Socio-Economic factors influencing participation by farm households in soil erosion management in Chepareria Ward, West Pokot County, Kenya

Abstract

Soil is a vital resource for survival for many rural populations. However, soil erosion negates the ecosystem function, productivity, livelihoods and national economy. To enable sustainable functioning of the ecosystem, it necessitates a need for proper management. There is a need for understanding socio-economic dynamics in soil erosion management. Therefore, this study sought to test the hypothesis that socio-economic factors significantly influence the participation of farm households in management of soil erosion in Chepareria Ward, West Pokot County. The study was anchored within the Diffusion of Innovation and Social-ecological System theory which supports social and economic capital assessments underlying individual decision in con serration plans to attain sustainable co system services. A household survey was undertaken and a total of 100 households were sampled. Data was analyzed in descriptive and binary logit regression model using the SPSS software. The results obtained indicate that age, education level of the respondent, cost of technology and land acreage were the possible predictor factors that showed significant influence at p<0.05 level of significance, hence supports the hypothesis tested. The study findings and recommend at ions will immensely help the land use planners and policy makers to encourage community participationandexecutesitesustainablemanagementpracticestoimprove ecosystem functioning at national and local environment thus improving participation of rural community as the primary stakeholder and achievement of sustainable development on natural resource management.