Land evaluation on Metema Quara Study area

1. Land evaluation on Metema Quara Study area Framework of the study document -Introduction -Description of the project area -Objectives -Methods -Major land uses - Results of suitability assessment -Recommendations

2. 1.INTRODUCTION • LE-- process of assessing land performance under specified kinds of land use • It consists of comparison between land and land use/ i.e. characteristics and requirements / • Comparison is a basic ground for predicting the consequences of applying different land uses and land units. • Decisions on land use have always been part of the development of human society/knowingly or unknowingly/ • Clearing forest land and changing to agricultural use was one of the earliest decisions on land use. • Such decisions continued today hence, growing populations require more land for food production.

3. Continued • Increasing demands for various uses have led to land use changes/crop production, livestock grazing, forest land, settlement/ • Competition for land for different kinds of land use has led to the creation of a new approach known as LE • LE brings together the right kinds of land with the right kinds of land uses • Therefore, this report deals with the land evaluation; methodology employed, the analysis applied, and the results obtained.

4. 2.Description of the projectarea • 2.1 Location • The study area-Situated in Metema-Quara woreda, North Gonder administrative zone -Geographically it extends from 120 15’ to120 45’N Latitude and from 35o30’ to 36o 15’E Longitude -It covers a total area of about 256056 ha -Its population is about 18710 • 2.2 Land resources -Suitability of land resources for agriculture is determined by terrain, soil and agro-climatic characteristics -These characteristics in their turn determine the growing condition of crops, ranges and trees. -Management and conservation measures are also determined by terrain, soil and agro-climatic characteristics.

5. continued • 2.2.1 physiography and soils • Physography -Physiographic units don’t show wide variations in physical features • -Land forms encompassed are: -Plain land-268901.94 ha(68.98%) including undulating and rolling plains - Mountains,Hills-101444.4ha(39.62%) including valley side slops - Different degraded land forms-19494.68(7.61%)-plains, Hills and mountains

6. continued • Soils- Have strong interrelation with the topography of the area • The soil types identified in the study area are; • Vertisols-occur dominantly in plain lands - Highly productive under proper management -It covers about 149360.65ha (58.33 %) • Regosols- Occur in all land forms of the study area -Shallow in depth -IT covers about 40647.98ha(15.87%) • Leptosols-found on hill and mountain land forms -It covers about 64388.25ha(25.15%) • Cambisols-Occupy a small area, which is 1403.90ha(0.15%) -Particularly found in plateau lands

7. continued • 2.2.2 Climate • Rainfall and temperature are the considered climatic factors • Rainfall of the study area is unimodal • Mean annual rainfall is about 700-1200mm • Rainy months are June, July August and September • Mean annual temperature is about 200-300c • It is favorable for most of the crops growing in low lands

8. continued 2.2.3 present land use and natural vegetation • Present LU is characterized by low input and owned by small holders • It is also characterized by large holders • Agricultural production is mostly based on rainfed agriculture • There are also localized irrigated crops/especially fruits/ • The two major market oriented crops are sesame and cotton • neither fertilizer nor manure is applied to farm fields • natural vegetation cover on farm lands is cleared out mainly by fire burning • structure of the soil is damaged and its fertility is declining • natural forest destruction and fire burning damage are the observed phenomena in the study area

9. continued 2.2.4 Livestock • 59.82% of the study area is used for extensive grazing and browsing • there is a considerable number of livestock which is 23521.44TLU/km2 • the need for draught power and social prestige is the main reasons for having high number of livestock • feed sources are adequate compared to the number of livestock • on the contrary poor management of feed sources resulted in un palatable and deficit of forage in dry seasons

10. continued • 2.2.5 Infrastructure • Some kebeles are connected by poorly maintained dry weather road • The only all weather road is stretched from Azezo to Metema Yohannes • Rural marketes are available within the study area • The price is not as such encouraging in these rural markets • Gondar, which is the potential market which is found at a distance of 185km from Metema • Human health clinics are found in shihedy,Gelego and in some other rural towns

11. continued • A referral hospital is found in shihedy town • Although there are different human diseases, malaria is the most common one • Animal health clinics are very few in number and mainly found in woreda • There are about 8 elementary and 1 high school • There is only one senior high school which is found in shihedy • Some satellite schools are found in some villages • Access to safe drinking water is very limited

12. 3.Objectives of the study • Identifying suitable crops to the area • Identifying land suitable for arable cropping, livestock grazing and forestry • Producing suitability maps for the land use types considered • Forward recommendations based on suitability assessment

13. 4.Methods 4.1 General • The study follows the methodology set out in FAO frame work for LE • The procedures are employed in land resources survey at field level • Informant farmers were participated in identifying present land uses, land use types and agronomic practices • Systematic comparison of LUQ with the properties of land units is fundamental to land evaluation and arrive at land suitability classification • The steps followed in carrying out matching were; • Describe land use types • Determine requirements for each LUTs • Map and describe the land resources base

14. continued 4.2 Land use type selection • Selection of major crops grown and newly introduced crops through discussion • The major crops are largely used as food and export earnings • The newly introduced crops are proved to be highly potential and suitable for the area • While selecting crops the following conditions were considered; • Its importance in the livelihood of the population • Role of newly introduced crops in improving the farming technology or not • Its role in creating marketing opportunity and food security

15. continued 4.3 Land use requirements • Lu requirements of MLU and LUTs consider physical conditions of the study area (land forms, soils ,climate) • MLU are rainfed crop production, forestry and livestock grazing • They are identified and determined based on primary and secondary data 4.4 Land units • Defined in terms of land qualities and land characteristics • It is assumed to be an area with homogeneous characteristics • Physiographic units surveyed and mapped have been used as land units

16. continued 4.5 Matching land use with land • A process of looking in to possible adaptation of LUTs and possible improvements of the existing land qualities • Land use requirements and land characteristics defined • They are competed to see whether the land is suitable for a specific use or not • A suitability rating(s1, s2, s3, s, N) is assigned • The least suitability rating is taken as an overall rating

17. continued 5.Major Land Use types • The determination of MLU is directly related to the physical suitability of the land • The considered MLU are three (Rain fed, Forestry& Livestock grazing) 5.1 Rainfed crop production • Characterized by medium to high capital • Characterized by medium to high labor • Characterized by medium to high non-mechanized • The sizes of the farm field is not that much small • Major traction power are oxen • Better of farmers use tractors for plowing and • Such land users largely focus on market- oriented farming with some food crops for home consumption

18. continued 5.2 Natural vegetation • Formation and distribution of natural vegetation largely influenced by different environmental factors( temp., RF, Land forms and soils) • The major plant species abundantly found are wood land forest, low land bamboo • The Natural forests mostly serve as wild life sanctuary • Natural forests mainly provide fuel and Construction wood • It is also a source of non wood products(incense),but • Incense has reached at critical stages of destruction

19. continued 5.3 Livestock Grazing • One of the major land use types in the study area • It has a significant role in the economy of the rural population • It is the major feeding method • Large parts of the study area are used for extensive grazing /browsing • The feed sources comprise of natural pastures, crop residues and aftermath • The feed resources are mis- utilized(fragile natural resources)

20. 6.Results of Suitability assessment 6.1 General • Areas suitable for twelve LUTs under rainfed agriculture are discussed • Low input level is the one considered for rainfed agriculture • The suitability assessment is carried out for: • Existing LUTs,and • Newly introduced to the area

21. Continued 6.2 Climatic suitability • Parts of the land suitability assessment • It reflects the climate to support plant growth • Temperature and rainfall are the two land qualities considered • The suitability assessment results don’t reflect considerable differences in growing conditions for most of the selected crops • The major climatic limitations are high temperature and excess rainfall • Suitability assessment of climate shows that the area is highly suitable for livestock.

22. Continued 6.3 Soil Suitability • Soil suitability assessment shows that soil parameters are matched with crop requirements • The assessment result shows that 28.15% of the study area is suitable for rainfed crops • Nearly 6.87% of the study area is classified as highly suitable • Nearly 8.53% of the study area is classified as moderately suitable • Almost 12.75% of the study area is classified as marginally suitable • The limiting factors are soil depth, terrain, water logging and drainage problem, of which water logging is the major one.

23. Continued 6.4.1. Rainfed crop production • A land area of 88275.15 ha(34.47%) is highly suitable(S1) • A land area of 23015.10 ha (9.0%) is moderately suitable(S2) • A land area of 51217.34 ha (20.0%) is marginally suitable(S3) • The remaining 93293.19ha (36.53%) is not suitable for crop production 6.4.2. Livestock production • Out of the total study area: • 23428.46ha (9.15%) is highly suitable (S1) • 64315.29ha (25.12%) is moderately suitable (S2) • 83568.01ha (32.64%) is marginally suitable(S3) • The remaining 84233.31ha (32.90%) of the area is unsuitable for livestock grazing

24. continued 6.4. Land suitability assessment • Land suitability is the combination of climatic and soil suitability • It enables to estimate the potential of land for a particular land use type • Suitability classification indicates the major limiting factors on moderately ,marginally and not suitable lands • The remaining 71.85% of the area is un suitable for rainfed crop production • Land suitability maps represent the spatial distributionof the suitability of the land

25. Continued 6.4.3. Natural vegetation cover • 90277.68ha (35.26%) is suitable and, the remaining 165778.63ha (64.74%) is non-suitable for natural vegetation cover 6.5.Crops Selected for the Suitability Assessment • The LUTs considered in the suitability assessment are: • Cereals (sorghum, maize, rice) • Oil crops (sesame, soybean) • Fiber crops (cotton, kenaf) • Horticultural crops (chilli pepper, tomato) • Pulse (cowpea) • Root crops (sweet potato, cassava)

26. Continued • Spatial difference in land suitability is identified in the suitability assessment. • The difference is due to the variations in soil conditions and landforms required by the crops • Differences due to thermal conditions have less influence on the variation of the land suitability.

27. 6.6.Results of crop suitability assessment for rainfed agriculture/MQ/

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30. Continued 6.7 Land suitability for natural Vegetation • Suitability classification is carried out at an order level, i.e., suitable(S) and not suitable(N) • The result will help to optimize forest resources utilization • Tree species considered are belonging to the area/for genetic conservation/ • 90277.68ha(35.29%) suitable and 165778.63ha(64.74%)

31. Continued • 6.8 Land suitability for Livestock grazing • Evaluated in terms of feed sources • Climatic, soil and Physical characteristics are considered • Grazing areas and drinking water are reliable • Agro climatic environment is conductive(particularly for cattle) • 153192.42ha(59.83%) suitable and 102863.89ha(40.17%) not suitable • Land units suitable for rainfed agriculture are also suitable for grazing • Although the area is located in lower” kola” agro-climatic zone “Testesfly” is not identified as a constraint in the area

32. 7.Summary of Recommendations • Total study area covers about 256056ha • It comprises of plains hills and mountain land forms • Located in metema-Quara woredas(North Gondar Adm. Zone) • It is characterized by- Market oriented farming • high livestock population with extensive grazing • It is also a high potential area for agriculture ( crop production )

33. Continued • The main objective of the study is; • Identifying the constraints for development, and • Proposing development options • Suitability assessment shows that the area has a significant natural resources potentials for agricultural production • It is more suitable for livestock production • In most cases the limitations identified are temporary • Thus they can be alleviated by applying improved and appropriate technologies

34. Continued (water logging problem is identified as a major problem on plain lands) • Extending agriculture farming in to ecologically fragile areas will damage non renewable natural resources • Sustainable development should provide a focus on protecting and managing the fragile natural resources • crop production should concentrate on those areas identified as highly and moderately suitable

35. Continued • Concentrating development efforts on highly potential areas for agricultural production would alleviate pressure on ecologically sensitive parts of the the study areas • Raising low input level to intermediate level will result in high level of agricultural production • The community is mainly dependant only on two crops /sesame & cotton/ • This dependency may expose crop production to natural disaster • Adopting and practicing new and suitable crops to the area will prevent crop failure, and may increase crop production

36. Continued • Livestock is the main component of the farming system • The grazing area may produce more dry matter than required • The availability of high forage biomass indicates the potential of the area to feed more livestock population and opportunity to increase its production • Livestock development has to be supported by proper range management and utilization( hay making, rotational grazing) • The other alternative for sustainable livestock development is introducing exotic improved breeds and breeding with the native ones.(will upgrade both quality and productivity) • Parasites and diseases challenging livestock production shall be controlled

37. Continued • And this will reduce the stocking number and thereby livestock pressure on fragile natural resources will be managed (a considerable area is suitable for natural forest development) • The expansion of farming to ecologically sensitive forest areas is a damaging human intervention • Areas covered with incense tree and low land bamboo must be closed from any human interferences • Proper utilization and management of fragile natural resources will ensure sustainable agricultural development • Improving apiculture management and marketing arrangement will alleviate the problem and increase honey and wax production

38. Continued • Progressive destruction of natural vegetation will reduce nectar sources(seriously affect honey and wax production) • Gum and incense are collected from the natural forest • Degradation of natural forest has reduced the production of gum and incense • Low land bamboo is one of the resources threatened by the expansion of rainfed agriculture and fire burning

39. Continued • forest resources development should focus on marginally suitable and not suitable lands for rain fed farming • integrated forest development with crop cultivation allows them to complement each other, and results in ecological stability and sustainability of production • areas not suitable for forest development shall be designed for area closure