Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia
Urbanization can cause changes in farming practices, which in turn bring cropland-use loss. However, this issue is an under-researched topic. This study examines changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland (Eucalyptus and clay brick production) using panel and cross-sectional data. Land...
| Main Authors: | , , , |
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| Format: | Article |
| Language: | English |
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Elsevier
2023-06-01
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| Series: | Cleaner Environmental Systems |
| Subjects: | |
| Online Access: | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789423000119 |
| _version_ | 1797803852011929600 |
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| author | Bahiru Haile Aboye Tegegne Gebre-Egziabher Belaynesh Kebede Amare Sewnet Minale |
| author_facet | Bahiru Haile Aboye Tegegne Gebre-Egziabher Belaynesh Kebede Amare Sewnet Minale |
| author_sort | Bahiru Haile Aboye |
| collection | DOAJ |
| description | Urbanization can cause changes in farming practices, which in turn bring cropland-use loss. However, this issue is an under-researched topic. This study examines changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland (Eucalyptus and clay brick production) using panel and cross-sectional data. Landsat imageries were used as longitudinal panel data to assess cropland-use changes from 2001 to 2021. A cross-sectional survey was designed to collect data from randomly selected 300 farmers in the peri-urban areas of Jimma City. A questionnaire was conducted with farmers to identify factors and reasons leading to changes in farming practices, while interviews and group discussions were organized with key informants to gather their experiences of changing farming practices. A two-way cross-matrix was used to estimate the cropland-use change from 2001 to 2021. A spatial regression model was used to determine significant factors of changing farming practices, while the qualitative data was described along with the model results. The results show that woodland increased by 44% from 2013 to 2021 due to changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland. Cropland and pastureland were converted to built-up areas at 4.4% and 2.8% per year, respectively, while woodland has been converted at 1.5%, implying that it is more resistant to built-up area expansion. The spatial regression model reveals that access to markets, income, institutional barriers, farm size, and family size were the most significant determinants of changing farming practices. Farmers used Eucalyptus as a coping strategy to minimize pressure on natural forests, secure land for lifestyle purposes, and alleviate poverty in the face of rapid urbanization and cropland-use loss. The results of this study indicate that the government should enhance farmers' perceptions; educate them to adopt more environmentally friendly Eucalyptus tree species instead of discouraging Eucalyptus expansion on cropland and establish structures that facilitate farmers’ access to inputs to improve cropland productivity. |
| first_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:27:15Z |
| format | Article |
| id | doaj.art-45f690be94474886be07f38c4ea10669 |
| institution | Directory Open Access Journal |
| issn | 2666-7894 |
| language | English |
| last_indexed | 2024-03-13T05:27:15Z |
| publishDate | 2023-06-01 |
| publisher | Elsevier |
| record_format | Article |
| series | Cleaner Environmental Systems |
| spelling | doaj.art-45f690be94474886be07f38c4ea106692023-06-15T04:57:24ZengElsevierCleaner Environmental Systems2666-78942023-06-019100117Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest EthiopiaBahiru Haile Aboye0Tegegne Gebre-Egziabher1Belaynesh Kebede2Amare Sewnet Minale3Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Jimma University, Ethiopia; Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Gondar, Ethiopia; Corresponding author. Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Jimma University, Ethiopia.Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Addis Ababa University, EthiopiaDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, University of Gondar, EthiopiaDepartment of Geography and Environmental Studies, Bahir Dar University, EthiopiaUrbanization can cause changes in farming practices, which in turn bring cropland-use loss. However, this issue is an under-researched topic. This study examines changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland (Eucalyptus and clay brick production) using panel and cross-sectional data. Landsat imageries were used as longitudinal panel data to assess cropland-use changes from 2001 to 2021. A cross-sectional survey was designed to collect data from randomly selected 300 farmers in the peri-urban areas of Jimma City. A questionnaire was conducted with farmers to identify factors and reasons leading to changes in farming practices, while interviews and group discussions were organized with key informants to gather their experiences of changing farming practices. A two-way cross-matrix was used to estimate the cropland-use change from 2001 to 2021. A spatial regression model was used to determine significant factors of changing farming practices, while the qualitative data was described along with the model results. The results show that woodland increased by 44% from 2013 to 2021 due to changing farming practices from cropland-use to woodland. Cropland and pastureland were converted to built-up areas at 4.4% and 2.8% per year, respectively, while woodland has been converted at 1.5%, implying that it is more resistant to built-up area expansion. The spatial regression model reveals that access to markets, income, institutional barriers, farm size, and family size were the most significant determinants of changing farming practices. Farmers used Eucalyptus as a coping strategy to minimize pressure on natural forests, secure land for lifestyle purposes, and alleviate poverty in the face of rapid urbanization and cropland-use loss. The results of this study indicate that the government should enhance farmers' perceptions; educate them to adopt more environmentally friendly Eucalyptus tree species instead of discouraging Eucalyptus expansion on cropland and establish structures that facilitate farmers’ access to inputs to improve cropland productivity.http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789423000119Built-up areaFarming practicesCropland-useWoodlandFarmersTenure |
| spellingShingle | Bahiru Haile Aboye Tegegne Gebre-Egziabher Belaynesh Kebede Amare Sewnet Minale Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia Cleaner Environmental Systems Built-up area Farming practices Cropland-use Woodland Farmers Tenure |
| title | Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia |
| title_full | Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia |
| title_fullStr | Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia |
| title_full_unstemmed | Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia |
| title_short | Changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland-use loss in the context of urban expansion: The case of Jimma City, Southwest Ethiopia |
| title_sort | changing farming practices as integral to sustenance and cropland use loss in the context of urban expansion the case of jimma city southwest ethiopia |
| topic | Built-up area Farming practices Cropland-use Woodland Farmers Tenure |
| url | http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S2666789423000119 |
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