Effect Price on Expansion of Rice Production and Traditional Wetland Management in Fogera Wetlands, South Gondar, Northwest Ethiopia

Abstract

BackgroundThis study aims to investigate the impact of rice price on expansion of rice production and traditional wetland management in Fogera Wetlands, on the eastern shore of Lake Tana, northern Ethiopia. Although rice is becoming a major cash crop in the area, it has not been given due attention for sustainability of wetland which has been traditionally integrated with different indigenous agricultural activities such as, livestock rearing, cultivation different crops. The major instruments implemented in data collection were questionnaire, key informant interviews and Focus Group Discussions (FGD) of sampled farmers as well as GIS and Remote Sensing. Survey questionnaire was administered to 385 rice-producing sampled farmers. ResultsThe result shows that 87% of the respondents confirm that increases in prices of rice encouraged them to shift from cultivation of conventional crops to rice farming. Subsequently, between the years 1973 and 2014, wetland areas has been reduced from 3114ha to 1060ha. Major activities being pursued in the wetlands of the study site do not consider their environmental impacts. Natural resource management and conservation policies and strategies implemented in the area didn't consider local people and their knowledge. It needs consideration to create sense of ownership of wetland resources to reduce abusive utilization of the wetland resources. Conclusion Therefore, the of policies, strategies and development activities implementation have to consider environmental issues togerther with rice production.