RESEARCH ON

ASSESSMENT OF DIBLA WATERSHED MANAGEMENT

PRACTICES IN DIBLA KEBELE,TIGRAY REGION

PROPOSED BY

NAME ID.NO

DABELA BERAKA………………. 0092/07

FENTAYE ABEYNEH…………..0098/07

G/YOHANIS DEREBEW……….0141/07

ADIVISOR

Dr SYED ATHAUR RAHIMAN

COLLEGE OFAGRICULTURE AND ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCE

DEPARTIMENT OF ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCE

ADIGRAT UNIVERSITY

MAY, 2017
ADIGRAT, ETHIOPIA

I
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT
First of all our special thanks go to almighty God who helped us in every aspect of our life and

who gave us strength to accomplishment of our research. We are very thankful to our advisor Dr.

Syed Athaur Rahiman for his valuable suggestions, we like to thanks instructor Muuz G.and

assistance professors Elias Jigar for their friendly approach, critical comments and assistance for

conducting this research paper effectively. We would like to great thanks to ato Sahle Aregay the

manager of agricultural office of Dibla kebele for his critical information regarding watershed

management practices.

II
Contents
Table Contents Pages
ACKNOWLEDGEMENT.................................................................................................................................II
LISTS OF FIGURE.........................................................................................................................................IV
LIST OF ABBRIVATION.................................................................................................................................V
LIST OF TABLES...........................................................................................................................................VI
ABSTRACT..................................................................................................................................................VII
CHAPTER ONE……………………………………………………………………………………………1
1.1 INTRODUCTION.....................................................................................................................................1
1.1 Background.......................................................................................................................................1
1.2 Statement of the problem................................................................................................................2
1.3 Objectives.........................................................................................................................................3
1.3.1 General objective............................................................................................................................3
1.3.2 Specific objectives......................................................................................................................3
1.4 Research question............................................................................................................................4
1.5 Significance of the Study...................................................................................................................4
1.6 Scope /Delimitation/of the study.....................................................................................................4
1 LITRATURE REVIEW...................................................................................................................................5
2.1 Concept of watershed management................................................................................................5
2.1.1 Definition of Watershed............................................................................................................5
2.2 Watershed management practice in Ethiopia...................................................................................5
2.3 Watershed management in Tigray Region........................................................................................7
2.4 Watershed management approach.................................................................................................9
2.4.1 Integrated Approach..................................................................................................................9
2.4.2 Consortium Approach.................................................................................................................9
2.5 Community Interventionin watershed management........................................................................9
3 MATERIALS AND METHODS....................................................................................................................12
3.1 Description of the study area..........................................................................................................12
3.1.1 Location....................................................................................................................................12
3.1.2 Population................................................................................................................................12
3.1.3 Climate and agro-ecology.........................................................................................................12
3.1.4 Topography and soil type.........................................................................................................13

III
 3.2 Sampling technique.........................................................................................................................13
3.2.1 Sample size...............................................................................................................................13
3.3 Type of data and method of data collection....................................................................................14
3.4 Data Analysis Method......................................................................................................................15
CHAPTER FOUR.....................................................................................................................................16
4 RESULT AND DISCUSSIO..........................................................................................................................16
4.1 General characteristics of the respondents.....................................................................................16
4.2 The existing soil erosion status and basic land uses in the watershed............................................19
4.3 The existing watershed management practices in study area.........................................................22
4.4 Mechanisms applied to conserve and maintain watershed resources in study area......................24
4.4.1 Mechanisms for soil and water conservation in Dibla watershed............................................24
4.4.2 Mechanisms used for gully control in the study area...............................................................26
4.4.3 Types of waterways in the watershed.....................................................................................29
4.4.4 Newly developed and oldly physical and biological watershed conservation mechanisms in
Dibla watershed.................................................................................................................................29
4.5 Watershed management approach used in Dibla kebele...............................................................30
4.6 The mechanisms followed after forest cut for use..........................................................................32
5 CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION.................................................................................................33
5.1 Conclusions......................................................................................................................................33
5.2 Recommendations...........................................................................................................................34
REFERENCES..............................................................................................................................................36
APPENDIX..................................................................................................................................................38

IV
LISTS OF FIGURE
Figure 1: Existing Dibla watershed management practices...........................................................24

Figure 2: Seat gully controlled with gabion check dams……………………………………….26

Figure 3: Safe change from seat gully control, downstream controlled by saltbush and
Eucalyptus plantation…………………………………………………………………………….27

Figure 4: Dibla kushet gully controlled by gabion check dams and plantation of Eucalyptus….27

Figure 5: Dibla kushet gully controlled by stone check dams with cement……………………..28

Figure 6: Dibla kushet gully controlled by Stone check dams with cement and safe changes…..28

V
LIST OF ABBRIVATION

TNRS : Tigray National Region

ABGAW : Annual Book of Ganta -afeshum Woreda
SSA : Sub-Saharan African
NGOs : Non Governmental Organization
WSM : Watershed Management
WSMP : Watershed Management Practices

VI
LIST OF TABLES

Table1: Sex distribution of the respondents……………………………………………………..16

Table 2: Respondent age status……………………………………………………….………….16

Table 3: Marital status……………………………………………………………….……… ….17

Table 4: Educational status………………………………………………………………...…….17

Table 5: Family size of the respondents........................................................................................18

Table 6: Basic land uses ................................................................................................................19

Table 7: Problems Associated with Watersheds in Dibla kebele……………..............................20

Table 8: The problem sex aggregated in study area……………………………………………20

Table 9: Land slope which easily affected by erosion...................................................................21

Table 10: Major cause of erosion in the study area………………………………………….......21

Table 11: Degree of current problem they face.............................................................................22

Table 12: The mechanisms used to conserve soil and water resources in the area.......................24

Table 13:The level of interest of respondents in WSM practice……………………………….31

Table 14: Motivation for participation………………………………………………….………..31

VII
ABSTRACT
This research has focused on the assessment of watershed management practices in Ganta-
afeshum woreda, Dibla kebeles. Watershed is an active delineate of drained water in a stream.
Watershed management is one of the importance practices which helps to fulfilling the basic
needs of the human beings as well as for the survival of animal and plant and improve the
economy of a region by increasing productivity. The specific objective of our research, besides,
it was aimed to assess existing watershed management practices, to identify the types of
watershed management approach used and to identify the mechanisms applied to maintain and
protect watershed resources in the study area. The data was collected using primary and
secondary data collection method and through reviewing different documents and information
was gathered from official documents, direct observations, and households of the Dibla
watersheds. Both probability and non-probability sampling technique were used to collected
data and they were taken by using simple random sampling technique. Data were analyzed by
employed various quantitative and qualitative data analysis methods by using statistical
description The study has also described the types of watershed management approach exist in
Ganta-afeshum woreda, Dibla kebeles and tried to described performance of watershed
management practice in Dibla kebele and put measures to reduce problems of unmanaged
watershed. It has also discussed on the existed watershed management practices, types of
approach used and mechanisms applied to conserve watershed resources. The result indicates
that existing watershed management practices covers about 75% of the areas, through
participatory approach about 60% of our respondents were actively participated with
entervasion of government extension and NGOs by applying both physical and biological soil
and water conservation measures.Our research project has tried to concluded that the situation
of watershed management practices in selected kebele was high, there were construction of
different controlling systems to reduce the rate of soil erosion and filter water into ground by
constructing trench,haflmoon,eyebrown,etc, and research has tried to recommend the possible
solutions for concerned bodies to further improve the management practice of watershed of
Dibla kebeles through integrated physical soil and water conservation mechanisms with
biological one was recommend.

Keywords: Watershed, participatory approach, biophysical measures

VIII
IX
CHAPTER ONE
1 INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background

Watershed is an active delineate of drained water in a stream (drained to some point or in a

stream or river) to obtain goods and services without adversely affecting the water basin.
Watershed management is one of the importance practices which helps to fulfilling the basic
needs of the human beings as well as for the survival of animal and plant and improve the
economy of a region by increasing productivity, framework support partners using sound science
taking will planned actions and achieving results. Watershed management practice must be
carried out or formulates for sustainable development and increased food productivities and
surplus. For several decades, integrated and sustainable watershed management has been
suggested and tried in several countries in the world, as an effective way to address complex
water and land resource challenges (Panda, 2007).

The extent of fertile land available for agriculture is decreasing due to land degradation Land
degradation is caused by deforestation and inappropriate use and management of the natural
resources, (soil and water). It leads to both non sustainable agricultural production and increased
risks of catastrophic flooding, sedimentation, landslides. “Land degradation in developing
countries, mainly in sub-Saharan Africa (SSA), is largely an outcome of the existing agricultural
production system, which is a „resource-poor‟ agriculture characterized by uncertain rainfall,
low inherent land productivity, lack of capital, inadequate support services and poverty”
(Mekuria 2005). Ethiopia is believed to be one of the Sub-Saharan African countries most
seriously affected by land degradation.

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.

Water as insufficient and commonly shared resource may become a cause of conflict to provide
adequate water to the users in the right quantities at the right place right time. By applying
environmentally sound techniques and procedure is a challenge in past decade. Now a day issues
of watershed get attention so effective water management application would be needed because
very crucial, extent of fertile land available for agricultural is decreasing due to land degradation
is caused by deforestation inappropriate use and management of natural resource. Eventually,
when the supply of food-for-work was discontinued, most of the participating farmers became
unwilling to participate in the new conservation projects or maintain those already established.
Some farmers even removed the structures from their lands (Girma.T, 2001). Land degradation
in developing countries, mainly in SSA, like in Ethiopia is largely affected by land degradation.
It has been reported that land degradation in Ethiopia accounts for 8% global total (Mekuria,
2005).

In spite of substantial progress in watershed management in Tigray region, land degradation,

climate change and unsustainable natural resource base is still continuing. Unwise watershed
management and use of natural resource is one the major socioeconomic and environmental
factors that has cause adversely lower crop yield in region. Sustainable natural resource is
essential for conserving water, land and biodiversity, enhancing local livelihoods, improving the
economy of high land inhabitants and people living in downstream areas and can only be
achieved by an integrated approach through management practices by local people’s
participation. The watershed recalled Seat and Dibla watershed will select for the purpose of
identifying the watershed management practices in Adigrat zone, Woreda Ganta Afeshum, Dibla
kebele.

.1.2 Statement of the problem

Watershed management is one of the importance practices which helps to fulfilling the basic
needs of the human beings as well as for the survival of animal and plant and improve the
economy of a region by increasing productivity. However, now a day’s soil erosion and water
resource degradation are becoming the burning issue of the most developing countries which is

2
bringing for reaching consequences on the livelihood of people and environmental degradation.
Many components of watershed would be degraded for a long period of time due to human
activities to fulfill the immediate benefit (short term benefit) without considering the irreversible
long term impacts. Therefore for successful and sustainable watershed management, people’s
participation is essential. This is one of the lessons learned from the failures of centrally planned
watershed development projects through which local people have been either forced to construct
terracing, banding, rehabilitating gullies and other technical measures that external experts
believed would cure watershed degradation Governments and NGOs have recognized that
protection of watersheds cannot be achieved without the willing participation of local people
(Rhoades,1998).

Over the last two decades, the government of Ethiopia and donors spent significant sums on
micro-watershed and macro-watershed rehabilitation and development. Most of these projects
not successful due to lack of effective community participation, unmanageable planning units,
evaluation techniques and due to lack of knowledge concerning appropriate watershed
management approaches for their feedback. The main problem of watershed management
practice mainly due to the lack of socioeconomic aspects of specific society. So, effective
watershed management practices will be highly substantial for socioeconomic importance of a
certain society and significance for climate resiliency. Therefore, this proposal is prepare to fill
this gaps, socioeconomic aspects throughout Ganta-Afeshum Woreda, Dibla kebele by studying
watershed management practices in study area.

1.3 Objectives

1.3.1General objective

• To study watershed management practice in Dibla watershed,Ganta-Afeshum

woreda,Dibla kebele

1.3.2 Specific objectives

• To assess the existing watershed management practice in the study area.

• To examine the type of watershed management approach used.

• To identify the mechanisms used to maintain and protect watershed resource in the area.

3
1.4 Research question

This research has tried to address problems related to exploring the significance of watershed
management practices. At the ends of this study what will be able to attempts to answer are the
following questions:

 What kind of watershed management practice exists in Ganta Afeshum woreda,Dibla

kebele?
 How the performance of watershed management practice in the study area is?
 What are the measures used to reduce problems of unmanaged watershed in Dibla
kebele?

1.5 Significance of the Study

The outcome of the study will generate information for different stakeholders, engineers,
researchers, policy makers, governmental and Non Governmental Organization (NGOs)and the
study played an important role to increasing the awareness of farmers in study area to benefit
from watershed management practices more over this study benefits the society of study area by
providing sufficient knowledge on soil and water resources management. This research proposal
is also important to identify the problem of the study area. Particularly problems related loss of
watershed resources and its magnitude in the study area to change the attitude of community on
watershed management practice and for local level organizations to design and develop effective
sustainable integrated watershed management practices and strategies. Moreover, the
methodology that would be developed in this study and the result will be found can serve as
background information to undertake in similar setting.

1.6 Scope /Delimitation/of the study

The study is restricted to areas found around Ganta-Afeshum Woreda, Dibla district due to
material ,lack of Money and time constraints.

4
CHAPTER TWO

1 LITRATURE REVIEW
2.1 Concept of watershed management
2.1.1 Definition of Watershed

A watershed is any area from which runoff resulting from rainfall is collected and drained
through a common point. Synonymous terms are ‘drainage basin’ and ‘catchment area’.
The common drainage point for the water is known as the outlet or confluence point.
All watersheds share the components of outlet, drainage network and boundary/ ridge.
watershed boundary is defined by the highest elevations surrounding its water stream; this is of
course influenced by the topography (‘hilliness’) of the landscape.

Categorization of watershed: Every watershed is categorized as

• Basin,

• Sub-basin

• Major watershed

• Critical watershed

• Sub-watershed or a micro-watershed, depending upon its size.

2.2 Watershed management practice in Ethiopia

Conservation of natural resource and reduce poverty in the semi-arid tropical region of south
Asia and Sub Saharan Africa, which are characterized by low agricultural productivity, river
natural resource degradation (Kerr,2002). Ethiopian government has for a long period of time
recognized the serious implication of continuing soil erosion to mitigate environmental
degradation and as a result large national programs were implemented in the 1970s and 1980s. In
Ethiopia watershed management practice was initiated in the 1970s tackle water caused soil
erosion impact and water shortage in agricultural economy. Since this period, interested in the

5
multiple environment, economic and social benefits provided by watershed management has
greatly increasing and accordingly it has been recommended for achieving a various purpose in
different part of the country (Gete Zeleke 2003).

In Ethiopia Watershed management was merely considered as a practice of soil and water
conservation. The success stories of early watershed projects were marked as the basis of major
watershed initiatives in Ethiopia. But only technological approaches were adopted from those
early successful projects and the lessons related to institutional arrangements were neglected.
The newly implemented projects neither involved nor took effort to organize people to solve the
problem collectively. Where village level participation was attempted they typically involved
one or two key persons like village leaders. These projects failed due to their centralized
structure, rigid technology and lack of attention to institutional arrangements. However, the
effort of these initiatives were seen to be inadequate in managing the rapid rate of demographic
growth within the country widespread and increasing land degradation, and high risks of low
rainfall and drought. Since 1980, the government has supported rural land rehabilitation, this
aimed to implement natural resource conservation and development programs in Ethiopia
through watershed management (MOARD, 2005). Traditional agriculture based on economy is
dominant. As a result of dependence of increasing population traditional subsistence agriculture
most of the Ethiopia high lands are experience degradation of watershed resource. Every since
people began manipulating land various approach and technique were practice to reduced
degradation watershed resource.

However, the system thinking or modern watershed(generally drainage area) management started
in the mid 20th century and adapted in most of countries with the aim of controlling water
pollution, sedimentation, soil erosion, flood and discharge extremes, the watershed management
effectively accounts multiple linkage between livelihood and natural resource management
(Hope, 2007). Watershed management implies the wise use of natural resources like land, water
and biomass in a watershed to obtain optimum production with minimum disturbance to the
environment. In the past, the concept of watershed management focused mainly on the
management of these resources in medium or large river valleys, designed to slow down rapid

6
runoff and excessive soil erosion, and to slow the rate of siltation of reservoirs and limit the
occurrence of potentially damaging flash flooding in river courses (Paul, 1997).Managing
watershed is concerned not only stabilizing soil, water and vegetation but also with enhancing
the productivity of resources in a way that are economically and institutionally sustainable
(Farrington et al, 1999).

2.3 Watershed management in Tigray Region

The productive land in Ethiopia in general and in Tigray region, since 1966, Farmers were
familiar with traditional soil and water conservation practices in their day to day activities such
as locally we call "Deret" that synonymous with 'grass strip' or soil bund; but, their activities
were not supported technically. However, currently technically supported physical and biological
conservation measures were widely implemented to prevent soil erosion, land degradation and
climatic hazards in the study area. Similarly, Watershed Management (WSM)in Easter Tigray
has grown in recent year from more technical interventions to restore degraded land. Land
degradation is a severe problem that contributes to low agricultural productivity which
aggravates food security problem. The governments of the region has for a long period of time
recognized the serious implication of continuing soil erosion to mitigate environmental
degradation and as a result large appraisal and processed programs were implemented in recent
years in Woreda Ganta -Afeshum(ABWGA).

More than 83% of the people of Tigray live in rural areas live based up on subsistence
agriculture. Due to the fact that the wide spread problems related to back ward and intensive
cultivation, overgrazing and deforestation creates a high level of soil erosion, decrease of soil
fertility status, scarcity of water both for domestic and animal consumption and shortage of
livestock feed, fuel and construction wood. The interaction of these problems resulted in the
reinforcing cycle of “poverty, food insecurity and natural resource degradation trap” over the last
many years. So that past development practice have not anticipated, eliminated or mitigated
potential environmental problems early in the planning process. This result in less awareness of
the people and a situation where a seriously damaged natural environment therefore, in order to
assure the future development in the region are sustainable it is essential to integrate
environmental concerns in the study and design of integrated watershed management practices ,

7
since environmental assessment and management have been recognized as effective tools for
facilitating the inclusion of the principles of sustainable development in to development agenda.

Hence attention to soil water conservation is a very important part of the work that the woreda
study and design of integrated watershed management case team in the fulfillment of its mandate
to support sustainable watershed management in the woreda in order to reduce poverty and to
contribute a more to secure, equitable and prosperous region. Land degradation is a well-
documented fact in Tigray. This is characterized by deterioration of physical and biological
resources. Watershed management is an issue of survival to the region which has been exposed
for sever soil erosion, natural resource degradation, deforestation, depletion of water resources,
as a result productivity of the region decreases up to the level of not to support the live in the
region. Soil erosion has washed away most of fertile top soil from the land surface. These sever
problems are caused by human and natural factors such as miss-use of natural resources, rugged
topography, continuous and primitive agricultural practices, increasing human population,
overgrazing, etc. the land productivity has reduced and frequency of occurring droughts has
increased.

To overcome this problem the government of the national, regional state of Tigray and non-
governmental organizations has been exerted valuable efforts on soil and water conservation
activities through mobilization and food for work programs. Besides, a forestation program has
been carrying out for about two decades. Significant changes on productivity have been observed
on the treated areas. However, the result obtained was not as expected. This is due to lack of
integration among disciplines, lack of commitment; watersheds had been treated without detail
study and design and not much focused on the participatory watershed development planning.
So, the team of the watershed has chosen based on selection criteria’s during the survey the team
has examined problems as well as stetted solution /potentials within the watershed that have
great impact to change the livelihood of the community. The team has selected management
alternatives for achieving sustainable and to make fruitful integrated development in the
watershed.

8
2.4 Watershed management approach
2.4.1 Integrated Approach

This approach suggested that integration of technologies within the natural boundaries of a
drainage area for optimum development of land, water and plant resources to meet the basic
needs of people and animals in a sustainable manner. This approach aims to improve the
standard of living of common people by increasing his earning capacity by providing all facilities
required for optimum production. Land degradation in Ethiopia is also intensified by soil nutrient
depletion, arising from continuous cropping together with removal of crop residues, low external
inputs and absence of adequate soil nutrient saving and recycling technologies (Sahlemedhin,
1999).

2.4.2 Consortium Approach

Consortium approach emphasizes on collective action and community participation including of
primary stakeholders, government and NGOs and other institutions. Watershed management
requires multidisciplinary skills and competencies. Easy access and timely advice for farmer’s
are important drivers for the observed impressive impacts in the watershed. These lead to
enhance awareness of the farmers and their ability to consult with the right people when
problems arise.

2.5 Community Intervention in watershed management

There are many activities which are not effective when attempted in an individual field or farm
level, but need community action government and NGOs have recognized that protection of
watershed cannot be achieved without the willing participatory local people (Pretty Walled,
2001). For successful and sustainable watershed management, community intervention is
essential. Farmer’s participation is essential for implementation of soil and water conservation
activities like terracing, bounding by food for work but also during planning of land and water
resource (Stocking,1996).Managing water involves not only individual but also common
property resource like forest, gullies roads foot path and vegetation along stream and
rivers(Swallow et.al, 2001). By seeking information from farmers about their constraint and
priority for new technologies, appropriate policies and technology can be designed for each

9
watershed. Therefore, participatory watershed management involves all factors to jointly discuss
their interests, priority their need, evaluated potentials alternative, implement, monitor and
evaluate the project outcome (Agene and Gathriu, 2006). The activities for which community
intervention are essential are:

• Management of gully control structure.

• Maintenance of drainage ways.

• Resolution of conflict.

• Increas agricultural activities.

• Reduce soil erosion and land degradation.

• Reduce flooding and water logging.

Environmental deterioration can best be reversed through involving local people directly with the
state, transforming the common experience of conflict into co-operation (Jeffery and Vira, 2001).
Farmer’s participation is essential not only for implementation of soil and water conservation
activities like terracing, banding by food for work but also during planning of sustainable
management of land and water resources. Farmers are closer to the real problems, and therefore
they are aware of issues that experts may miss, and their objectives are more practical for
economic development (Stocking, 1996). Furthermore, farmer’s participation in conservation
work is also considered important in improving the adoption of the recommended technology
(Ashby et al., 1996). In most of the centrally planned projects, like Ethiopia, soil and water
conservation programs are promoted with standard technical solutions such as terracing, contour
banding etc. on the assumption that soil conservation measures are universally applicable and
local farmers are unaware of soil erosion and ignorant of its causes and consequences (Johnson
et al., 2001). However, these measures, which were often forced on the people, may cause more
erosion than their own indigenous practices, either because the new conservation works are not
maintained or are technically less well adapted than existing practices (Kerr et al., 2002).

10
Managing a watershed involves not only individual plots, but also common property resources
like forests, springs, gullies, roads and footpaths, and vegetation along streams and rivers
(Swallow et al., 2001). The needs and priorities for different users are different in each
watershed. By seeking information from farmers about their constraints and priorities, their
potential for new technologies, appropriate policies and technology can be designed for each
watershed. User participation is vital for the success of watershed development projects. A
participatory approach implies a major role for the community and involves partnerships with
other interested groups, from bottom to top, and with policy makers. But the key concern is to
identify approaches that can attain an efficient, effective and accountable line between the
community, the local bodies, the state and the central bodies , the term „environmental services‟
is defined as “the conditions and processes through which ecosystems sustain and fulfill human
life, including the provision of food and other goods” (Rosegrant.M.2002). According to Johnson
et al. (2001), participation implies that stakeholders work together to set criteria for sustainable
management, identify priorities, constraints, evaluate possible solutions, recommend
technologies and policies and monitor and evaluate impacts. The essence of participation is often
unclear and clarification is required regarding who is participating, how and in what. Despite
Woodhills‟s expression (Johnson et al., 2001), “making invisible visible”, participatory
watershed management is not a neutral 10 concept, but it is a complex system, which involves
political issues concerning who has decision-making power and who has access to resources.

11
CHAPTER THREE

3 MATERIALS AND METHODS

3.1 Description of the study area
3.1.1Location
Ganta-Afeshum Woreda is found in eastern zone of Tigray regional state. This Woreda situated
at 14024’ and 14021’Nlatitude and 39013’ and 39017’ E longitude and sharing boundaries with
Gulo-Mekada Woreda in the north, Hawzen Woreda in South, and Saesie-Tsada Emba in East
and Ahferom Woreda and Nebelet Woreda In West. It has a total area 53035.03 ha. From the
total area of the Woreda, about 10522.75ha is farmland and from the total area of cultivable 4121
ha is irrigable land. It compprises of 19 rural tabias Bizet town. The Woreda consists of 74
Kushet under 20 Tabias. These 74 kushets participated in 38 integrated watershed developments
to rehabilitate natural resource and to improve productivity of watershed and with an estimated
of 103792 population (BoANRGA, 2006). Dibla kebele is one of Genta Afeshum kebele which
found in south part of woreda. Dibla is bordered on the South by Gohigot on the West by the
Bucot on the North by Sasun and on the East also by Sasun, it is found at the 890 Km distance
from Addis Ababa, 112 Km distance from Mekelle(regional capital) approximation. The total
area covers kebele is about 2724 ha from this 608ha is cultivated land, 1312ha forest land, 350ha
grazing land and 77.5 ha house land, Cactus 143. 52 ha, bare land 55ha.

3.1.2 Population
The total population of Dibla kebele has been estimated about 4735 (2245 are male and 2490 are
female) in which most of the population lives in rural areas since 1987. From the total
population, 47.41% are male and 52.59% are female.Total household of the kebele is 1218.
Almost about 85% of the population manage their lands.

3.1.3 Climate and agro-ecology

In the area the maximum rainfall occurs in summer season and annual amount of rainfall is 450-
650mm and annual average temperature is about 15-25 0C. Climate condition is varies according
to latitudinal variation due to the geographical and geological structures. The Agro-ecology of
the Woreda is Dega,Weyna degas and Kola in nature(ABGWA). Almost the agro ecology of the
kebele is Weyna dega.

12
 3.1.4 Topography and soil type
According to the area of the Wereda , Dibla is categorized under entirely rugged
mountains, almost no plateaus and there is a deep valleys. Altitude of the kebele ranges from
1900 -3000 meter above sea level(masl). The nature of topography of the area isno suitable
for farming, which has above 35% of the area is rugged mountains. The most of the soil
observed in the study area is unfertile. Three soil classes are mapped in the study area. These are
clay which occupy the relatively steep part of the study area is thin in thickness. The second soil
class is loam clay. It is generally confine to the major rivers and gentle slopes of the basaltic
formation. The third one is sand, which lies on the most of level lands and loam sand on the
plateau of study area.

3.2 Sampling technique

This research has used both probability and non-probability sampling technique to collected data.
The samples were taken by using simple random sampling technique to include the appropriate
number of males and female in the sample. We would be selected40 respondents randomly from
1218 households. The selection was done by using simple random sampling method from some
part of selected sites of kebele .

3.2.1 Sample size

Among different area important specific area would be selected based on land degradation and
declining of soil fertility in the local community. We would be selected some percent of the
household from the total number of households is our first job, then out of 1218 household we
would be selected the sample 40 numbers of respondents for the study, using simple random
sampling technique. Identified and determined the sample size from the total target population is
a main task. The samples were taken by using simple random technique to include the
appropriate number of males and female in the sample. Yamane,(1967) provides an easy formula
for determining sample sizes, and we will prioritized the method due to its simplicity.

13
n= N/ 1+N (e)2

Where, n=is a number of sample size

N= is a number of total target population
e=acceptable errors
n=1218/1+1218(0.1*0.1)
by 90% confidence level
1218/1218(0.001)
=92.41
~ 92
• Therefore, depending on this expression we would be selected only 40 respondents from
households from target population, because of lack of time, and almost the same response
from respondents

3.3 Type of data and method of data collection

The study used both primary and secondary data sources that was collected from selected
kebeles. The primary data have been collected from a sample of households through formal
survey using structured questionnaires. Secondary data have been obtained by referring various
books, magazines, memos and from various related book. Some information to be gathered
through primary data are the current status of existing watershed management practice in the
woreda,the perception of household on watershed management and the challenge regarding with
watershed. Secondary data have been obtained by referring various books, magazines, memos
and from various related documents. The survey has been carried out based on primary data
from random sample households. Also all the relevant available secondary data have been
collected. Prior to the collection of the data brief discussions were held with concerned
individuals in Dibla watershed office of Agriculture and Rural Development, then selection of
sample farmer household was done in consultation with extension agents.

14
3.4 Data Analysis Method
To analyze the data, we have been employed various quantitative and qualitative data analysis
techniques. By using quantitative data analyzing technique, the data would be analyzed by tables,
percentage, ratio by using Microsoft excel and a qualitative technique includes the explanation
and description of those quantitative and qualitative data. The data would be obtained from
household interview, field observation ,household management practice were analyzed and
summarized into table by using statistical description

15
CHAPTER FOUR

4 RESULT AND DISCUSSIO

4.1 General characteristics of the respondents
The demographic basic rounds of the respondent such as sex, age, martial and educational status
have their own relation directly/indirectly with respondent’s attitude on action of watershed
management practices done in the study area. These are analyzed in the following table.

Table 1: sex distribution respondent

Sex No of respondents % of respondent
Men 25 62.5%
Women 15 37.5%
Total 40 100%
According to the table, most of the time issues related with watershed management are
concerned as issue of both male and female. But some time the issue is only belongs to male
because in some case female were not participating in all agricultural activity equally with male
in the study area i.e. some time they doesn’t working in production of agricultural productivity to
improve their own economy. This is the reason why the above table shows total numbers of male
respondent cover 62.5% of the total respondent while female cover 37.5% of the total respondent
in watershed management practice. This doesn’t mean that they cannot think or know about
conservation at all why because there are female who practice the mechanism and how they
constructed more than some male in their land, even though their percent is less than male. Most
of the time they participated so as male, though they have no their own land.

Table 2: Respondent age status

Age range No of respondents %
20-30 10 25%
30-40 13 32.5%
40-50 11 27.5%
>50 6 15%
Total 40 100%

16
The above table reveals that most of the respondent were under the age of 30-40 with 32.5 % the
age which found 20-30 were only 25% but there age group from 40-50 and >50 were 27.5%
and15 % respectively This shows that, most of the respondent were found in productive age. So,
they have a full capacity to change any problem arise because of unmanaged watershed practice
and to reduce the problem faced them in their land.

Table 3: Marital status

Marital status No of respondents %
Married 24 60%
Un married 11 27.5%
Divorced 5 12.5%
Windowed 0 0%
Total 40 100%
As described in table 3, about more than half of respondents are married which mean that about
60% of the respondents. The unmarried clients have adhere about 27.5% of the respondent. The
number of divorced respondents covers 12.5% of the total respondents and no windowed among
our respondents. This shows that the largest portion of the respondent are married and as well as
no any windowed in our respondents.

Table 4: Educational status

Educational status No of respondents Coverage in %

Literate(read and write) 31 77.5

Illiterate 9 22.5

Total 40 100

Among the total number of respondent almost 77.5% are literate and 22.5 % are illiterate. This
indicates that from the total number of respondents, the majority of respondent are literate. who
are participating in a water shed management practice, since they know the significance of
managing watershed or land and what is their responsibility as well rather intentionally.

17
Table 4.1: Educational status
Educational status(Literate) No of respondents Coverage %

Senior secondary 12 38.71

Junior secondary 19 61.29

Total 31 100

From above 4.1 table, almost the education status of the respondents at elementary level,this is
why because about 61.29% of respondents are in this level in study area. This indicates that they
have not more knowledge about when we compare them with who at senior secondary(11 and 12
grade). So they need some additional information from other one,to participate effectively in
watershed management practice.

Table 5: Family size of the respondents

Family size No of respondents Coverage %
<4 10 25
4 to 6 12 30
>6 16 40
No have 2 5
Total 40 100

As indicated above table most of the respondents (16) have greater than six children. So there is
man power to manage/conserve watershed resources in dibla kebele.This is why integrated
watershed management needs not only households but also actively participation of all
community family members. 40% of households have above six family, followed by 30% of
them have about 4-6 children.

18
4.2 The existing soil erosion status and basic land uses in the watershed
Table 6: Basic land uses in study area/kebele

Basic land use In hectare Coverage (%)

Cultivated land 608 22.32

Forest land 1312 48.16
Grass land 350 12.85

House land/Settlement 77.25 2.84

Bare land/Useless 55 2.02
Cactus 143.625 5.27
Area closure 178.115 6.54

Total 2723.995/2724 100

Source; survey data from agricultural office of the kebele.

The type of land scope exist in study area are low ,leveled, mountain and Sloppy land are some
of the nature of the geographical feature of those land owned by farmers. Besides respondents
make difference among those features in terms of their productivity for instance a person who
have low type of land can have the advantage of getting fertile soil because of runoff which
eroded fertile soil and deposited to the bottom part as the result it is the most fertile compared to
the other float of the land on other hand steep land is the type of the land which is gradient in
nature and susceptible to soil erosion compared to the other float of the land. When we see in
terms of mountain type of land they characterized by their topography which have high
elevation in the area compared to other float of the land the last type of land is leveled which
have no elevation difference and it is the type of land which dominate the study area but each of
above land type have varieties of effects on the activity of watershed. The different landscape
while owned by respondents which features yield highest product, & which features of land are
easily affected by problem of erosion & cause for that erosion are seen from the following table.

Table 7: Problems Associated with Watersheds in Dibla kebele

19
 Problems Frequency percentage
Flooding 15 37.5%
Polluted Streams 8 20%
Food Shortage 9 22.5%
Poor drinking water supply 8 20%
Source: Field survey and Respondents response.

As shown in table 7,indicates from those problems arises from unmanaged watershed flooding
takes larger number which accounts 37.5% of the total while food shortages take 22.5% that
resulted from flooding problems means while flooding exist erosion is followed this erosion
removes fertile soil from the upper part of the soil this process directly reduces crop production
which lied to food shortage in other cases pollution of streams and poor drinking water takes
equal levels which is around 20% for each. So the most frequent and greatest problem related
with watershed is flooding duet to high rain fall which comes from slope area within very high
velocity.

Table 8:The problem exaggerated in study area

Problem No of respondents Coverage %

Soil erosion 31 77.5

Sedimentation 9 22.5

Total 40 100

The most exaggerated in study area is soil erosion as indicated in table 8, because it cover about
77.5% of the total. This is why that as soil eroded, reduces soil fertility and crop yield. This
directly/in directly affects both life of flora and fauna. Sedimentation covers about 22.5%. It may
be initiated due to soil erosion and it affects the quality of water and water based life. These are
also the problems which affect the quality of water in the study area including unmanaged waste
from household and animal which enter into water by means of flood and activities

Table 9: Land slope which easily affected by erosion problem

Item No of respondents which affected by Coverage %

20
 soil erosion problem
Low land 13 32.5
Sloppy 15 37.5
Level 12 30
Total 40 100

The table shows that the land features which easily affected by erosion is 32.5%on low land,
37.5% in sloppy land, and 30% on level land, this is because of their land scope. Most of the
respondent are agree that those land feature sloppy lands are easily affected by erosion.

Table 10: Major causes of erosion in the study area

Item Respondents Coverage %
Unimproved tillage practice 4 10
Deforestation 9 22.5
Nature of land 18 45
Overgrazing 9 22.5
Total 40 100

Source: survey data from agricultural office of the kebele.

The table above described that the major cause of erosion. From the respondents only 10% said
that due to improper tillage practice. This is because, even though most of the farmer
(community) depends on agricultural activity as income of their live hood, most of now they
properly tillage their lands, so little impacts on erosion. 22.5% respondent respond that due to
deforestation and overgrazing for each, while 45% of respondents said because of nature of land
as a Cause of soil erosion. This shows according to respondent perception the least cause for
erosion was due to improper tillage of their plot of land and (i.e. has less the contribution for
erosion problem).

Table 11: Degree of current soil erosion problem

21
 Items No of respondent Coverage %
High 14 35
Medium 20 50
Low 6 15
Total 40 100

According to table above describe depending on degree of problem they face due to erosion
problem the researcher able to conclude from respondent’s response those with high problems
accounts 14%,medium 50% & 15 low%. This indicate that those respondents face medium
problem are because of they have almost proper watershed management practice application on
their land uses and the groups which face low problem are due to carelessness, and the
respondent which face high problems are due to slope land which is beyond their capacity to
control. Therefore, conservation measures integrated with the other disciplines to irradiate these
problems, since Dibla watershed is highly degraded area. Most parts of the area become rock out
crop. There are many gullies and rills in all land use types. There are newly formed gullies in all
land use types. The biggest gully has an average 4 m depth and 15 m widths. According to our
interview, new gullies have been formed every year. This refers that soil erosion is active and
severe in the area. Therefore, there was physical and biological soil and water conservation
measures taken .

4.3 The existing watershed management practices in study area

During the past period of time community affected the problems of watershed resources
degradation, because they did not concern issues of watershed and its management practice in
their land and did not see issue of watershed as their own issue. But currently, what they started
to conserve natural resource like water, soil and other through almost self motivation to get
services and increase their livelihood improvement was appreciated. Community attitude
regarding watershed management practice also changed, this is why most of the communities in
the kebele understand about the issues of watershed management practices and the importance of
it, even though the degree of their participation is difference, all our respondents actively
participated in watershed management than the past. Now a days there are different soil and
water conservation activities, which have been implemented in Dibla watershed. These activities

22
are through practicing biophysical soil and water conservation in the watershed like terracing by
stone bunds, trenches (normal and dip), stone check dam, gabion check dam, half-moon,
eyebrows, soil bund etc. are covers approximately around 2043 ha, this means about 75% is
treated with different physical and biological soil and water conservation activities, from the
whole treated area, but about 510.75 ha needs maintenance. In the kebele each year communities
are participating in watershed management practices fro 20-30 days without any payment, since
they accept it as a culture to maintain/conserve soil and water by them self’s. From our
observation the quality of work is almost very good. But most parts of the gullies found in the
watershed are not treated, specially Dibla kushet gully is poorly managed. Well managed and
conserved at some parts, but very poor at other parts. There is need of maintenance and new
bunds should also be constructed on the upper and middle catchment, why because most of
gabion check dams constructed in Dibla kushet are destroyed. It needs newly developed gabions
and stone check dams. Even though we saw a single work what they already started/developed as
developed physical soil and water conservation at one position to maintain this. There are other
left parts which needs integrated physical soil and water conservation with biological soil and
water conservation. In other side there is also gully which called seat, here there are well
physical and biological soil and water conservation which cover most part of gully, make it level,
though poor management at some parts than Dibla gully. Mostly, it is conserved with biological
soil and water conservation mechanisms like Saltbush plantation, Eucalyptus, Acacia etc.

23
Figure,1;Exsisting Dibla watershed management practices.

Source: own photo

4.4 Mechanisms applied to conserve and maintain watershed resources in

study area
4.4.1 Mechanisms for soil and water conservation in Dibla watershed
Table 12: The mechanism used to conserve soil and water resources in the study area

Mechanisms use Frequency Percentage Started Learn from

time
Terrace/Stone 10 25% 1975 Extension agency(Gov’t) &
bunds parent
Contour farming 4 10% 1978 Parents
Stone Check 3 7.5% 1989 Extension agency(Gov’t)
dams
Tree planting 5 12.5% 1975 Extension agency(Gov’t) and
parent
Trench(Normal 8 20% 1997/2000 Extension agency(Gov’t)
and Depth
trench)
Half moon 3 7.5% 1987 Extension agency(Gov’t)
Eye brow 3 7.5% 1987 Extension agency(Gov’t)

24
 Gabion 4 10% 1993 Extension agency(Gov’t)
The above table indicate that as discussed before the major problems in the study area is flooding
problems in order to overcome this problems some measure are started and their practiced is
increasing from time to time based on this Build Flood control terracing/stone bunds takes
around 25% while trench(normal &depth) cover about 20%, tree planting is about 12.5%,
contour farming and gabion are about 10% and stone check dams, half moons and eye brows are
cover about 7.5%. From this the most frequent widely method is terracing/stone bunds followed
by trenches which used for water harvesting in area that have lack water stress, so to filter rain
water underground and to ensure soil moisture in the area. More or less these methods are
initially learned by respondent from extension agency(DA), but also from parents among few of
them. The stone bund reduces and stops the velocity of runoff and consequently reduces soil
erosion and the steady decline in fertile and crop yields. They are semi-permeable structure
unless sealed with soil in their upper side. They increase the moisture retention capacity of the
soil profile and water availability to plants and increase the efficiency of fertilizer applications.
Trenches are water harvesting structures constructed along the contours in a staggered position.
They are suitable up to 50% slope and sometimes slightly above in slopes with stable soils.
Trenches protect cultivated fields located downstream from flood and erosion.

A stone check dam is a structure across the middle and bottom of a gully or small stream, which
reduces the velocity of runoff and prevents the deepening and widening of the gully. Sediments
accumulated behind a check dam could be planted with crops or trees (Shrubs grass and thus
provide additional income to the farmer/this will be applied on highly eroded gully areas in all
land uses. Not suitable for large gullies without catchment treatment and protection. Gabion
check dams are the same as stone check dams, it can be used for spate irrigation, percolation
dam, and gully control. It consists of galvanized iron steel wire boxes different dimensions and
filled with loose stone the boxes are placed together and tied with wire. Gabion structures need
skilled man power for their design and implementation. Half moon basins are small circular and
stone faced structures for the tree planting are suitable for medium and slightly low rain fall
areas, stony areas and shallow soils. The main purpose of collecting and storing rain fall for the
growth of trees and fruits. Most suitable for the gentle slopping and sandy areas based up on
experience they are not very effective in low rain fall areas (where trenches, eye brows) .Eye
brow basin are larger circular and stone faced structures for trees and other species planting.

25
Based up on experience they are effective in low rain full areas to grow trees and harvest
moisture can be constructed in slopes above 50% for spot planting. It controls runoff and
contribute to recharge of water table.

4.4.2 Mechanisms used for gully control in the study area

There are three gullies in Dibla kebele seat in south, Dibla kushet gully in north part and
The most frequently mechanism used for those gullies control are gabion check dams, followed
by stone check dams with cement and next to them tree plantation is also used. Gabion check
dams are the same as stone check dams, used for gully control. It consists of galvanized iron
steel wire boxes different dimensions and filled with loose stone the boxes are placed together
and tied with wire. Gabion structures need skilled man power for their design and
implementation. stone check dam is used across the middle and bottom of a gully, which reduces
the velocity of runoff and prevents the deepening and widening of the gully. Sediments
accumulated behind a check dam could be planted with trees (Eucalyptus, shonboko, salt bush
etc) and thus provide additional income to the farmer/this will be applied on highly eroded gully
areas in all land uses. Although no safe change at all upper watershed to downstream equally,
conserved/saved lands by using these mechanisms. As result by this the previously Deeping and
widening gullies became full with soil and plants. This is what we observed from existing
practices

Figure 2; Seat gully controlled with gabion check dams.

Source: own photo

26
 Figure 3, Safe change from seat gully control, downstream controlled by saltbush
and Eucalyptus plantation

Source: own photo

Figure 4,Dibla kushet gully controlled by gabion check dams and plantation of Eucalyptus

Source: own photo

27
 Figure 5,Dibla kushet gully controlled by stone check dams with cement

Figure 6,Dibla kushet gully controlled by Stone check dams with cement and safe changes.

Source: own photo

28
4.4.3 Types of waterways in the watershed
Since there are conserved lands from gullies most parts became flats/level lands. As aresult much
of the rain water is filter into the underground, why that the trench for rain water harvesting was
made in either parts of the three main gullies to increase soil moisture and fertility of soil in
study area. And the other ways of water is into lake called Awabratum and Awash river. So these
are the two ways of water in Dibla kebele.
Source; from interviewing of the respondents

4.4.4 Newly developed and oldly physical and biological watershed

conservation mechanisms in Dibla watershed.
There are newly developed and no maintained physical soil and water conservation structure in
upper, medium and old lower catchment. For the newly developed in the upper catchment, stone
bunds are already used. Because at the streams the velocity and force of the flood is very high
and erosive, so it needs strongly constructed stone bunds and check dams. But in lower
catchment soil bunds, soil faced stone bunds and ring bone are used since flood velocity and
force relatively low and in the medium catchment check stone bunds and stone bunds are mostly
used in the currently developed watershed management practice. When physical soil and water
conservation practices was initially used as watershed management practice in Dibla kebele,
terracing was the only one in the catchments. This indicates in the last time (before 1985) there
was no effective management of watershed methods.

In addition to this there is also basic biological soil and water conservation methods in study
area. In three parts of watershed, in the top watershed tree plantation, bush plantation and area
closure are used but in mid watershed both tree plantation and bush plantation are used and alley
cropping and legumes including tree plantation are used as biological soil and water conservation
inputs in the kebele. Mostly they use these methods on the mountainous area and gullies, special
Seat and Dibla kushets gullies are controlled by using these biological soil conservation
mechanisms. They uses plant like Salt bush, Kuheha, Eucalyptus, Shonboko and Acacia in the
mid of seat gully and Populents, Kuheha, Spaniya in the Dibla kushet gully and almost
Eucalyptus plantation on mountainous area as well as some time Cactus to conserve soil and
water. As the results the current biological nature of watershed in the study area is characterize
as steep slope in upper, mid and flat in the mid watershed and steep and almost flat in the

29
watershed. Area closure, controlled grazing and replicative and maintenance used to sustain
biophysical watershed management practices in the area.

4.5 Watershed management approach used in Dibla kebele

During the past time(before 1985) watershed management projects done in Genta-afeshum
woreda,Dibla kebele was aim to applied a soil and water planning approach to watersheds that
aimed at specific on-site and downstream physical outcomes which at some extent exclude
engineering design at this time less attention was paid to the all parts of land use and there was
a little intervention of individual community, because they not understood/aware about
watershed management practice, so the only responsible drive force is government
agency/extension with some number of community members special with who learnt. As a
result, investment costs were high and not always well justified, and the assets and benefits
created often had a limited life. Throughout a period of time the comparative failure of this
approach was clear, and a major rethinking of watershed management approaches was
undertaken by regional government agencies and non-governmental agencies increasing the
awareness of the farmers regarding natural resources management, then after they start a new
departure for watershed management programs supported by national government. Although
engineering solutions were not excluded where appropriate, the emphasis was placed more on
farming systems and on participatory and demand-driven approaches implemented at the
decentralized level. More focus was given to this new departure by the renewed emphasis on
rural poverty reduction in development from small group of community. So now a day the
watershed management approach uses in study area is approach that emphasizes on collective
action and community participation including of primary stakeholders, government and non-
government organizations and other institutions. Watershed management requires
multidisciplinary skills and competencies. Easy access and timely advice for farmers are
important drivers for the observed impressive impacts in the watershed. These lead to enhance
awareness of the farmers and their ability to consult with the right people when problems
arise. So Integrated and Participatory Watershed Management Approach give appropriate
solution for that question arises from community and this approach able to get most attention of
the community. Participatory Watershed management approach discussed below in table 13 and
14

30
Table 13:The level of interest of respondents in W.S.M practices in study area
Respondent interest in No of respondent Coverage %
participation
Actively(high) participatory 24 60
Medium participatory 11 27
Low participatory 5 12.5
Total 40 100
The above table 11, show that the level of interest of the community participating in watershed
management practices who actively participate cover 60% of the total respondents, those who
their participation is medium because of carelessness to participate in water shed management
practice account about 27.5% and only 12.5% of respondents are less participation in watershed
management practices since they doesn’t have land, but they participate during 20-30 days each
year. From this, we understand almost the attitude of the respondents is positive towards
watershed management practices.

Table 14: Motivation for participation

Item No of respondent Coverage %
Government agency 9 22.5
My self 21 52.5
NGOs 6 15

Payment 4 10
Total 40 100
Table 12 above describes those who initiate them in participating in watershed management
practice. Those who initiated by them self cover 52.5% of the respondent, this indicated that
major of the community no required the others (government/NGOs) for initiate them on the work
area of watershed management practices, those who initiated by government to participate covers
22.5% next to this, 15% of respondents initiated by NGOs and rest are initiated by payments,
this payment is crop or money from NGOs(Catholic Church, MART, FCD) special for the
gullies control to few households.

4.6 The mechanisms followed after forest cut for use

During the past time when the forest cut there weren’t adequate mechanisms followed due to;

31
  Lack of Institutional and organization on the activity
 Lack of policy which enforce to practice watershed management practice work
 Lack of awareness among community and other person works on watershed
management

But now a day, the above misunderstanding regarding watershed management practices almost
solved, this is why most of the communities in the kebele understand about the issues of
watershed management practices and the importance of it. Even though the degree of their
participation is difference all our respondents are participated in watershed management than the
past. Currently, as respondents indicated what they are followed is biological soil and water
conservation mechanisms that means, protecting at plant until it replenish and planting other
types of trees to conserve/keep ecosystem in balance. Even though both of them uses the most
widely used mechanism is protecting plant until they replenish if cutting the forest as most of
respondents indicated and interviewed. What they practiced in Dibla kushet watershed was this
and planting other trees in Seat watershed.

32
 5CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION
5.1Conclusions

As it was clearly stated in the result and discussion there is almost knowledge of local people on
participating on watershed management practice why because most of the respondents are
literates and so think about watershed management. For example, most of geographical features
of the study area was leveled land this create a great opportunity to practice this watershed
management practice. But some of the areas have indicated that sloppy land scope which highly
affected by erosion problem. The main cause of this erosion was the nature of the land/slope
since almost no soil coverage rather than bare land which is suitable for flood velocity that
damage downstream and level land and so, they know the main cause for declining of their
productivity. Sedimentation, erosion and waste from household/Animals are the major problems
which affects water quality in the area mainly by erosion. Most of the respondents believe that,
who have responsible for initiating to watershed management practice was them self’s and at
some extent government sectors also initiate some of them, but almost many respondents are
their own responsibility to reduce the problem arise because of unmanaged watershed practice.
We identify physical soil and water conservation structure methods like terracing, stone bunds,
trenches especially on flat area, half moon and eye brows used to conserve soil and water on
mountainous area for the purpose of tree planting, and gabion and stone check dams to control
gullies. There also biological soil and water conservation methods like tree plantation, bush
plantation, area closure, legumes and alley cropping used in either parts of catchment/watershed.
Stone bunds, check dams soil bund and soil faced stone bunds are the newly developed methods
from oldy physical soil and water conservation (terracing) as respondents indicated. There was a
safe change from previous from time to time, because the communities participation and their
awareness regarding watershed management is increasing through a time.

We see from existing watershed management practice the communities of Dibla kebele manage
their lands and participate in watershed management actively. They participate in
collectively/together for 20-30 days each year. We able to understand a great difference between
the past and present from interview and response of the respondents in watershed management
practice. As the practice of certain people on watershed management practice indicate that their
productivity was increased. For example from the result indicate that the economic status of the
33
respondents become increased and their three basic need improve in some extent after
watersheds management practice was started. Generally the situation of watershed management
practice on selected kebele was high. especially in the target area there were constructing of
different controlling systems to reduce the rate of soil erosion and to filter water into ground by
trench construction.

5.2Recommendations

This research was conducted with limited time and budget further study should be conducted and
enhance an improved watershed management. Based on the finding the researcher would like to
recommend the following point, regarding watershed management practices in Dibla and as the
whole, what expected from individual citizens as a citizenship and what should be needed from
each individual farmers, government agencies and NGOs for sustainable use of natural resources
by considering needs of future generation, the below points are recommended;

 In order to reduce watershed management problems what already existed and started is
appreciated but it is not that much satisfactory. Because the structure constructed at some
part is not well designed and special half of the gabion check dams constructed around
the gullies are destroyed and few of them are not well designed.
 The bureau( government extension) should open a training center in the study area which
help the rural farmer to get technical and theoretical knowledge which enable them to
better understanding about the role of watershed management practice on soil and water
conservation
 Government should provide more than 5 extension worker in one kebele in order to check
farmer participation
 Water shade management practice should expand to the whole country, because it
contribute to improve living standard of poor farmer as well as to improve the economy
of the country.
 Different biological and physical soil and water conservation measures have been
recommended in all land use types.
 The physical soil and water conservation measures should be maintained and restructured
or replaced by newly developed one, especially in gullies control.

34
 The way creating awareness among community should be set up by government and
other non-governmental organization.
 Socio-economic should be concerned in watershed management, because it is important
and must for the participation and implementation of participatory watershed
management. This is why participatory watershed management approach is not only
concerned about physical resources, but also concerned about social resources.
 Issues of watershed management must consider in every governmental and non-
governmental sector.
 Expected aid(payments) from extension or NGOs not mandatory in all time, because self
motivation is greater to manage watershed.
 Having rule, regulation and customs and norms in watershed management practices at
kebele, even at kushet level is better for collectively participation in the management of
watershed.
 All studies and agenda related to watershed management done must translated to
practical works

35
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Gete Zeleke (2003) State of Natural Resources Base in Ethiopia: Challenges and Opportunities.
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management, Palgrave, cited in: Dube, D., Swatuk, L. (2002). Stakeholder participation in the
new water management approach: a case study of the Save catchment, Zimbabwe, Physics and
Chemistry of the Earth, Vol. 27, 867-874.

Johnson at el,(2001) Land degradation and rehabilitation in Ethiopia: a reassessment. AFTES

Working paper No. 17. World Bank, Washington DC.

Brady. N.C. (1985) The Nature and Properties of Soil. 8th ed. Eurasia Publishing

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Kerr. J(2002) Watershed management, environmental services and poverty alleviation in India
world development Vol.30, Issue No.8, 1387-1400

Mekuria. A (2005).Forest conservation-soil degradation-farmers' perception nexus: Implication

for sustainable land use in south west of Ethiopia . IFPRI Discussion Paper 00806, IFPRI
(International Food Policy Research Institute), Washington DC.

MoARD (Ministry of Agriculture and Rural Development) (2005-2008) Soil and Water
Conservation Manual, Guide Line for Ethiopia. Addis Ababa: Reviewed by Daniel et al MoA.

Panda (2006) What do we mean by participatory research in agricultural productivity

participatory research and gender analysis for technology development CIATE publication
No.294 in Ethiopia.

Paul D . K. (1997) Rain fed farming system development in India retrospect and prospect in
Kaytal.J, C. IFPRI Research Report No. 127. IFPRI, Washington, DC, USA.

Pretty and Shah (2001) Social capital and the environment World Development, Vol.29, No. 2,
209-227

Rhoades . R. E (1998) Participatory watershed research and management: where the shadow
falls, Gatekeeper Series No.81, International Institute for Environment and Development,
London.
Rosegrant . M (2002) Policies and institutions for sustainable water resource management, back
ground paper 5, Water and Food Challenge Program, IWMI.

Sahlemedhin S (1999) Ethiopia: Integrated Soil Management for Sustainable Agriculture and
Food Security in Southern and East Africa. Proceedings of the expert consultation, 8-12
December, 1997, Harare, agritex, FAO, Rome, pp. 197-210.

Stocking,M, (1996) Statues and dynamics of natural resource in Ethiopia in food security
through sustainable land use and Land management for sustainable development: farmers‟
participation. In: Stocking, M., (2001). Handbook for the field assessment of land
degradation,Vol 1,pp 23-49. Eathscan, London.

Swallow (2001) Conservations of natural resource soil, water and forest involves the whole
communities.

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APPENDIX
QUESTIONNAIRE

This questionnaires is prepared for farmers who lives in Ganta Afeshum wereda around
Dibla kebele .The prime objective of this questionnaires is to collect data in order to assess
watershed management practice in, Dibla kebele. Therefore your response for those question that
are listed below has vital role for this study.

Thank you for cooperation in advance

General instruction

 No need to write your name.

 Put tick in box for opened question write on space provided.
 You can give more than one answer when it is necessary.
 You are kindly requested to answer all question.
 For alternative question select one of your answers
Part I :- personal information

1. _______________ Sex:_____ A. Male B. Female

2. Age_____ A. 20-30 B. 30-40 C. 40-50 D. Above 50
3. Marital status of respondents
A. Windowed C. Married
B. Unmarried D. Divorced
4. Educational levels of respondents
A. Illiterate C. Junior secondary
B. Read and write D. Senior secondary ‘
5. Family sizes of respondents
A. Less than your children C. above six children
B. Four to six children

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Part II: Field data collection sheet

Question regarding to researchers objectives

1. In which part of your agricultural plot hind is found?

A. In low land C. In level land
B. On sloppy land D. Specify, if any others
2. Is there soil erosion problem in your land?
A. Yes B. No
3. If yes to question 2, in your opinion, what is the main cause of soil erosion in your land?
A. Deforestation C. High rain fall
B. Improper tillage D. Slope/terrain
E. Absence of protection measures
F. Over grazing G. Others (Specify, if any)____________________________
4. Which problem exaggerated in your land?
A. Erosion B. Sedimentation C. Don’t know
5. Have you ever participated in any watershed management work initiated by government or
NGOs? A. Yes B. No
6. If Yes to Question “5” what was the drive that initiated you to participation?
A. My self B.Gov’t agency C. NGOs D. Payment
B. Extension agents (Gov.t ) E. Others (Specify, if any)_____________________
7. How much is your participation on watershed management practice?
A. High B. Medium C. Low D. Specify if others_______________
8. Do you have soil and water conservation measure on your farm land?
A. Yes B. No

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9, Do you use any of the following methods/mechanisms to control soil erosion?

S.N Methods Did you use If yes to when did If yes gain how If yes, how did you
used this method you start? well it reduce learn these methods
A. Yes erosion? A. From parents
B. No A. None B. From neigh born
B. Some C. From extension
C. Much D. Others (Specify, if
any)____________
1. Terracing
2. Contour
planting
3. Stone
bands’
4. Check
dams ‘
5. Tree
planting
6. Growing
legumes
7. Specify,
if any
others

10 If No to question “9”, why did not you take measures?

A. It is costly C. I don’t know
B. High labor demanding D. The land is not mine
E. I have no land right F. Other reason (Specify)_______________________
11 What was your contribution during construction of watershed management?
A. Only giving ideas/suggestion
B. Only participating by money

40
 C. Only contributing labor and implementation
D. Participate in program planning (Playing a major role in decision making)

If others (Specify, if any)____________________________________

12,Do you face any problems related with to watershed management?

A. Yes B. No

13,If your answer for question number ‘12’ Yes what kind of problems?

A. Flooding C. Good shortage

B. Polluted D. Poor drinking water supply

E. Decreasing production F. If other specify__________________

14,What are the basic watershed management practice inputs?

A. Newly developed physical soil and water conservation structure

a. Upper catchment (Terracing  Stone bunds  Soil bud  Check dam )
b. Medium catchment (Terracing  Stone bunds Soil Bund Check dams
Soil faced stone bund)
c. Lower catchment (Stone bunds, Soil bund  Terracing Check dams
Soil faced stone bund
B. Oldy and not maintained physical soil and water conservation structures
a. Upper catchment (Terracing  Stone bunds  Soil bud  Check dam )
b. Medium catchment (Terracing  Stone bunds Soil Bund Check dams
Soil faced stone bund)
c. Lower catchment (Stone bunds, Soil bund  Terracing Check dams
Soil faced stone bund
C. What are the basic biological soil and water conservation methods?
a. Tree plantation  Bush plantation Area closureIn the top watershed
b. Tree plantation  Bush plantation Area closure  At the mad watershed
c. Alley cropping  Tree plantation  Legumes  In the bottom watershed
15,How did you characterize the current biophysical nature of the watershed?

41
 A. It is base land in the most upper watershed, some trees in the mid and cultivation in the
watershed bottom.
B. It has a steep slope in upper watershed mid slope in the mid watershed and flat in the
bottom watershed.
C. The slope the upper watershed to the bottom watershed is almost familiar.
D. There are much gullies in the upper watershed, medium watershed, in the bottom
watershed.
E. The soil depth is shallow land degraded in the upper watershed, mid watershed, bottom
watershed.
F. There is neither physical nor biological watershed management in the upper watershed,
mid watershed, bottom watershed.
G. There is only physical watershed management in the upper watershed, mid watershed,
bottom watershed.

16,Have you seen a gully either part of the watershed?

A. Yes B. No

17,If your answer is yes which gully control mechanism are followed?

a. Check dam (stone only) d. tree (legume) plantation

b. Gabion check dam with stone e. area closure
c. Check dam with wood f. other specify)__________________

18,Did you observe a safe change system from the upper watershed to the downstream?

A. Yes B. No

19,If your answer for Question “6” is yes

State the type of water way?____________________________________________________

20,Which watershed management practices are using to sustain the biophysical watershed
management practices?

42
 a. Area closure
b. Controlled grazing
c. Replicative and maintenance
d. Fencing
e. Other (specify)___________________________________________________________

21,What mechanisms do you follow if your plants in the forest/watershed is cut for uses?

a. Applying same plantation scedlingememidifly affect cut of the plant

b. Applying same plantation (seedings) earlier to cutting
c. Protecting the at plant until it replenish
d. Planting other types of trees
e. Other (Specify)____________________________________

Part III: Answer the following question on space provided

1. List some of watershed management problem in your area

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

2. What kind of watershed management approach exist in your area ?

__________________________________________________

___________________________________________________

3.What are the major causes of watershed management problem in your area?

43
 ___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

4.What kind of measures of taken in your area relating watershed management?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________

5.What are major problems, which affect the quality of water in your area?

___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
___________________________________________________________________________
____________________________________________________________

44