THE EFFECT OF WATER HYACINTH ON SMALLHOLDER RICE FARMER’S LIVELIHOOD: THE CASE OF LAKE TANA BASIN, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Background : Invasive aquatic weeds like water hyacinth are of a great concern in Ethiopia, posing particular problems on aquatic biodiversity and fisheries in major water bodies and agricultural land in the surrounding water bodies. The study was aimed to analysis of the effect of water hyacinth on the livelihood of smallholder rice farmers around the Lake Tana, Ethiopia. Methodology : Two districts and four Kebeles adjacent to Lake Tana and well known in rice production were purposively selected for the study. Individual interviews and key informants’ checklists were used as data collection methods to achieve the desired objectives. Results : The result showed that 48% of the rice cultivated land was infested by water hyacinth and 32.08% of rice farm area was not harvested totally due to Water hyacinth infestation in the study year. It showed a statistical significance mean difference on yield of rice between affected and non-affected plots, it could reduce by 1944 kg/ha. Moreover, households perceived that water hyacinth makes land preparation and crop production difficult, dehydrates farmland, reduces fish production, and contaminates water, destruction of animal feeds, causes disease on humans and animals. Smallholder rice-producing sampled households perceived that the rice production has been decreasing due to the spread of water hyacinth. Farmers by themselves implemented different adaptation strategies to resist the water hyacinth problem. The major adaptation strategies implemented by smallholder farmers are participating in water hyacinth removing campaigns or weeding, constructing a fence around their farm to defend the coming water hyacinth weed before invading their rice farms, and switching off from farm activity to other income-earning activities. The study results revealed that 73% and 91.5% of the sampled households received rice production extension services and information regarding water hyacinth, respectively. Recommendation : To solve the problems of water hyacinth effects participatory approach to control water hyacinth, support farmers to produce crop in off season using irrigation, promote agricultural technologies and assist them to search other income earning activities.