Socioeconomic issues that affect adoption conditions of farmers in agroforestry developments in Eastern Gojam zone, Ethiopia

A questionnaire survey and participatory rural appraisal have been carried out at two villages (peasant associations) in Eastern Gojam Zone, Amhara region, Ethiopia from January to March 1996 to investigate the socioeconomic issues that affect the adoption conditions of farmers in agroforestry developments. Selection of the villages was based upon their experiences and involvements in forestry and agroforestry development activities in the past. In each village 10 percent of the total house holds have been sampled for the questionnaire survey and in addition different PRA techniques and tools have been applied during the discussions made with the key informants in each village. A questionnaire has also been sent by mail to the extension staff and they have also sent back to me their written responses by mail. Uncertainties of land holding rights, lack of planting sites and priority use of land for food crops, lack of time, lack of labour, lack of incentitives, cattle damage of saplings due to free grazing after harvest, interference with food production activities, lack of demand driven extension approach, lack of credit facilities, food shortage and health problems are some of the socioeconomic problems that have been investigated to have a negative effect on the adoption conditions of the formers in agro forestry developments. Finally, recommendations of measures are made which are believed to reverse and improve the above mentioned problems and useful for the successful promotion of agroforestry extension and better adoption by farmers. Some of the recommendations include:- review and amendment of land use policies and confirmation of land holding rights, appropriate and timely provision of incentives and credit facilities, training and education for farmers, exercise of participatory planning, action and extension, subsidizing farmers, introduction of technologies that decrease farmers' work load, family planning and population control, recognition farmers' knowledge and their local institutions, better coordination of extension organizations and administrative bodies, banning of frequent restructuring and reshuffling of extension staff.