Abstract: Land degradation is a critical issue in southern Ethiopia, contributing significantly to food insecurity and rural migration. Despite various intervention programs, the management of this vital resource remains inadequate, leading to declining productivity. This study investigates impact of socio-economic and environmental factors on land restoration initiatives for adoption of soil and water conservation practices. A total of 149 household heads were selected using probability proportional method from three villages with data collected through structured questionnaires. Descriptive and inferential statistics using a probit model were employed to analyze the data. Result showed that the role of extension agents is emphasized; as contact with these professionals significantly boosts adoption rates soil and water conservation practices. The analysis reveals significant differences in the adoption of agricultural practices among adopters and non-adopters, particularly for soil bund construction and terrace construction. For soil bund construction, adopters demonstrate a mean value of approximately 2.5 compared to 0.5 for non-adopters, with a statistically significant t-test result (t = 3.194, p = 0.038). The result indicated that those who adopt this practice are more effective and engaged, possibly due to enhanced skills from training offered. Overall, these findings underscore the importance of targeted training programs to promote effective agricultural practices and highlight the need to understand barriers faced by non-adopters. In conclusion, the analysis highlights significant differences in the adoption of soil bund construction and terrace construction practices among farmers. Adopters of soil bund construction are notably more effective, likely due to targeted training. These findings emphasize the necessity of focused training programs to enhance agricultural practices with respect to soil and water conservation and address barriers faced by non-adopters to enhance the Green Legacy initiative outcomes in more sustainable manner.
Abstract: Land degradation is a critical issue in southern Ethiopia, contributing significantly to food insecurity and rural migration. Despite various intervention programs, the management of this vital resource remains inadequate, leading to declining productivity. This study investigates impact of socio-economic and environmental factors on land restorati...Show More