ISSN 2360-7971
Abstract:One of the main obstacles to development in many parts of the world is a lack of water, both in terms of sufficient quantity and quality. It has an impact on all facets of life, including health, food security, agricultural productivity, technological advancement, and state economies. The aim of this study was to assess the determinants of rainwater harvesting adoption in the pastoral area of Soro district. We obtained primary data through questionnaires, personal observation, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews, and collected secondary data from published and unpublished documents. We applied a multi-stage sampling technique to select 135 sample household heads (55 adopters and 80 non-adopters) from three purposively selected kebeles of the district. TWe analyzed the collected data using descriptive statistics like mean, standard deviation, and percentage.We also employed inferential statistics such as t-test, chi-square, and econometric (binary logit model) analysis. The results of the econometric model indicate that the educational status of household heads, family size, farm size, livestock holding, and frequency of contacts with extension agents all had a positive and significant influence on the adoption of rainwater harvesting, while the age of household heads and market distance had a negative and significant influence. The study's findings reveal that the impact of rainwater harvesting on livelihoods led to an average annual income of 7290.63 birr for adopters and 4009.31 birr for non-adopters, respectively. This indicates that adopters of rainwater harvesting have increased their income by 3281.32 birr per year from 2.04 hectares on average compared to non-adopters from 1.08 hectares on average. Rainwater harvesting technology significantly enhances the livelihoods of rural households. Therefore, the study calls for teamwork at different levels to enhance their adoption of rainwater harvesting, thereby improving the farmer’s livelihood.
Keywords: Adoption, Adopter, Livelihood, Logit, Non-Adopter, Rainwater, Soro, Hadiya, Central Ethiopia