Factors Affecting Farmer’s Adoption of Soil and Water Conservation Practice in Case of Gode District, Shebelle Zone, Somali Region, Ethiopia

Abstract

Data for this study were gathered through focus groups, questionnaires, and interviews with family heads, district agricultural offices, and development agents (DAs). The most significant and positive factors that positively and significantly influenced the outcome of the logistic regression model were age, sex, the slope of the farm land, the intention of the household heads to sustain farming, training, and extension services. Furthermore, household heads who had access to training and extension services were 2.619 and 5.674 times more likely to adopt SWC structures than those who had no access to these services, respectively. The household heads who had the intention to sustain the activities of farming and People who farmed on steep slopes had a 1.996 and 6.116 times higher likelihood of implementing SWC structures than those who did not have these characteristics, respectively. Inversely, increasing accessibility to finance services, farming extent, and involvement in non-farm pursuits reduced by (-1.371), (-1.390), and (-4.132) times the probability of adopting SWC structures, According to the study's findings, age, sex, slope, motive, travel distance, training outside of farming activities, and the availability of extension services were the main determinants of farmers' adoption of SWC methods. Hence, in order to successfully address the challenges of adoption of SWC practices in the study area, it is advised that non-governmental organisations, the district agricultural office, and other stakeholders take into consideration the obstacles that prevent farmers from adopting SWC practices