Effect of Land Tenure Systems on Soil and Water Conservation Practices in North Gondar, Ethiopia

Abstract

Land tenure systems are often seen as a precondition for intensifying agricultural production and are now increasingly stressed as a prerequisite for natural resource management and sustainable development. The study was conducted in Telemt, Wogera, Chilga and West Belesa districts of North Gondar zone, Ethiopia. The study was aimed to identify the land tenure system operated, examining the effect of land tenure systems on soil and water conservation practices and identifying the roles of the government and other institutions in promoting soil and water conservation practices in the study area. To attain stated objectives two multistage sampling was employed, purposive sampling for the selection of districts and simple random sampling for the selection of kebeles (villages) and sample respondents have been utilized for data collection for the study. The descriptive statistics mainly percentages and means were used for analysis of quantitative data collected. Qualitative data were analyzed through narration from sample respondents. Data were collected primarily through questionnaire by trained enumerators. The finding of the research indicates that farmers can or cannot transfer their land through inheritance for their children. But most of them reported that as they can use land throughout their life time. The common types of the land tenure which exist in the study area were private owned, state owned, communal and open access. Land tenure ownership enables farmers to increase production, conserve natural forest, conserve soil fertility and increase their participation. However, shortage of labour, lack of grazing, over grazing and damage of constructed soil and water conservation practice (SWCP) were the side effects of some land tenure ownership types. Extension service (advice and training), material support and credit were the major SWCP service provided by governmental, non-governmental and institutions.