebele of Hawassa Zuria district in southern Ethiopia. The major objective of the study was to investigate the impacts of enclosure activities on hillsides to the livelihoods of the local people. The sampling procedure employed purposive sampling for selecting the kebele from the district and was stratified based on wealth status for the survey. In addition, the sustainable livelihoods framework was used to identify and explain the major impacts of SWC activities. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected through key informant interviews, focus group discussions, and household surveys. The results indicate that the main livelihood strategy of the local people is mixed farming system cash income share of 81.2% from both crop and livestock production. The cash incomes from the livelihood sources differed for the on-farm cash incomes among the wealth classes(P < 0.05) while the better-off differed significantly in the case of off-farm and non-farm cash incomes (P < 0.05). The findings show that the hillside enclosure SWC activities have contributed to an increase in land productivity in terms of improved crop yield in the downstream farmlands. The mean livestock holding in TLU and the major crop yields with the fertilizer use levels have significantly increased (P < 0.05). About more than half of respondents perceived this as a result of the hillside enclosure SWC. Besides, improving the natural and physical asset base of the local people (SWC structures) trees were also planted on hillsides. Regarding human assets land management information and enhanced skills for SWC activities among the local people were also indicative impacts where 88.9% of the on-farm SWC adopters get information and adopted on-farm SWC measure though affected by landholding size (P < 0.05). The hillside enclosure intervention has reduced temporarily migrated wage labor while the labor work in the locality increased in engagement. The intervention has also reduced the vulnerability of local people from flooding problems. The wealthier households benefited much from the crop yield and livestock perspective as a result of additional input integration that they have in the production system than the poor. It is recommended that proper land management is vital for sustainable mixed livelihood systems in the locality and these built assets be maintained for their sustainability and due attention be given towards equitable benefit sharing and awareness-raising to ensure local people’s contribution in the future.

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Uncontrolled Keywords:	livelihoods, hillside enclosures, SWC intervention, improved yield, reduced vulnerability, land degradation
Subjects:	G Geography. Anthropology. Recreation > GE Environmental Sciences H Social Sciences > HD Industries. Land use. Labor S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Mr Biruk Tagesse Lambe
Date Deposited:	08 Feb 2022 07:10
Last Modified:	08 Feb 2022 07:10
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/9684

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