Assessment of Farmers' Attitude and Experience on Indigenous Agroforestry Practices in Ethiopia

The Case of Dibate District, in the Benishangul Gumuz Regional State

Abstract

The study was conducted to document and analyse existing practices, farmers' experience and knowledge, opportunities and constraints of agroforestry by taking 105 farmers for formal interview, group discussion, field observation and informal interviews. Home gardens, shifting cultivation, alley cropping, windbreak and live fencing are among the main identified agroforestry practices including respective farmers experience and knowledge. The local farmers have remarkable knowledge on tree species preference based on its compatibility and adverse effects on the proximate crops, and its multipurpose use. The tree/shrub species preferred in agricultural lands are Acacia abyssinica, Erithyrina abyssinica, Erithyrina brucei, Piliostigma thonningii, Strychnos spinosa, Stereosperum kunthianum whereas Dichrostachys cinerea, Terminalia laxifolia, Combretum molle, Grewia ferruginea, Dombeya torrida, Strychnos spinosa, Piliostigma thonningii, bamboos, Vernonia amygdladina, Cordia africana, Ficus vastae and Ficus sur are the species preferred for animal feed. Farmers have positive attitude to practice agroforestry. However, water shortage, free grazing, infrastructures and drought are mentioned as the major constraints to practice it by 96.8, 91.4, 85.2 and 79.9 percent of the respondents respectively. Farmers' experience and knowledge about the use of multipurpose trees especially in improving agricultural lands was found to be considerably high. Every development strategies of agroforestry and related land use systems should integrate farmers' experience and knowledge