Assessing the Impact of Productive Safety Net Program on Soil and Water Conservation Practices in the Amhara Sayint Woreda, Ethiopia

Yemata Demissie, Alem-meta Assefa, Mare Addis () and William A. Payne
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Yemata Demissie: Dessie City-Segno-Gebya Sub City Municipality Office, South Wollo Zone, Dessie P.O. Box 1145, Ethiopia
Alem-meta Assefa: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wollo University, Dessie P.O. Box 1145, Ethiopia
Mare Addis: Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Wollo University, Dessie P.O. Box 1145, Ethiopia
William A. Payne: College of Agriculture, Biotechnology and Natural Resources, University of Nevada, Reno, NV 89557-0222, USA

Agriculture, 2024, vol. 14, issue 10, 1-20

Abstract: Land degradation is a critical issue in Ethiopia, exacerbating food insecurity by reducing agricultural productivity. Soil and water conservation (SWC) practices are essential to control erosion and increase food production. However, there is a lack of comprehensive evaluations on the impact of Ethiopia’s Productive Safety Net Program (PSNP) on SWC practices. This study aimed to assess the contribution of the PSNP to SWC in the Amhara Sayint Woreda. The researchers used a mixed-method approach, combining quantitative and qualitative data. Multistage sampling was used to select households, and data were collected through questionnaires, interviews, focus groups, and observations. The study provided empirical evidence that the PSNP has a positive impact on SWC practices. Key factors influencing SWC participation include age, family size, education, plot size, livestock ownership, credit service, and access to extension services. The results suggest that the PSNP should improve payment for public work participants implementing SWC, undertake institutional reform, and increase public awareness of the benefits of SWC in reversing land degradation and improving food security. This study uniquely contributes to the understanding of how the PSNP influences the varying degrees of participation in SWC practices, filling a critical research gap. The findings can inform policymakers and program managers to enhance the PSNP’s effectiveness in promoting sustainable land management and food security in Ethiopia.

Keywords: regression model; direct support; public work; beneficiary; conservation structures (search for similar items in EconPapers)
JEL-codes: Q1 Q10 Q11 Q12 Q13 Q14 Q15 Q16 Q17 Q18 (search for similar items in EconPapers)
Date: 2024
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