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Abstract
This study was conducted in two gewogs (blocks) of Jarey and Thangrong under Lhuentse and Mongar districts in Eastern Bhutan to assess the farmer’s perception on the soil erosion, its causes, and adoption of Sustainable Land Management (SLM) practices. A total of 47 and 90 respondents from Jarey and Thangrong respectively who participated in the implementation of SLM measures were interviewed. Field observations were made where necessary. Data was analyzed using descriptive and chi-square test at significance level of p<0.05 and presented in tabular or graphical representations. The study revealed that farmers have a good knowledge on identifying the indicators, causes, severity of soil erosion including positive impact from implementation of SLM measures. A significantly high proportion of farmers in Jarey (97.87%) and Thangrong (92.22%) perceived washing down of soil during rainy season as main indicator of soil erosion. Similarly, significant proportion of the respondents (95.74% and 93.33%) from two gewogs indicated heavy rain as main cause of soil erosion besides cultivation on the steep slope (91.49% and 90%). Further, 76% and 56% of the respondents in Jarey and Thangrong respectively perceived high soil erosion, whereas only 15.89% and 15.56% have witnessed low rate of soil erosion. Significantly higher proportion of respondents in Jarey (85.11%) and Thangrong (90%) observed reduced soil erosion after implementing the SLM measures. About 29.79% of farmers in Jarey faced labor shortage while 38.89% of farmers in Thangrong perceived no immediate benefit from SLM measures. High proportion of farmers in Jarey (96.25%) indicated the need of financial support from government and 95.64% of respondents in Thangrong expressed the financial and short-term interventions (seed and seedlings) assistance for scaling out SLM in future. This study recommends community consultation through participatory approach to raise awareness and design appropriate SLM interventions based on local context and also taking into account incentive package to address short term livelihood needs of the farmers, which otherwise is difficult to achieve due to long gestation period of SLM interventions.