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Soil water management practices (terraces) helped to mitigate the 2015 drought in Ethiopia

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  • Kosmowski, Frédéric

Abstract

While the benefits of soil water management practices relative to soil erosion have been extensively documented, evidence regarding their effect on yields is inconclusive. Following a strong El-Niño, some regions of Ethiopia experienced major droughts during the 2015/16 agricultural season. Using the propensity scores method on a nationally representative survey in Ethiopia, this study investigates the effect of two widely adopted soil water management practices – terraces and contour bunds – on yields and assesses their potential to mitigate the effects of climate change. It is shown that at the national level, terraced plots have slightly lower yields than non-terraced plots. However, data support the hypothesis that terraced plots acted as a buffer against the 2015 Ethiopian drought, while contour bunds did not. This study provides evidence that terraces have the potential to help farmer deal with current climate risks. These results can inform the design of climate change adaptation policies and improve targeting of soil water management practices in Ethiopia.

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  • Kosmowski, Frédéric, 2018. "Soil water management practices (terraces) helped to mitigate the 2015 drought in Ethiopia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 204(C), pages 11-16.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:204:y:2018:i:c:p:11-16
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2018.02.025
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    2. Meron Tadesse & Belay Simane & Wuletawu Abera & Lulseged Tamene & Gebermedihin Ambaw & John W. Recha & Kindu Mekonnen & Getamesay Demeke & Abebe Nigussie & Dawit Solomon, 2021. "The Effect of Climate-Smart Agriculture on Soil Fertility, Crop Yield, and Soil Carbon in Southern Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(8), pages 1-11, April.
    3. Abyiot Teklu & Belay Simane & Mintewab Bezabih, 2023. "Effect of Climate Smart Agriculture Innovations on Climate Resilience among Smallholder Farmers: Empirical Evidence from the Choke Mountain Watershed of the Blue Nile Highlands of Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(5), pages 1-26, February.
    4. Lun Yang & Moucheng Liu & Fei Lun & Qingwen Min & Canqiang Zhang & Heyao Li, 2018. "Livelihood Assets and Strategies among Rural Households: Comparative Analysis of Rice and Dryland Terrace Systems in China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(7), pages 1-18, July.
    5. Daniel El Chami & André Daccache & Maroun El Moujabber, 2020. "How Can Sustainable Agriculture Increase Climate Resilience? A Systematic Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-23, April.
    6. Imtiaz Alam Khan & Muhammad Rafiq & Sanaullah Panezai & Shahab E. Saqib & Raza Ullah & Muhammad Atiq, 2022. "How do farmers cope with climate change? An analysis of alternative adaptation strategies in drought-hit areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa—Pakistan," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 112(3), pages 2259-2275, July.
    7. Wu, Bingfang & Ma, Zonghan & Boken, Vijendra K. & Zeng, Hongwei & Shang, Jiali & Igor, Savin & Wang, Jinxia & Yan, Nana, 2022. "Regional differences in the performance of drought mitigation measures in 12 major wheat-growing regions of the world," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 273(C).
    8. Gebremedn Tesfaye & Tena Alamirew & Asfaw Kebede & Gete Zeleke, 2018. "Institutional Functionality in Participatory Integrated Watershed Development of Tana Sub-Basin, Ethiopia," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(4), pages 1-17, November.
    9. Wouterse, Fleur & Andrijevic, Marina & Schaeffer, Michiel, 2022. "The microeconomics of adaptation: Evidence from smallholders in Ethiopia and Niger," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 154(C).
    10. Chen, Die & Wei, Wei & Chen, Liding, 2020. "How can terracing impact on soil moisture variation in China? A meta-analysis," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 227(C).

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