Assessment of the socioeconomic impact of soil erosion: The case of Dire and Dugda Dawa districts, Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Soil erosion is one of the biggest global environmental problems resulting in both onsite and off-site effects leading to land degradation. Assessing the impacts of soil erosion on society and the economy is important in finding alternative solutions to halt the problem. Soil erosion by the environmental agents of water and wind is a continuing global menace that threatens the agricultural base that sustains our civilization. This paper provides an implication on the causes and consequences of soil erosion and socio-economic impacts of soil erosions in the area. A total of 120 household heads were selected using cluster sampling and interviewed in six kebeles where erosion effects were more pronounced. The result reveals that the majority (91.7%) of household heads in the area were male; practicing livestock production (58.3%), farming (13.3%), and petty trading (8.3%). About 80% of household heads did not attend the formal school while about 41.6% of them stayed in the area for more than 25 years before this study conducted. About 75.8% of them earned annual income below 2000 Ethiopian Birr (ETB). The area losses were an estimated amount of 10 million ETB (an equivalent of 333,333 Dollars) annually due to soil erosion. Only about 8% of them indicated that their lost properties were relieved by the government and/ or non-government organizations. A majority (56.7%) were reluctant to accept soil erosion mechanisms introduced by the government. The government, community, local, regional, and international organizations should run in collaboration together to halt this environmental problem in the study area.