Abstract:
In recent years, watershed degradation and its impacts on livelihood resource have become a key issue in Ethiopia. The main undesirable impacts on livelihood resources include land degradation, low agricultural productivity and rural poverty, which are interconnected. In order to break these intertwined problems, community based watershed development is practiced. Therefore, the overall objective of this study is to investigate the main challenges and opportunities of community based watershed development with the eye of sustainable rural livelihood perspective in the case of Aba Gollem and Sommi watersheds, community based watershed development project. To meet this objective, 194 HH from the two watersheds were selected by simple random sampling technique (lottery method).Then, through closed and open ended survey questionnaire, responses of sampled household heads were collected. In addition, focus group discussion with watershed committee members and Key informant interview with the development experts at respective watershed level and EECME project focal persons was done. Besides, data were collected through researcher’s field observation supported by Photographs. Secondary data were also collected from Agriculture office, EECME Gondar office, as well as from internet. Then, data analysis was done using frequency Tables, pie charts, graphs, percentages and mean for descriptive analysis and an independent t-test for comparing the means in the two watersheds and binary logistics regression model for the status of challenge of CBWSD. The key finding of the thesis presents that the existence of the community based watershed development project in the area with its enabling opportunities, has contributed to diversify their livelihood portfolio. The study reveal that the majority of natural resources have been improved in the watershed because of the IWM practices and its technologies practiced in the area. Livestock development sector, road construction and maintenance, drinking water supply and micro and small scale irrigation in both watersheds have continued at least to some extent and above within the donor support. However, the level of status of continuity, in SWC, forest development and crop production have continued satisfactorily and above rate. Ecological, economical and social responses brought about by the overall implementation CBWSD project in both Aba Gollem and Sommi watersheds and the findings shows that both the ecological, economical and social responses are almost have improved between to some extent and satisfactorily. Economic capital, increased income, diversity of crops to minimize risk, improved productiveness and production and get nutrition food are some of the opportunities gained out of practicing irrigation inside the watershed. However, there were also challenges, because of the investments on activities of employment rate were low, less concern for key activities and appropriate technology, the problem of diversion and maintenance of using irrigation, challenges related to CBOs committee management, institutionalization of watershed development and social network were not given adequate attention in practice and challenging the sustainability of the community-based watershed development. Agricultural activities became an opportunities for viable option of the households, if there were adequate access to irrigation, agricultural inputs & technologies.
