Determinants of the Adoption of Physical Soil Bund Conservation Structures in Adama District, Oromia Region, Ethiopia

Abstract: This study emphasizes the adoption of physical soil bund structures including the major factors influencing the adoption process. The study is based on the data collected from 120 households. Two analytical techniques, descriptive statistics and logistic regression function were employed in analyzing the data. The findings indicate that a host of factors, most of which are policy related, were responsible for poor technology adoption. In this regard, adoptions of technologies are predominantly influenced by economic variables such as land size, livestock holdings and income of the households. Furthermore, institutional factors, such as access to credit, mass media, and extension services as well as the educational level of the farmers are primarily influencing the adoption decision. The results of the study confirm that past extension approaches have been biased against natural resource management. With the exception of physical soil bund structures, other components of soil conservation packages were found to be marginalized. Overall, survey results reveal that integrated natural resource oriented approaches were not adopted. Based on the findings, it is strongly recommended that policy makers and technical institutions should readdress the policy-related issues to facilitate extension systems that will ensure environmentally sustainable development. Keywords: Adoption; Conservation; Physical Structures; Small Scale Farmers