Socio-economic and Bio-physical Resources Characterization of ‘Warja’ Watershed in Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Watershed development is an important component of rural development and natural resource management strategies in many countries. The study was conducted to investigate the current situation of Warja watershed for further improvements to promote Sustainable and productive livelihood through the integration of different watershed components in participatory approach. Household interview and biophysical resources assessment followed by watershed mapping techniques were used for the data collection. Purposive sampling methods were used to select 63 households and Warja watershed boundary was delineated and its map was developed based on the preliminary outlet identified with the help of GPS reading. Descriptive statistics and diversity indices were used for data analysis. The results of the study indicated that Agriculture was the principal occupation (98.4%) of the population of Warja watershed. The average farmland size was 1.9 hectares while 25% of the households have farmland ranging from 0.25 to 1 hectare. The minimum and maximum family size of the sample farm households was 2 and 16 respectively. The common types of off-farm income generating activities are petty trade and working as daily labor. Slope gradient of Warja watershed ranges from 0 to more than 30 and the slope gradient of 2-5 and 5-10 cover the greatest in area coverage representing 204ha and 145ha respectively. Soil laboratory analysis result showed that sandy loam was the major soil type of Warja watershed. Overall results concluded that land degradation and biodiversity loss were a serious concern and watershed management programs could be strengthened. Awareness creation and strengthening capacity of rural communities on integrating crops, livestock and natural resource management technologies for effective soil and water conservation measure should be enhanced through participatory integrated watershed management approach.


Background and Justifications
In Ethiopia Watershed management programs commenced in a formal way in the 1970s. From that time up to the late 1990s, it was a government-led, top-down, incentive based (food-for-work) approach that prioritized engineering measures that focused primarily on reducing soil erosion. Since then the government, non-governmental organizations and local community efforts on rural development have been based on watershed development program [10]. In the early 2000s, community-based integrated watershed development was introduced to promote watershed management as a means to achieve broader integrated natural resource management and livelihood improvement objectives within prevailing agroecological and socioeconomic environments [16].
According to [8] a watershed is a topographically delineated area that is drained by a stream system i.e. all of the land draining its rain, snowmelt and ground water into a stream or river. At the earlier watershed management had a narrow focus primarily for controlling erosion, floods and maintaining sustainability of useable water yield. However, recently watershed management is not only for managing or conserving natural resources in a holistic manner, but also to involve local people for betterment of their lives. Its Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha District, East Shewa Zone, Oromia, Ethiopia management is more people oriented and process based, than only physically target oriented [2].
Factors that contribute to the success of watershed management are multidimensional, including biophysical, institutional and socioeconomic elements. The presence of supporting institutional structures and the extent of community participation were also other factors found to significantly influence the 'success' of watershed management [16]. The lack of integration from the different disciplines, sectors and limited level of participation of the stakeholders are among the limiting factors contributed to low level of success [6].
Baseline characterization helps understand the initial livelihood condition of the people in the watershed before intervention. It builds necessary foundation for the plan and obtains proper information for effective planning, implementation and monitoring [12]. Due to demographic pressure the average landholding in the Ethiopian watersheds is often fragmented and less than one ha [26]. The fragmented landholding (3-5 parcels) coupled with the improper land use system, nutrient depletion, drought and drainage problem, low crop and livestock productivity worsened the situation. Deforestation for cultivation, wood for fuel and construction, overgrazing, conversion of marginal lands to agriculture is escalating the problem of soil erosion and land degradation than ever [4].
Some impact studies have showed that investments in watershed management in the developing world do pay off in economic terms. However, such impact studies do not typically include detailed socio-economical components [13]. Similarly, Watersheds management in East Shewa including Warja watershed has got attention for more technical interventions to restore degraded lands and improve livelihood benefits. Before that a detail biophysical and Socio-economic characteristics of the watershed must be known for accurate problem solving. Several challenges that threaten the efficiencies of watershed for local community livelihood improvement exist in the in area. These include the lack of technical provision and information to support the selection of interventions suitable for the local context; uncoordinated interventions, institutions and actors within a watershed. This watershed is among the watersheds that discharge water to the big out late i.e. Dambal Lake. Managements of this and other surrounding watersheds help improve and sustain the lifespan of the lake while reduce its vulnerability to the changing climate. The managed water sources are buffer for productive ecosystem. Therefore, the analysis from biophysical and socioeconomic information in the watershed helps prioritize the problems with their appropriate management options and technologies which in turn leading to the implementation phase so that all the community in the watershed will be benefited.

General Objectives
To investigate the current situation of Warja watershed for further improvements to promote Sustainable and productive livelihood through the integration of different watershed components in participatory approach.

Specific Objectives
To delineate and map the selected watershed based on existing land uses.
To characterize biophysical resources of the watershed with basic livelihood aspects of the surrounding society.
To describe and evaluate the present resource use, management practices and socio-economic conditions in the watershed

Geographical Location
The study was conducted in Adami Tulu Jido-Kombolcha (ATJK) district of East Shewa of Oromia, Ethiopia, where soil degradation, gully formation and loss of agricultural land are a serious problem. Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha (ATJK) district is located between 7.58ºN and 38.43ºE longitudes ( Figure 1). It is bordered to the North by Dugda Bora Woreda, in the west by Southern Nations Nationalities Peoples Region (SNNPR), Arsi Negele to the south and Arsi zone to the East. Batu is the capital of the Woreda, which is 160 km away from Addis Ababa and 40 km from ASLNP [14].

Topography and Climate
The area is characterized by plain and flat lands of volcanic origin with small mountains, hills and gorges extending from the most northern part of Central Rift Valley. The altitude ranges from 1500-2300 m.a.s.l. Adami Tulu Jido Kombolcha Woreda has semi-arid and arid agro-climate zones. The Woreda receives an average annual rainfall of 760 mm. The mean monthly temperature varies from 18.5°C to 21.6°C with mean annual temperature of 20°C. Rainfall extends from February to September with a dry period in May to June, which separates the preceding short rains from the following long rains [14].

Vegetation, Soil and Land Uses
The vegetation is characterized by scattered acacia wood land is categorized as tropical savannah Acacia trees are dominant and important means of livelihood for the local people [18]. The pH of soil is 7.88 fine sandy loams with the highest sandy proportion [9]. Most of the area is topographically flat having sandy loam and andosol soil types [11]. Three land use systems: (a) croplands under small holder subsistence farming system (b) controlled grazing lands with closed areas (i.e., the Abernosa Ranch now days partially converted to private owners big farms), and (c) communal open access grazing land exist in the study area. Soil texture at these land uses is sandy loam with greater proportion of sand fractions. PH of the soil in a scattered acacia farm land is less alkaline than other land uses [22].

Population
According to the Woreda agriculture and rural development office, the total population of the

Methods of Data Collection
Before data collection started, different stakeholders, roles and responsibilities of each stakeholder were identified. The interdisciplinary team was formed from the research divisions of Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Centre for site characterization, planning and implementation of the watershed research. The following disciplines were considered for team formation: socio-economics, livestock, and geographic information system (GIS).

Watershed Delineation and Mapping
1. Sample points Design and Technique Initially reconnaissance survey was conducted with community leaders and government administrators to identify the watershed boundary. Based on the preliminary outlet identified during the site selection process, the watershed boundary was delineated using primary data (GPS readings), secondary data (topographic map) and in consultation with the local community.
The delineated watershed was geo-referenced and digitized for its contour, roads, rivers, and other features. The preliminary delineated boundaries were verified in the field using GPS and establish reference benchmarks for future operations. Finally, map of the watershed was produced; other information such as elevation ranges, area, slopes and aspect was extracted.
After delineation, the Digital Elevation Model was derived. 18 points three each from all slopes were selected systematically. Map of the Warja watershed was developed and delineated from 1:50,000 scale topographic map and aerial photographs/satellite images. This was employ GIS tools like aerial photo interpretation using Stereoscope or satellite image interpretation using different software.

Socio-economic Data Collection
Local institutions and social and administrative boundaries were identified, described and analyzed with respect to the watershed boundaries. Then, the existing local livelihood constraints of production were identified. Important parameters for Socio economic database were collected.
Also any factors expected to influence farmers' land management practices were also examined. In addition, production constraints were analyzed and prioritized with the whole community participation. PRA tools like group discussion, trend analysis, problem ranking was employed to generate information and questionnaires were used to quantify important variables. SPSS computer software v. 20 was used for socioeconomic data analysis. Based on the data obtained, statistical tools like cross tabulation, percentages, graphs, etc were used to analyze quantitative data.
1. Household survey 25% (1/4) of population of watershed (n=63) was selected according to [6] stated the ideal sample should cover 20-25% of the households in the Watershed as representative of socio economic aspects. Warja watershed and households from the area were selected through purposive and random selection methods respectively. FGD (containing 6-8) members and 10 key informants were selected purposefully.

Biophysical Resource Survey
The current land use/land cover of the watershed was assessed and mapped depending upon the availability of historical data (existing maps, aerial photographs, knowledge of the local community and satellite images) and GPS respectively.
The map produced by image interpretation was crosschecked and verified by field observation. The boundary coordinates was collected using GPS. Then each land unit was characterized in terms of different parameters (quality indicators). This includes soil Physical, chemical and biological parameters, vegetation and topography.
The seasonal climate pattern of the watershed was determined using data collected from the nearest weather station. The most rainfall features include onset date, end date, duration, dry spells and rainfall amount and intensity which serve as a basis for land capability and determination of the risk of production. Similarly, the most important drought characteristics (frequency, intensity, severity and magnitude) were determined using standardized precipitation index (SPI). Temperature data was also analyzed.
1. Vegetation data collection A 10mx10m quadrant was used to collect vegetation data across slopes. Quadrants were set three times at each slope randomly. Seedlings with height below 0.3 m were not included in the study as they were difficult to identify and are known to have very high mortality [23]. 2. Soil sample collection 18 Soil samples were taken from every systematically selected point across the slope. During systematic sampling points allocation all slopes in three land uses (Crop land, protected area and grazing land) were purposively selected. Points were loaded to GPS and navigated until the destination. Then samples were collected using 20 cm auger to analyze important soil physical chemical properties.
3. Erosion Assessment and Detection Availability of erosion was detected by using field observation indicators used by National Range and Pasture Handbook and Erosion (190-VI-NRPH, December 2003). Some of these factors are accounted for in the range land health and pasture condition scoring models. After the availability of the erosion detected Gullies were digitized by using GPS.
The indicators include: Pedestalled plants and rocks Base of plants discolored by soil movement from raindrop splash or overland flow Exposed root crowns Formation of miniature debris dams and terraces Puddled spots on soil surface with fine clays forming a crust in minor depressions, which crack as the soil surface dries and the clay shrinks Rill and gully formation Accumulation of soil in small alluvial fans where minor changes in slope occur Surface litter, rock, or fragments exhibit some movement and accumulation of smaller fragments behind obstacles Eroded inter space areas between plants with un natural gravel pavements Flow patterns contain silt and/or sand deposits and are well defined or numerous Differential charring of wood and stumps indicating how much soil has eroded after a fire 4. Climatic data Collection Five years secondary data were taken from Adami Tulu Agricultural Research Center weather station. ATARC weather station is one of the nearest stations to the study area. This is because in principle climate data can be taken from the nearest weather station to the study area and it is around 7 km from the study area.

Household Survey Data Analysis
The qualitative data collected through questionnaire based survey were entered into Statistical Package for Social Sciences (SPSS V 20) computer program and analyzed using descriptive statistics and Frequencies.

Soil Data Analysis
The most common method of measuring soil BD is by collecting a known volume of soil using a metal ring pressed into the soil (intact core), and determining the weight after drying [21]. Other soil physical and chemical properties were analyzed using standard Laboratory procedures at Batu Soil Research Center.
The samples are then prepared for analysis following standard sampling and lab procedure. Finally prepared soil samples were analyzed for Organic Carbon (OC) using a Walkley and Black method, Total Nitrogen (TN) using Kjeldhal method, Available Phosphorus (Av. P) using Olsen metal method, Available potassium (Av. K) using Morgan's extraction method, PH using PH meter in water suspension with soil to water ratio 1:2:5, EC (Electrical conductivity) using electro conductivity meter, CEC (Cat ion exchangeable capacity) using Ammonium Acetate (1 M NH4OAC).
Bulk density is usually expressed in mega grams per cubic metre (Mg/m3) but the numerically equivalent units of g/ cm 3 and t/m 3 are also used (1 Mg/m 3 =1 g/cm 3 =1 t/m 3 ) (Cresswell and Hamilton, 2002).
Soil volume Soil volume=ring volume To calculate the volume of the ring: i. Measure the height of the ring with the ruler in cm to the nearest mm.
ii. Measure the diameter of the ring and halve this value to get the radius (r).
iii. Ring volume (cm3)=π x r 2 x ring height (1) Ring radius=5.73 cm and ring height=8 cm Ring volume=3.14 x 5.73 x 5.73 x 8=824.7 cm3 Dry soil weight To calculate the dry weight of the soil: i. Weigh an ovenproof container in grams (W1).
ii. Carefully remove the all soil from the bag into the container. Dry the soil for 10 minutes in the microwave, or for 2 hours in a conventional oven at 105ºC.
iii. When the soil is dry weigh the sample on the scales (W2).

Tree Uses Analysis
Use value index technique was used to identify and prioritize the important trees based on the uses mentioned by the farmers (Phillips and Gentry, 1993).

UV=ƩUi/n (4)
Where: Ui is the number of uses mentioned by each respondent for a given species, n is the total number of respondents and stands for summation. The species will be then ranked basing on the overall use value. Important diversity measurement indice, Shannon index was used to calculate richness and abundance of the vegetation respectively. Shannon diversity indices will be estimated as Magurran (1988); Where pi is the proportion of individuals composed of species i. Shannon diversity index (H') is high when the relative abundance of the different species in the sample is even, and decreases when few species are more abundant than the others. It is based on the theory that when there are many species with even proportions, the uncertainty that a randomly selected individual belongs to a certain species increases and thus the diversity. As a measure of heterogeneity, Shannon's index takes into account the evenness of abundance of species [24].
Finally soil data's, tree utilization data's and diversity data's were adjusted to MINITAB 17 and analyzed with appropriate analytical methods.

Household Characteristics of the Respondents
The results of these socioeconomic characteristics of households are helpful in exploring the communities' infrastructures and resources need for planning future intervention of watershed management and could determine the extent to which the community could adopt the future intervention that might be useful in developing a plan for commencing community development work. The results from household survey revealed the average age of the respondents was 45 with a standard deviation of 15.09. The family size of the sampled households on average was six. The largest frequency in family size is four family members per household, which was about 5% of the sample households' family size. The sampled household education level in the study area ranges from illiterate to complete secondary school. The total land size of each household mostly consists of the cropland, grazing land, and homegardens. The average farmland size was 1.9 hectare with the range of 0.25 to 4 hectare whereas about 25% of the households have farmland ranging from 0.25 to 1 hectare (table 2).
Of the total respondents of the watershed 42.97% are occupants. According to the survey result, the minimum and maximum family size of the sample farm households was 2 and 16 respectively (table 2).
The respondents are divided into three age groups (i.e. up to 15, 16 to 64, and above 64 years of age). The idea behind these classes is that the middle group (16-64 years) is the most productive age group in farming. As age is one of the vital characteristics of the society which plays a significant role in any type of employment pattern, mobility and any kind of activity performances, particularly in agriculture, as the use of child labor on farm activities mostly prevail. Majority of the sample farmers (98.5%) owned farm lands with varies size ranging from 0.25 to 4 hectare, and on average 1.9 hectare of land holding (figure 2 and table 3).  Agriculture (Working on farm) was the principal occupation of 98.4% of the economically active population of Warja watershed in 2017, although only about 22.4% of the respondents Work on farm as a Secondary occupation. Working on the farm includes crop production activities and rearing of the livestock's. Few households were also engaged on off-farm activities, another livelihood for the farmers in the watershed. The common types of off-farm income generating activities are petty trade and working as daily labor. About 17.9% of households in the area were involved in these income generating activities in addition to agricultural practices.

Trends and Constraints of Crop Production in the Warja Watershed
Crop production is one of the major agricultural activities undertaken by community in the Warja watershed ( Table 5). The crops grown in the watershed were Maize, Wheat, Teff and Barley, Harricotbean and Sorghum. Maize and wheat were the major grown crops while sorghum was the Lesley grown one. These crops have been produced for the purpose of home consumption and seed at most while a few are sold in local markets as they came after threshing. The assessment conducted for the two cropping years showed there has been no common use of the crops varieties with their recommended technology package. In addition to these gaps, other external factors of production worsened the expected crops yield. The results (Table 6) showed that the major constraint for crop production as ranked by farmers in the area were high cost of inputs, climatic problems, land infertility, lack of improved agricultural technologies, high cost of labor force and others listed were contributed significantly to the low yield in the watershed. The majority of household respondents' perceived that crop production in the area is decreasing due to lack of access to inputs and climatic problem (frequently changing weather condition) ( figure 3 and table 6).

Livestock Production and Feeding Source
Characteristics in the Warja Watershed Farmers in the watershed have low to moderated livestock population. Accordingly Local breed cow ranged from 1-7 and 0-12 with the average of 2 and Local breed sheep and goat ranged from 1-10 and 1-20 and with average of 4 and 5 respectively although very few number of cross breeds livestock population is observed (table 8). The major livestock feeding source in the selected Warja watershed are grazing land and aftermath of croplands, although it exceeds the carrying capacity of the existing livestock population they are available in the area. Various food crops, mainly cereals and pulse crop residues were also the commonly used feed sources for all livestock categories during the dry season and private grazing land near the farmers' homestead and small plots of grazing lands at the edge of croplands were the main source of feed for their livestock at wet season. Animals were restricted to the smaller area near the homestead during the wet season because it overlaps with rain-fed crop growing seasons. Besides, animals were primarily fed on weeds harvested from within the cropland, green grasses and thin out crops, as it is also confirmed by the secondary information (Table 9). Industrial by-products have not been used by farmers in mostly in the area during wet seasons because this time is characterized by availability amble feed sources. Due to challenges related with unaffordable prices of industrial by-products by smallholders, they have rarely used it for animals affected by feed shortage during the dry season.
The feeding source in the study watershed was dominantly pasture land, vegetable waste, fodder trees/shrubs, weeds, thin out crops and crop residue (93.65%) followed by all industrial by products and concentrate feed which cover 6.35% of the total feed source in the area. The contribution of communal grazing land sole was lower as result of shortages of grazing land (bush and scramble tree covered) occur due to expansion of crop lands due to increased population as well as degradation of the land current local community holds. Farmers have mentioned some constraints affecting livestock production in their area and ranked them based on their severity. Accordingly, the most common constraints of animal production in the area were lack of improved breed and un availability of feed because of drought and lack of improved forage and/or fodder species (table 10). The results (Table 11) of baseline survey were indicated that in Warja watershed, beekeeping was practiced by few farmers (8 farmers out of 63 household respondents with too minimum number of farmers holding moveable frame) (table 11) and, consequently no attention was given in order to improve their income livelihood from the sale of honey and nutrition and employment opportunities. Although lack of beekeeping equipment's and farmer's awareness in solving constraints of beekeeping exist in the area, the few farmers holding honeybee colony have been getting significant honey production. As constraints poor access to extension services includes; Poor honey processing facilities, inadequate skills on improved beekeeping, inadequate skills of seasonal bee management, etc. (Table 11). So, improving these is about improving the production of honeybee in the watershed. Access to credit services (Table 11) is also important for farmers to establish modern production sites individually or as a group and also without such kind of facility farmers have no capacity to incur costs of the beehives. Lack of access to improved forage seed and / seedlings) 1. 6 6 Pest problem 1.6 7

Land uses of Warja Watershed
Cultivated land covers the highest portion of area (Table  13 and Figure4) in the watershed while followed by open grazing area, mostly of hill slope.

Topographic Characteristics of Warja Watershed
Location Map of Warja Watershed Warja watershed is located between 7°56'0'' to 7°57.5'0'' N latitude and 38°39'0'' to 38°42'0'' E longitude ( Figure 6). Slope Topography affects landscape by facilitating physically land cover changing problems like flooding, degradation, etc. based on steepens of slope and slope length. Slope gradient of Warja watershed ranges from 0 to more than 30 and the slope gradient of 2-5 and 5-10 cover the greatest in area coverage representing 204 ha and 145 ha respectively (table  14). This indicate that more of the watershed landscape might be exposed to extreme flooding at time of high rain fall occurrences which implies that the need of soil and water conservation structures for sound natural resources conservation in the area. This is agreed with the findings of [7] stating that the slope configuration provides few depositional sites within the hill slope. However, where excessive slope lengths occur, off slope transport of sediment (erosion) can be anticipated.

Climate of the Watershed
In the periods of five years the mean minimum temperature of the area obtained maximum value in May and June almost 15°C while lowest value 9°C in December (table  15). When say Minimum temperature is actually about hot nights and Daily temperature observations show significantly much large increasing trends in the frequency of hot nights according to UNDP country portal [1]. The result is almost similar with the observation did in Amhara and Tigray parts of Ethiopia in the periods of 1980-2010. These are clearly an indication of warming nights over the years and shows those seasons are getting hotter in recent years [17]. In the periods of five years the maximum temperature of the area obtained mean minimum value in July and August having a value of 25.5°C while the rest of the months obtained maximum value between 28°C to 32°C. When see as a single months maximum value 35°C scored in March while 23.6°C in July (Table 16).  The result (Table 18) showed the area obtained 65mm average rain fall in five years (2012-2016) and 121mm average rainfall in five years (2012-2016) during cropping seasons (from May-September). These is almost closer to the average result obtained 63 mm rain in ten (10) years (1996)(1997)(1998)(1999)(2000)(2001)(2002)(2003)(2004)(2005) and 100 mm average result in cropping seasons (May-September) by [22].

Soil Properties of the WATERSHED
The proportion of Watershed soil texture is 72.6% sand, 21.6% silt, 6% under category of sandy loam (Table 20). This is similar with what [19] stated most of the areas soil texture is under the category of sandy loam.  The recorded mean soil bulk density of the watershed was 0.18±0.02 (mean±std). This means the soil is a bulk soil that is important for tree root development. The critical value of bulk density for restricting root growth varies with soil type [20] but in general bulk densities greater than 1.6 g/cm3 tend to restrict root growth [21].
Overall average CEC of the watershed was 16 meq/100 g (milli-equivalents per 100 grams of soil) and it was almost the same with the upper maximum CEC 15 meq/100 g reported by [25] for fine textured soils. This could be true since the textural soil type of the watershed was sandy loam (Table 20). This all could help any intervening body as a base line for important improvements. Lack of access to inputs (fertilizer) 9.5 3 4 Climatic problem/drought 6.3 4 Many rills that has prominent role in the development of gullies were observed in the watershed. Accordingly, three big gullies ( Figure 10) were formed because of water erosion in the watershed. According to the rangeland health and pasture condition (2003) scoring models, Reduction of vegetative cover causes increased surface runoff and often leads to accelerated erosion. Rills and gullies develop, followed by larger flow concentrations. Runoff is closely linked to chemical and nutrient cycling, erosion, and contaminant transport. It can also be a sensitive indicator of ecosystem change. Plant community types and the character of vegetative cover are one of the factors that determine the rate and areal distribution of runoff from a watershed. For every watershed and site within the watershed, there exists a critical point of deterioration resulting from surface erosion.

Erosion Status of the Watershed
Different physical and bio-physical soil and water conservation measures were recorded in the watershed. Accordingly, Gabion dam in Gully, soil and stone bunds, Micro catchments like half-moon and V-shape with trees especially Acacia saligna were available in the watershed. The statuses of most structures were declined while few of them were under good performance for Acacia saligna tree obtained growth benefit because of stored water by the structure.

Watershed Vegetation Diversity and Composition
Knowing the distribution and the slopes on which trees exist in the watershed help for preparing intervention plan for massive tree planting. Hence, Acacia tortilis and Albizia lobbeck (Table 23) were trees highly distributed in the watershed. Diversity is higher as the value is closer to 1. Shannon Index consider the evenness and shown low diversity. Overall, few species were abundant than others and low species diversity recorded in the watershed (Table 25).

Farmers Tree Use Preference
Based on tree use preference by farmers ( Figure 11) Acacia tortilis, Albizia lobbeck and Balanites aegyptiaca were among the most three species obtained the highest use value index. This helps any intervening bodies where to focus to increase the community benefit from these trees.   Lack of access to inputs (improved seed/seedlings) 57.1 1 2

Other Natural Resources Constraints
Un availability of inputs (seed and /or seedling) on time 6.3 2 3 Poor access to extension services 4.8 3 4 Climatic problem/drought 4.8 4 Lack of access to inputs (improved seed/seedlings, fertilizer) 12.7 2 3 Poor access to extension services 4.8 3 4 Un availability of inputs on time 3.2 4 Poor access to extension services on water harvesting 12.7 3 4 Lack of access to credit services 1.6 4

Conclusion
Warja watershed encompasses remarkable natural capital with potential to support households residing in the area. However due to miss use of the resources on the site and less attention given for the area's resources management; surrounding societies are not utilizing the existing resources potential of the area. The cause and impact of land degradation in Warja watershed had been explored using different methods explained in the study. Natural resources degradation such as Land, and or/ soil fertility, reduction and recent changes in the areas' weather condition in line of climate change (rain fall in amount and duration, unusual length of dry season) prevailing in current years are few of the many factors that are contributing to the crop productivity reductions in the area. It was observed that in addition to the nature of the topography of the land anthropogenic factors were a great contribution for the resources depletion that affecting the societies in the area and their livelihoods. Factors that affect these natural resources depletion by hampering the production and productivities of the local community in the areas were the scarcity of land for farming family, soil infertility, and fluctuation of weather condition. These situations are happening at the expense of species diversity and bringing a reduction in food provision for poor rural households in addition to others resources depletion in the area. It can be concluded that planned watershed managements as interventions for Warja watershed improvements are impressive for the success of any development works carried out for the surrounding communities.

Recommendations
Based on the findings of this study, the following recommendations are suggested: Attention should be given to make Warja watershed more productive for local people by improving their awareness on integrating crops, livestock and natural resource management technologies for effective soil and water conservation measures should be enhanced.
Participatory implementation of degraded land rehabilitation in the watershed particularly construction of integrated physical and biological soil and water conservation measures should have to be encouraged.
Provisions of Warja watershed should be included in the programs of conservation agency and others concerned bodies to enhance the livelihoods of rural poor and conservation of natural resources on a sustainable basis.
Provisions of improved breeds of livestock's and the modern beehives by organizing young and land less through integrated improved beekeeping practices with multi propose trees as means of income generating should be implemented.
Further study is needed to identify adoptable conservation technologies like adaptable multipurpose tree /species plant varieties of ecological and locals' needs.