Assessment of Watershed Management Practices for Sustainable Rural Livelihood Improvement in Meja, Jeldu District, Ethiopia
Abstract
Poor watershed management practices and resultant problems of land degradation, low agricultural productivity, food insecurity and poverty are particularly severe in the rural highlands of Ethiopia. The current study was undertaken at Meja watershed, located in the Jeldu district of Oromia region to assess potentials and constraints for sustainable participatory integrated watershed management practices for the improvement of rural livelihoods. The study investigated socio-economic and biophysical conditions, along with their management practices. The results indicated that there was inefficient implementation of participatory integrated watershed management practices in terms of rainwater, soil and forest managements; as a result water scarcity and accelerated soil erosion, sedimentation, soil fertility loss were prominent, with a resultant reduction in both crop and livestock production in the watershed. Therefore, strategies to avert food insecurity situation are necessary. This could be achieved through a sustainable solution that better addresses integrated watershed management efforts.
Similar Articles
- Birhanu Ayana, Tesfaye Balemi, P. Natarajan, Impact of Land Use Types on Soil Degradation in Meja Watershed, Jeldu District, West Shoa, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2014)
- Birhanu Kebede Kuris, Melkamu Alemu , Assessing Community-Based Watershed Management: Technical Quality of Soil Conservation Structures and Their Impacts on Soil Properties in Belo-Chikle Micro-Watershed, Elfeta District, Oromia, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)
- Birhanu Legesse Wakjira, Asfaw Kebede Kassa, Awdenegest Moges, Olkeba Tolessa Leta, Integrated Assessment of Land Use/Land Cover Dynamics and Climate Change Impacts on Watershed Hydrology in the Dawe Watershed, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 14 No. 2 (2026)
- Worku Teshome , Endalkachew Fekadu, Soil Fertility Evaluation and Mapping in Sdeyni Watershed, Habru District, Northeastern Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 11 No. 1 (2023)
- Tamiru Rebuma, Abdissa Bekele, Shasho Zeleke, Effects of Crop Management Practices on Selected Soil Physicochemical Properties in Bako Tibe District, Western Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 13 No. 1 (2025)
- Benti Tafesse, Factors Influencing Indigenous Knowledge of Rangeland Management Practices in Borana Pastoral Areas, Southern Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 6 No. 2 (2018)
- Amin Mohammed, Amare Ayalew, Nigussie Dechassa, Mulugeta Negeri, Effect of Integrated Management of Anthracnose (Colletotrichum lindemuthianum) on Plant and Seed Health of Common Bean in Hararghe Highlands, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2013)
- Mesfin Ayele, Solomon Tekalign, Tegegne Sishaw, Climate Variability, Causes and Consequences Percieved by Smallholder Farmers of Soro Woreda, Hadiya Zone, Southern Nations’, Nationalities’and Peoples’ Region, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 6 No. 1 (2018)
- Haji Kedir, Yohannes Gebremichael, Solomon Tekalign, Assessment of Water Supply Systems in Karrayu Pastoral Area, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 3 No. 1 (2015)
- Adamu Chibsa, Aman Rikitu , Factors Affecting the Choice of Rural Households’ Livelihood Diversification: The Case of Sayo District, Kelem Wollega Zone, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 11 No. 1 (2023)
You may also start an advanced similarity search for this article.
Most read articles by the same author(s)
- Abdisa Gesesse, Tesfaye Balemi, P. Natarajan, Yosef Amha, Effect of Vetiver Grass Headges in Maintaining Soil Fertility and Productivity at Anno Agro Industry Farm, Gobu Sayo District, Oromiya Region, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 1 No. 1 (2013)
- Solomon Mengistu, Thangavel Selvaraj, Tesfaye Balemi, Evaluation of Cultural Practices, Fungicides and Bio Control Agents for the Control of Tomato Late Blight (Phytophthora infestans (Mont) de Bary) in West Showa, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 2 No. 2 (2014)
- Tulu Kusse, Tesfaye Balemi, Tolera Abera, Effect of Integrating Poultry Manure and Inorganic NP Fertilizers on Growth, Yield and Yield Component of Maize (Zea mays L.) at Ambo, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 4 No. 2 (2016)
- Birhanu Ayana, Tesfaye Balemi, P. Natarajan, Impact of Land Use Types on Soil Degradation in Meja Watershed, Jeldu District, West Shoa, Ethiopia , Journal of Science and Sustainable Development: Vol. 2 No. 1 (2014)