Abstract:
Situated in the Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples’ Regional State, Kafa- Sheka
Zone is famous for its natural resources, in which semi-domesticated coffee, honey and spices
naturally abound. The zone is equally reputed for being the cradle land of arabica coffee. The
recent past has witnessed a tremendous increase in population, which is largely attributed to
the influx of settlers. These settlers, among others introduced cereal-based farming practises
that have exerted immense pressure on the natural resource base.
Using the Agricultural Research for Development procedure, this study seeks to examine the
causes of rapid deforestation in the zone; identify the farming systems and; analyse the
constraints and opportunities for sustainable natural resource management in these systems.
The study proposes research and development options aimed at mitigating the identified
constraints and highlights areas of collaboration among the various stakeholders.
Accordingly, based on scale of deforestation, three zones were identified, from which four
farming systems were delineated. Based on size of arable land, ownership of oxen and access
to forestland, eleven farm types were outlined, three in the cereal zone and four in each of the
other two (forest-coffee and transition) zones. The study identified no distinct relationship
between ethnic group and farming practises. It revealed a subsistence based, rainfed farming
system, with a rather low level of crop-livestock integration, a trend that is likely to persist in
the future. Threats to the natural resource base take the form of expansion of farmland at the
expense of forests, poor agronomic practises, and increased demand for fuelwood and timber
for domestic use. Collaboration among stakeholders, conducive policy framework (land,
investment, and wildlife), diversification in the farm level enterprises and institutional support
(extension services, credit, & rural infrastructure) are suggested areas that offer scope for
improvement.
The study concludes by proposing nine research and development options, two of which have
been generated into research proposals for further elaboration and implementation by the
stakeholders.
