ODA BULTUM UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF NATURAL RESOURCE AND

ENVIROMENTAL SCIENCE DEPARTMENT OF FORESTRY

RESEARCH PROJECT ON ASSESSING

CONTRIBUTION OF HOMEGARDEN
AGROFORESTRY PRACTICES IN RURAL LIVELIHOOD OF DHERTU
KEBELE, BEDENO DISTRICT, EAST HARARGHE ZONE

ADVISOR:-SULTAN .H (MSC)

BY: GEMACHU JUWAR ALI

ID NO: 2592/13.

CHIRO: ETHIOPIA

MARCH 2024
ACKNOWLEDGMENT iv
ABBREVATI0N
v
1. INTRODUCTION
1
1.1____________________________________ BACK GROUND AND JUSTIFICATION
_________________________________________________________________________1
1.2_________________________________________ STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
_________________________________________________________________________2
1.3._____________________________________________ OBJECTIVE OF THE STUDY
________________________________________________________________________3
1.3.1.____________________________________________________ General Objective
_____________________________________________________________________3
1.3.2.___________________________________________________ Specific objectives
_____________________________________________________________________3
1.4__________________________________________ SIGNIFICANCE OF THE STUDY
_________________________________________________________________________3
2.______________________________________________________ LITRATURE REVIEW
____________________________________________________________________________4
2.1._________________________________ Brief History and Categories of Home-Gardens
________________________________________________________________________4
2.2.1.________________ Contribution of Home-gardens to Food Availability and Nutrition
_____________________________________________________________________5
2.2.2._______________________________________________________ Fuel woodlots
_____________________________________________________________________7
2.5. Environmental benefits of home garden_________________________________________7
3. METHODOLOGY
8
3.1________________________________________________ Description of the study area
_________________________________________________________________________8
3.1.1.___________________________________________________________ Location
_____________________________________________________________________8
3.1.2____________________________________________________________ Climate
_____________________________________________________________________8
3.1.3.________________________________________________________ Temperature
_____________________________________________________________________8
ii
 3.1.4.____________________________________________________________ Rainfall
_____________________________________________________________________8
3.1.5.___________________________________________________________ Soil type
_____________________________________________________________________8
3.1.6. Population size
8
3.1.7._____________________________________________________ Land use system
_____________________________________________________________________8
3.1.8._____________________________________________________ Vegetation cover
_____________________________________________________________________9
3.2 METHODOLOGY
9
3.2.1______________________________________ Sampling technique and sample size
_____________________________________________________________________9
3.2.2_______________________________________________ Method of data collection
_____________________________________________________________________9
3.2.3 Data Analysis

iii
First and above all, I would like to thank Almighty God for giving me purpose in my life
and being with me in everywhere. Next I would like to extend my great and deepest thank
to my advisor Mr. (M.Sc), who gave me moral support, valuable comments,
suggestion and correction at any time as I want. Next to this, I would like to extend my
hurtful thanks to my families for their financial help and his overall support to reach this
position. Then I would like to thank Oda Bultum University for preparing this senior
research project as on course. Last but not the least I would like to thank Forestry
department.

iv
 Abstract

The study was conducted Dhertu kebele ,Bedeno woreda of eastern Hararghe Zone of Oromia, Ethiopia with the
objective of role of hone garden agroforestry practice for biodiversity conservation , characterization of the
existing home garden agroforestry practice and challenges for improvement of existing home garden agroforestry
practice . In order to achieve these objective 89 households were selected from the 825 households by simple
random sampling technique. The data were collected from primary and secondary data sources. The study area
had productive age group .Therefore when the productive age group increased in the study area home garden
agro forestry practice would increase. However, the number of females in the study area were very small this
indicates that the participation and involvement of females for the development of home garden agroforestry were
very less. These was one of the factor that retarded the improvement of home garden agro forestry practice in the
study area leads to occurrence of soil erosion, land degradation, water quality destruction and biodiversity
extinctions.

v
1. Introduction
1.1 Background of the study

Home garden agro forestry is the system for the production of subsistence crops for the
gardeners and his family .It may also have additional role of production of cash crop and
ecological role such as hydrologic benefits, micro climatic modification, soil erosion
control and genetic resource conservation( Soemarwoto,1984).

Agroforestry systems are land-use systems that combine the cultivation of trees, crops
and the husbandry of farm animals on the same land area (Fernandes and Nair, 1986). In
this line, ICRAF (1993) defined agroforestry as a collective name for land-use systems
and technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are
deliberately used on the same land management unit as agricultural crops and/or animals,
in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence. In agroforestry systems there
are both ecological and economic interactions between the different components.
Accordingly, agroforestry systems are viewed as an alternative to the ever increasing
demand for food (Soewarwoto, 1987), and a practical solution that brings together
scientific as well as traditional techniques to diversify production.

Agroforestry are viewed as traditional agroforestry systems which are extensively

practiced throughout the world (Wajtkowski, 1998). These practices are found both in
lowland and highland tropics, but are more common in humid lowlands characterized by
high population density. Ethiopia is one of the tropical countries where agro forestry
practice takes place extensively. The most common known example of perennial crop
based agroforestry is practiced in the Ethiopian highlands of the Southern Nation's
Nationalities and Peoples' Regional State (Tesfaye Abebe, 2005). According to Fernandes
and Nair, (1986) a agroforestry can be defined as ‘ a land use system involving deliberate
management of multipurpose trees and shrubs in intimate association with annual and
perennial agricultural crops and invariably livestock within the compounds of individual
houses, where the whole tree-crop animal unit being intensively managed by family
labor’. Agro forestry have received considerable

1
attention as potential models for economically and ecologically sustainable systems
(Padoch and De Jong, 1991). Agroforestry display number of features characteristics of
sustainable agro-ecosystems, including efficient nutrient cycling, high biodiversity, low
use of external inputs and improved soil conservation potential. Moreover, agroforestry
provides a diverse and stable supply of socio-economic products and benefits to the
families that maintain them.
In the same line, agroforestry studies in Ethiopia have looked into the species
composition, diversity, structure, and management practice (Tesfaye Abebe, 2005). The
plant species diversity in agroforestry is characterized by a large variety of mostly multi-
purpose plants in various vegetation layers, which allow a good utilization of
environmental factors like nutrients and sunlight (Soemarwoto & Conway 1991).
Agroforestry produce satisfy many human needs as food, fire wood, construction, animal
fodder, medicine, and shade, as well as ornamental, religious and ceremonial uses
(Blanckaert, etal., 2004). Agroforestry are the closest mimics of natural forests in their
structure and usually have 3–4 vertical canopy layers (Zemede Asfaw and Ayele Nigatu,
1995). Besides the vertical structure, agroforestry also have distinct horizontal structure
which together help in the efficient utilization of light and space, and support diverse
wildlife species besides meeting basic needs of the family (Das and Das, 2005).

Agroforestry are maintained by member of the household and their products are intended
primarily for household consumption (Gautam et al., 2004). Farmers’ indigenous
management of agroforestry includes production of seedlings or plantings, weeding,
manure application, hoeing, pruning and in some cases irrigation (Fentahun Mengistu,
2008). Farmers employ indigenous knowledge in designing garden units (horizontal
structure) and assemblage of life form that occupy different vertical layers (vertical
structure). These designs regulate light and consequently increase species diversity and
enhance biomass inputs, improving soil fertility (Beer, etal., 1997). The maintenance
and management of activities in homegardens are highly gender-based and women
are mostly responsible for agroforestry.

2
1.2 Statement of the problem

The development of home garden agro forestry practice in the study area plays a great
role for productive purpose of human being as well as for protection of environment.
Practicing of home garden agro forestry with appropriate species selection and intensive
management home garden agroforestry practice play an important roles for the local
communities such as rehabilitation of degraded ecosystem, carbon sequestration,
reduction of water loss from evapotranspiration by shade, increased water storage
capacity of the soil ,increase water infiltration through better soil physical property and
effect of root, biodiversity conservation, water and soil conservation as well as
improving economic income of individual households. However, there were the number
of challenging factor that retarded the improvement of home garden agroforestry such as
lack of awareness; limiting experiences of home garden agro forestry practice, lack of
land availability and lack of budget were the prominent one.

1.3 Significance of the study

This study would be inhibit the local communities to improve home garden agroforestry
practice as well as the challenging factor that limit the development of home garden
agroforestry practice in the study area. The study created awareness among the local
communities how to improve home garden agro forestry practice and motivate or
increase their involvement in home garden agroforestry development. In the study area
there was some development of home garden agro forestry practice by the local
communities to get in came and benefits most probability of lively hood of local
community. In regard to this the importance of this study to know the adaption and
development of home garden agro forestry practice in this particular area .In addition to
this point and also to find the solution of problem for changing the lively hood
economically .
1.4 Research question
 What is the role of home garden agro forestry practice to improve in came of
livelihood?
 What is the role of home garden agro forestry practice to enhance soil fertility?

3
  What are the challenges of home garden agro forestry practice?
 What is the altitude of the community to development home garden agro forestry
practice?

1.5 Objective of the study

1.5.1 General objective

The general objective was the role of home garden agroforestry system and practices, implication for of
biodiversity Conservation of in Woreda.

1.5.2 Specific Objectives

(Number of Specific Objectives must be equal with the number of research question)

 To identify the nature and level of community participation in the development of

rural the role of home garden agroforestry system in Bedano Woreda.
 To identify the challenging factor for the improvement of home garden agroforestry
practice in the study area.
Add the following sub tittles
1.6 Scope of the study
1.7 Limitation of the study
1.8 Definitions of key terms

4
Agroforestry is a dynamic ecologically based natural resources management system that
through integration of trees on farms and in the agricultural landscape diversifies and
sustains production for increased social, economic and environmental benefits (ICRAF,
1997). This definition implies that an agroforestry system normally involves two or more
species of plants, at least one of which is a woody perennial, always has two or more
outputs; and has the cycle of more than one year. Agroforestry systems are more complex
than the mono- cropping system. Several characteristics of the tree like slow growth, long
term effects on their surroundings, long life, age of trees, the area over which the
influence of trees extend etc differentiate agroforestry from mono-cropping
systems(Young, 1989). The essential features of agroforestry differentiate from other
land use like social forestry, agriculture is the interactions of the tree and non-tree parts of
the system. These interactions could be positive or negative. Positive interactions include
biomass contribution, enhancement of carbon stock in the soil, water and soil
conservation etc., and negative interactions are competition between components like
nutrient, light, water etc.
There are several types of traditional home garden agroforestry practices in

5
different part of our countries. Coffee shade based, scattered trees on the farm
land(parkland), homegardens, woodlots, farm boundary practices, trees on grazing lands,
etc (Yeshanew,1998) for example are, some of the known examples of traditional
agroforestry practices.

Biodiversity is often considered, especially within the forest management community, as

simply a list of species present at a location. As defined by the Convention on Biological
Diversity, “biological diversity” means the variability among living organisms from all
sources including terrestrial, marine, and other aquatic ecosystems and the ecological
complexes of which they are part; this includes diversity within species, among species,
and of ecosystems (IBC, 2005).

The number of species of plants, animals, and microorganisms, the enormous diversity of
genes in these species, the different ecosystems on the planet, such as deserts, rainforests
and coral reefs are all part of a biologically diverse on Earth (Shah, 2009). This variety
provides the building blocks to adapt to changing environmental conditions in the future
(IBC, 2005). Appropriate conservation and sustainable development strategies attempt to
recognize this as being integral to any approach. For instance, conservation of on-farm
biodiversity has the potential to benefit both the farm ecosystem as well as the landscape
ecosystems in which farms are situated (Brodt, et al., 2009). On-farm woody species
have both biophysical and socio-economic roles; among the biophysical roles, circa-situm
conservation (conservation of biodiversity while utilizing species), soil and water
conservation, improvement of soil fertility through synergistic effects and sequestration
of greenhouse gases are the major ones (Nair, 1993; Young, 1997).

6
The word systems and practices” are often used synonymously in agro forestry literature
(Nair, 1993). However, some distinction can be made between these two concepts. An
agro forestry system consists of one or more agroforestry practices that are practiced
extensively in a given locality or area; the system is usually described according to its
biological composition and arrangement, level of technical management or socio-
economic features. An agroforestry practice, on the other hand, denotes a specific land
management operation on a farm or other management unit, and consists of
arrangements of agro forestry components in space and/ or time (Nair, 1993).
All agroforestry systems consists of at least two of the three major groups of agroforestry
components; trees (including shrubs), agricultural crops, and pasture/livestock, trees
being present in all agro forestry system. Occasionally there may be other components
also, such as fish, honey bees, etc. Depending on the nature and type of components
involved, agro forestry system can be classified as agri-silvicultural (tree + crops),
silvopastural (tree + pasture and /or livestock) and agro-silvopastural (all three types of
components) (Nair, 1993).

The roles of home garden agroforestry practices can been seen from the point of its
services and productive functions. In its productive function, agroforestry provides
diversified products used for consumption and income generation. In its service, functions
it protects different land resources like soil from destruction, animals and crops from
harsh climatic conditions. Evidences indicates that the possibility to double or tripled crop
yield for smallholders, without an overall increase in labor or the need to apply nitrogen
fertilizers. A trial in India affirms that Shisham (planted as boundary plantation on
farmers’ wheat field) because of its nitrogen-fixing roles shows 98.5 percent of a relative
grain yield, that is 3.40t/ha (average of four years registered) (Gill, 2003). Another
research conducted in Malawi by World agroforestry centre indicated that maize yields
under Faidherbia albida increased by 280 percent in the zone under the tree canopy
compared with the zone outside the tree zone (Garrity and Verchot, 2009).

7
Agroforestry fulfils many requirements for sustainability by including trees in
agricultural production systems; by utilizing existing resources and management
practices that optimize the combined production of several products instead of
maximizing the production of only one product, and through its numerous service roles.
Recently agroforestry has gained prominence by many conservationist and rural
development experts as the key to tropical land use stabilization and the drive to raise
rural productivity. The multipurpose value of trees among many rural dwellers apparently
justifies the strategic importance of agroforestry in rural farming systems, incomes and
productivity (Bisong etal., 2009). A study carried out in Senegal through working with
the local communities is a case in point. The study was carried out by planting
multipurpose windbreak/live fences on area with animals have nothing to eat in the dry
season after all grasses been cut or burned, and women who become exhausted from
walking miles to collect fuel wood. At the end of the project, there was 100% possibility
of the families to produce their own fuel woods (Trees for the future, 2009). Nowadays as
subsistence-farming practices are not ecologically sustainable and often not economical,
interest in agroforestry is increasing (Steppler and Nair, 1987).
Therefore, agroforestry has the potential to solve or ameliorate some of land-use
constraints confronting production systems. Planting of multipurpose trees provides
fodder and live fences for animals, ameliorates microclimate of the area, reduces
degradation of semi-arid lands through windbreaks, shelterbelts also improves fertility of
the land through addition of organic matter and nutrients to the soil (Kamara
et al., 1 9 9 3 ) . Research conducted in Ethiopia using tree species scattered on farm lands
have shown the potential of trees to improve the biological and physical properties of the
soil through recycling and addition of important nutrients, resulting in improved
productivity (Jiregna et al., 2005; Yadessa etal., 2001).
Experimental research conducted in Nigeria confirms that agroforestry practices are better
than nitrogen fertilizers (Okogun etal., 2000). The research was conducted on the yield of
maize under five tree species with a control plot,

8
continuously for four cropping season with nitrogen fertilizer application. In the first
years, no significantly different response of the maize yields under the five tree species,
and the control plot observed. The trend maintained persistently for the four seasons.
However, at the end of the fourth season maize yield was low in the control plots despite
nitrogen fertilizer application.

Ecosystems and species that are important in sustaining human life and the health of our
planet are disappearing at an alarming rate. Consequently, the need for immediate action to
design effective strategies to conserve biodiversity is receiving considerable attention
worldwide. Scientists and policy makers are becoming increasingly aware of the role of
agroforestry and forests plays in conserving biological diversity in both tropical and
temperate regions of the world. The mechanisms by which agroforestry systems
contribute to biodiversity have been examined by various authors (e.g. McNeely, 2004;
Schroth, et al. 2004; Harvey, et al., 2006; Singh and Pandey, 2011).

According to these authors, agroforestry plays five major roles in conserving biodiversity:
(1) provides habitat for species that can tolerate a certain level of disturbance; (2) helps
preserve germplasm of sensitive species; (3) helps reduce the rates of conversion of
natural habitat by providing a more productive, sustainable alternative to traditional
agricultural systems that may involve clearing natural habitats; (4) provides connectivity
by creating corridors between habitat remnants which may support the integrity of these
remnants and the conservation of area-sensitive floral and faunal species; and (5) helps
conserve biological diversity by providing other ecosystem services such as erosion
control and water recharge, thereby preventing the degradation and loss of surrounding
habitat.

Agroforestry has a potential for erosion control through the soil cover provided by tree
canopy and litter, in addition to the role of trees in relation to the runoff- barrier function
(Nair, 1993). The role of trees and shrubs in erosion control could

9
be direct or supplementary. In direct use, the trees are themselves the means of checking
runoff and soil loss. In supplementary use, control is achieved primarily by other means
(grass strips, ditch and-bank structures, and terraces); the trees serve to stabilize the
structures and to make productive use of the land which they occupy. (Nair, 1993) and
(Young, 1989) supported that leguminous trees have shown potential of reducing soil
erosion through five principal ways: interception of rainfall impact by tree canopy, surface
runoff impediment by tree stems, soil surface cover by litter mulch, promotion of water
infiltration, and formation of erosion resistant soil structure. Udawatta etal(2002)
reported that HGAF and contour strip had a combined significant effect on runoff,
sediment, and nutrient loss reduction as compared with non-HGAF treatments. Similarly,
Okigbo and Lal (1997) reported that the cover measure involving the use of vegetation
for soil protection, maintains the hydrological balance in which the surface run-off
component in the hydrological cycle would be minimized. In the same way, Juo and
Thurow (1998) reported that vegetative barriers are generally used in combination with
mechanical land treatments such as micro catchments. Thus, once the tree and grass
species inside and around the micro catchments are established, a combined system of
land treatments can increase infiltration and control of erosion. This could in turn
improve physical, chemical, and biological attributes of the soil for fertility maintenance.

In the broad sense, the productivity of the land is its suitability for production, the main
components of which are light, water and soil. Young, (1989) defined soil fertility as the
capacity of the soil to support the growth of plants, on a sustained basis under given
condition of the climate and other relevant properties of the land. Regarding the soil
fertility, Eyasu (2002) has reported that soil fertility comprises physical changes, which is
the capacity of the soil to provide plants with foothold, moisture and air, and chemical
conditions, which determine the capacity of the soil to provide plants with nutrients. Its
chemical, biological and physical properties determine the nutrient supply capacity of the
soil. There are 16 chemical elements that are considered essential to plant growth, three
of

10
which (carbon, hydrogen, and oxygen) are obtained from air and water, the remaining 13
nutrients from the soil (Brady and Weil, 2002). The primary nutrients that are required by plants
in relatively large quantities but are frequently deficient are nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium.
Calcium, magnesium, and sulphur are secondary nutrients because they are required in relatively
less quantities and are less frequently deficient (Sanchez and Miller, 1986).
Soil fertility decline results from the combined effect of lowering of soil organic matter,
deterioration of physical properties, lowering of nutrient content, and in some cases
acidification, that is commonly associated with the decline in soil fertility (FAO, 1999a cited by
Young, 1989).
Udawatta et al (2002) reported that maintenance and enhancement of soil fertility is vital for
global food security and environmental sustainability. But, if measures are not taken on time to
avoid the loss of soil fertility, it might be a head ache to growing population especially in
developing countries. In line with this, Eyasu (2002) reported that declining soil fertility in
tropical rain fed agriculture is becoming a serious problem for a growing number of people.
Similarly, Kandji etal(2006) reported that low soil fertility is a major problem to food
production and one of the key biophysical constraints to increased agricultural growth in sub-
Saharan Africa.

To curb the problems of soil fertility, HGAF systems approach might play a positive impact.
There are different types of AF practices that improve soil fertility management/ improvement:
fallows, hedgerow, alley cropping, tree on crop land, plantation on physical structures as
Tembaro district case. Raoe etal (1998) reported that leguminous trees species have shown some
potential for soil fertility improvement and soil conservation since soil fertility improvement can
be achieved through biomass transfer, long/short term fallows, nitrogen fixation. In the same
way, Ajayi etal (2009) reported that trees/shrubs improve the physical properties of soils. In
particular, soil aggregation is higher in fields where trees are being grown, and this enhances
water infiltration and water

11
holding capacity of soils thereby reducing water runoff and soil erosion. It is also reported by
Acharya and Kafle (2009) that leaf litters in AF systems enrich the soil fertility by providing
organic matters, leaves control the speed of the raindrops and allow them to go down to the land
surface slowly which helps water to infiltrate into lower part of the soil surface.
HGAF systems have high potential in solving the problem of soil fertility when compared to
non-tree/shrub based systems. Rao et al (1998) stated that the maintenance of soil fertility in
HGAF based systems could be achieved through increase or maintain nutrient status, increasing
soil fauna and flora, better soil aggregation, lower bulk density, improved soil porosity, increase
water infiltration had compared to the bare soil.
All in all, there are different soil fertility improvement mechanisms in agroforestry systems: HGAF
contributes to the addition of organic matter, improving of soil chemical change /chemical
properties of the soil, and improving soil physical changes/physical properties of the soil such as
reducing excessive tillage, increasing the moisture content of the soil through different methods
of soil and water conservation practices, reducing compaction of the soil and etc.

Local knowledge is an indigenous knowledge that unique to a particular culture and society
which people used as a base for local decision-making in agriculture, health, natural resource
management and other activities (World Bank, 1998). However, nowadays, there is widespread
appreciation for the integration of local knowledge and scientific knowledge (Tesfaye Bashah,
2003). For example, Selene Asfaw (2003) indicated that farmers ’ knowledge complement with
scientific knowledge in evaluating the relationship between tree species and soil fertility in
agroforestry practice.
The knowledge of indigenous peoples is often preserved in rituals, ceremonies and magic, thus
underlining how culture, language, religion, psychology and spiritual beliefs cannot often be
separated from their understanding of the natural world (Nicholas and Lasimbang, 2004).
Therefore, indigenous knowledge includes complex practices and decisions made by local
people (Oudwater and

12
Martin, 2003).
Local knowledge is a valuable resource for sustainable development and it should play a central
role in any development programme (Oudwater and Martin, 2003). Local farmers in Konso,
Ethiopia had an indigenous knowledge and skill of testing agricultural practices that pass from
generation to generation. This knowledge and skills provide them essential information in
understanding their land management practices for their environmental improvement (Tesfaye
Bashah, 2003). Therefore, local knowledge plays a vital role in the sustained control, access and
management of land’s biodiversity (Nicholas and Lasimbang, 2004).
The management of home garden agroforestry needs the participation of all members of
household at a various level (Mohan, 2004). However, large majority of agroforestry are owned
by individual families with the head of the family (the male or the female) in order to manage it
properly (Zemede Asfaw, 2002). Properly managed agroforestry play a crucial role in improving
people’s livelihoods and quality of life, reduce poverty, and promote economic growth into the
future on a sustainable basis (Maroyi, 2009).
Home garden agroforestry can be found in many parts of southern and southwestern regions of
Ethiopia. In many parts of Ethiopia, rural people traditionally manage plant species diversity in
agroforestry for different household uses (Remade Asfaw, 2002). Some common management
practices can be identified in Ethiopian agroforestry are as follows: (i) Pruning: farmers use
pruning of tree branch to provide fuel wood, use for fencing, to reduce shade effect and to
minimize competition (ii) Fencing: fencing was done to protect agroforestry species from
predators (wild animals, domestic animals and thieves) as well as to provide support to creepers,
(iii) Fertilizing: The fertility of soil is maintained in agroforestry by incorporating organic
fertilizers such as house refuses, animal manures and crop residues. Plants like
Erythrinabrucei,Millettia ferruginea and Cordia africana are growing in the agro forestry
because of common belief among farmers that they are important in increasing soil fertility and
in conserving soil moisture, (iv) Weeding: Weeding is one of the regular

13
annual management operations carried out by all farmers. Farmers used weeding operations may
be 2-4 times per year, however, varying from farmer to farmer, which also depend on intensity
of weed completion with annual and perennial crop species. (v) Crop selection: Crop selection is
the other practice performed in the homegarden. Yield, quality and quantity, length of time
required from planting to harvesting and resistance to disease and drought are the farmers'
criteria for selection and (vi) Planting: High diversity of plant species in the agroforestry is
achieved through planting and protecting annual and perennial herbs, and woody perennials in
mixture (Zemede Asfaw, 2002; Belachew Wassihun, et al., 2003; Fantahun Mengistu, 2009) and
other country (Sunwar, 2003).

14
All data concerning the study was collected from both primary and secondary source;
primary data was collected through personal interviews with respondent using
questionnaire and direct observation. The secondary data was collected from various
publish and unpublished material such as, research paper, reports and relevant document
of government office of the study area.

Simple random sampling techniques, because of different experience and knowledge of

assessment home garden agroforestry development. The study was carried out by
purposefully select Dhertu Keble from Bedano district due to its home garden
agroforestry practice. And its accessibility using study Keble 825 household exists; from
those 10% (89) household was taken for data collection.

Since we cannot conduct the entire household in the Keble, we have to know the total
households in the Keble.

15
When we conduct our sample size, we will use the Solvens’ formula n
=N

1+ (N*e2)

Target population (N) = 825 HHs

Target population (N) = 825 HHs

Then by using the formula; n = 825 = 89

1+ (825*(10%) 2)

n = 89 households

Where, n =sample size

N= Target population

e = Margin of error (in social science margin of error is 10%)

After this we will use the systematic random sampling (proportionately) in order to get
number of respondents from Keble.

3.4 Data Analysis

The research was developed by both qualitative and quantitative method of data analysis.
After the collection of the required information from primary and secondary sources, the
data was analyzed by using appropriate methods. Qualitative data was analyzed by
interpretation and narration whereas Quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive
statistics, percentage, and frequency distribution, and tabular form.

16
Through the study was done by using random sampling technique and the study used 89
respondents from sex groups, (60) 67.4% and (29) 32.5% of male and female
respectively. But from this study most of the respondents headed are male headed and the
number of female headed respondents is low. The age structure of the respondents shows
that most of the respondents (38%) were in between 42-51 years old and the minimum
respondents or 2.24% were greater than or equal to between 62-71 years old.

Table 1 age and sex structure of the respondent

Age of HH Item Frequency Percent

22-31 10 11.23
32-41 38 42
42-51 28 31.46
52-61 11 12.35
62-71 2 2.24
Total 89 100
Sex of HH Female 29 32.5
Male 60 67.4
Total 89 100

17
 Source; field survey
From the table (1) most of the respondent were productive age group while the rest were
less productive age group .As the number of productive age increased in the area this
leads to the development of home garden agroforestry practice. And from the above
data, most of the respondent were male (67.4%), while the rest (32.5%) were female
.Therefore from the above table we understood that most of the male were responsible to
improve home garden agro forestry practice.

The study was carried out of among 27 kebeles in Dhertu. So this study shows that the

maximum number (size) of the household is between 3-5 and 5-7 so their wealth status is
not rich or poor it is medium living standard.

Family size Frequency Percent

<3 16 18
3-5 24 27
5-7 40 45
>7 9 10
Total 89 100
Source: field survey

According to the above table (2) most of the respondent (45%) have the family size
between 5-7,whereas the rest of the respondent have the familiy

From the study research we get knowledge about the religious status of Dhertu kebele.
The maximum amount of respondents (50%) were orthodox and the rest (25%) and
(14%) were protestant and wake fata respectively. These data is show below this chart.

18
Table: 3 Religions of the respondents

Religion of respondent Frequency Percent

Protestant 25 28
Orthodox 50 56
Wake fata 14 16
Total 89 100
Source: field survey

About 79% of the kebeles were married and the rest, 7% and 14% of the household were
divorce and single respectively. This shows most of the respondents were married and the
minimum was divorced. Education is a pre- condition in bringing behavioral and
attitudinal change in human beings to interact with nature to survive. The education level
study this kebele helps to see most of the respondents (67%) were illiterate and the
minimum respondent were can and read and write the rest were above grade 8. The
educational level and marital status of the respondents is illustrated in the following table.

Table 4 Marital status and education level of the respondents

Item Frequency Percent

Marital status Married 70 79
Divorced 6 7
Single 13 14
Total 89 100
Illiterate 60 67
Educational Can read and 15 17
status write
Between 5-8 9 10
grade
Above grade 8 5 6
Total 89 100

Source: field survey

According to the above table (4) most of the respondent (67%) were illiterate while the
rest (17 %) can read, (10%), between grade 5-8 and (6%) above grade 8. We understood
from the above table most of the communities were able to develop home garden agro
forestry practice due to the lack of efficient

19
awareness about home garden agroforestry practice and its role in their community .

The respondents in study area were adapted home garden agro forestry practice 30(34%)
for water protection, 26 (29%) for carbon sequestration, shelter for wild animal, soil and
water conservation, enjambment of soil fertility, 20 (22%) for water conservation, 13
(15%) for improvement of biodiversity are the major one.
According to (Shah, 2009) ,home garden agroforestry to soil provided infinite foraging
possibilities for livestock and also collected Zeus’ annual rainwater, which did not run
over bare soil into the sea as it does today . Since the earth was still thick and received
water which it stored in impermeable clay, it let water it had absorbed in the heights run
down into the valleys, providing abundant springs and large rivers everywhere.

According to the respondents Land degradation and declining soil fertility create a major
threat to agricultural productivity and affecting human welfare in the study area.
Incorporation of trees in the farm can help in maintaining the nutrient pool and enhance
soil fertility both under sequential and simultaneous agroforestry. Soil fertility can be
improved or sustained by the addition of vegetative organic matter, i.e. decomposition of
leafy biomass and roots.
According to (Eyasu. 2002), root systems of woody perennials enable to adapt to steeply
sloping sites that are unsuited to conventional cropping or grazing. Nitrogen fixing trees
(legumes) in agroforestry have the capacity to grow in difficult sites subject to erosion
and low soil fertility. They have also potential to restore degraded areas and control of
soil erosion. Further, integrating leguminous trees is common in agroforestry,
which have ability of fix

20
atmospheric nitrogen and contributes to better soil fertility. Nitrogen fixing tree, under
home garden agroforestry significantly increased nutrient pool, organic biomass, and
activities of organisms in the soil. This would not only be beneficial to the soil, but would
also be cheaper for resource-poor farmers and provide fodder or firewood.

Almost all of the respondent were stated in the study are home garden agroforestry

practice is important to improve the infiltration capacity of the compacted soil and where
by reduce surface runoff. Out of 100% , 22% of the respondent were also established
home garden agroforestry to improve water quality both by direct shading but especially
by reducing nutrient and bacterial inputs as a replacement of for agricultural crops .

According to ( Schroth, et al. 2004) home garden agroforestry provides such efficient
filters that they are often used to treat waste water or waste solid either from domestic
plants, from agricultural land or from industry .The role home garden agroforestry
illustrated by the following
Table 5 role of home garden agroforestry
Role home garden NO of respondent Percent
agroforestry
Soil improvement 30 34
Water conservation 20 22
Soil erosion control 26 29
Biodiversity conservation 13 15
Total 89 100
Source; field survey
From the above (5) home garden agroforestry can provide a multitude benefit to the local
communities such as soil fertility improvement, ecological balance, water and soil
conservation, water purification, biodiversity conservation controlling soil erosion
through nitrogen fixing tree, under home garden agroforestry significantly increased
nutrient pool, organic biomass, and activities of organisms in the soil. This would not
only be beneficial to the soil, but would also be cheaper for resource-poor farmers and
provide fodder or firewood.

21
The respondents stated the major challenging factor for the improvement of home garden
agroforestry in the study area were lack of management practice (11%) followed by lack
of awareness (27%) , lack of budget (34%) and lack of land availability .Thus there is a
need to isolate factors that might be specially affect the improvement of home garden
agroforestry practice and those factors are illustrated by the following tables.

Table 6 factor for improvement of HGAF

Challenging factors No of respondent Percent

Lack of awareness 38 43
Lack of budget 21 24
Lack of management practice 10 11

Lack of land availability 35 39

Total 89 100
.
From the above table, we understood that most of the respondent (43%) have lack of
awareness about the role of home garden agro forestry and 39% of the respondent the
lack of land availability due to this reason lack of awareness about the role of home
garden agro forestry and lack of land availability were the most challenging factor for the
development of HGAF.

Out of 100% (67.4%) of the respondent have a positive attitude towards the
improvement of home garden agroforestry practice with regard of getting the benefits
such as income generation, soil fertility improvement, erosion control, soil and water
conservation and 32.6% of the respondent have negative attitude towards improvement
of HGAF. Illustrated by the table.

Table 7 attitude of respondent towards improvement of HGAF practice

Positive 60 67.4

22
Negative 29 32.6
Total 89 100

From the above Table( 7 ) most the respondent (67.4%) have positive attitude towards
the improvement of home garden agroforestry because of most of the respondent were
understood about the role of home garden agroforestry such as soil fertility
improvement, subsistence, water conservation and biodiversity conservation whereas
some of the respondent(32.6%) have negative attitude towards the improvement of
HGAF due to misunderstanding and lack of awareness about the role of home garden
agroforestry.

In the study area the framers were practiced some types of agroforestry systems
.The respondents mentioned that (43%) of agrosilvopastural, (24.5%) of
agrisilvicultural, and (34%) of silvopastural.According to the respondents
agrosilvopastoral of system of home garden agroforestry system is more
practiced and showed by the following table.

Table 8. System of agroforestry practiced by the respondent

System of HGAF No of respondents Percent

Agrosilvopastural 38 43
Agrisilvcultural 21 24.5
Silvopasstural 30 34
Total 89 100
According to the table (8) above most of the respondent (43%) were practiced
Agrosilvopastural system because this system contain the components such as tree,
crop and involvement of animals as one components and reduced lack of land
availability.

Home garden agro forestry is the system for the production of subsistence crops for the
gardeners and his family .It may also have additional role of production of cash crop
and ecological role such as hydrologic benefits, micro climatic

23
modification, soil erosion control and genetic resource conservation.

According to the respondent home garden agroforestry systems are land-use systems that
combine the cultivation of trees, crops and the husbandry of farm animals on the same
land area. It is defined as agroforestry as a collective name for land-use systems and
technologies where woody perennials (trees, shrubs, palms, bamboos, etc.) are
deliberately used on the same land management unit as agricultural crops and/or animals,
in some form of spatial arrangement or temporal sequence. In agroforestry systems there
are both ecological and economic interactions between the different components.
Accordingly, agroforestry systems are viewed as an alternative to the ever increasing
demand for food and a practical solution that brings together scientific as well as
traditional techniques to diversify production

Generally from the respondent we can conclude that home garden agroforestry is any
sustainable land use system that maintain or increase the total yields by combining food
crops with tree crops or livestock on the same units of land
,either alternately or at the same times using management practices that suit the social and
cultural characteristics of local people and provide different benefits such as soil fertility
improvement, soil and water conservation, carbon sequestration and biodiversity
conservation to in the study area.

This research was conducted with limited time and budget further study should be
conducted to an output and enhance or improved home garden agroforestry practice
.Based on the finding I would like to recommended the following points.

The government body should be encouraged the local community or farmers to adopt
home garden agroforestry practice.

There should be training center in the study area which helps the rural farmer to get the
technical and theoretical knowledge which enable them to better understanding about
role of home garden agro forestry.

The farmer should be aware about the role of home garden agroforestry practice and the
challenging factors .

24
 The skilled o well trained person must be delegated he or she must be
responsible to mobilize about home garden agroforestry practice.

The government should work jointly with local farmer in changing mono cropping land
use system to mixed home garden agroforestry system for climate change and
biodiversity conservation.

Good home garden agroforestry practiced must be adopted in the community and
performed in the good manner through concerned body like Nongovernment
organization Government and local community participation.

The price should have given to the model farmers they are more practiced home garden
agroforestry and protecting.

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