Land use planning on MQ Study area

Land use planning on MQ Study area Frame work of the study document Introduction planning objectives description of the study area development objectives, potential and problem Indicative land use plan scope of the plan and Recommended planning zones

1.INTRODUCTION • The study area covers the low land parts of Metema-Quara woreda ,North Gonder Adm. Zone • The area is identified as a high agricultural potential area • The planning area has a total area of 256056ha • Its total population is about 18710 • The population density is about 7.31 person per km2 • The population growth is about 2.23 % per annum • As a result average arable area per family has been continuously reduced and pushed to fragile forest areas • The livestock population (37694 in number)does not exceed over the carrying capacity of feed resources of the area

2.Planning objectives • Describing the extent and distribution of natural resources of the planning area • Describing the current land use system and identifying their constraints/problems • Evaluating development potential and develop alternative strategies to conserve and exploit rationally the natural resources • Expanding the production of exportable agricultural products

3.description of the project area 3.1.Geographical location The study areas -part of Metema and Quara woredas of North Gondar Adm. zone • -lies between 12015’ and 12o 45’N and 35030’ and 36015 E • It covers an area of 25605ha • 52.3% of the study area is plain land and undulating plain • 47.7 % of the study area is hills and mountains

3.2 Natural resources 3.2.1 physiography, geology and soils • It is characterized by plains, hills and mountains • Hills and mountains are found scattered in the study area • Plain lands cover most part of the area • Geological conditions of the area has a contribution for the present land form • Land forms governed drainage patterns and flow directions • Dominant soil types are vertisols, leptosols, regosols • Vertisols occur dominantly on plain lands

Continued 3.2.2 Climate • The study area falls in wet kola zone (rainfall and altitude) • Its temperature range is 200C and 300 C mean min, and mean max respectively • The area is characterized by summer rain with annual rainfall of about 700--1200mm • The rainfall pattern is unimodal (occurs from June- September)

Continued 3.2.3 Hydrology • The western highlands act as recharging zones • The eastern lowlands receive the rain water through natural courses of action • The means of exploring ground water practiced in the area are • Shallow hand dug wells • Developed springs • Drilled shallows and deep wells

Conutiued 3.2.4. Natural Forest • Natural forests are habitats for wild animals • The total area covered is about 90277.68ha (35.26%) • Natural forests are cleared out continuously, as a result forest areas are changed to farm lands. 3.3.. Human Resources • 3.3.1.Population size and density • The total population is about 18710 • The average population density is 7.31 persons/km2 • Family size is 3.33/ household

Continued 3.3.2. Labour supply • age groups below 15 and above 60 are excluded for estimating labour availability • age groups between 15 and 60 are considered as the most active ones • female labour mainly involve in food processing and child care • male labour participates only in agricultural activities

Continued 3.4. Agricultural production 3.4.1. Crops and crop production • sesame and cotton are the major and important cash crops • other important crops are sorghum and maize • sweet potato and tomato are locally grown in the area • teff , chickpea and sweet potato are introduced by settlers • papaya, rice, soyabean, sweet potato and tomato are newly introduced crops and have good performance

Continued 3.4.1.1 crop husbandry practices • clearing and tillage operation are included as part of land preparation • forest trees are cut and burnt(keep wild life away) • trees are not integrated in the cropping system • land is usually cleared between February and march • tillage follows immediately after clearing • weeding and sesame harvesting are the most labour intensive activities(‘debo’, hired labour)

Continued 3.4.2 livestock production 3.4.2.1Total number and types • total livestock population –37694(23521.44TLU) • 87.33% is cattle population followed by sheep and goat • cattle are the most important livestock type 3.4.2.2 Feed source and management • the major feeding method is free grazing • natural pastures, Crop residues and aftermath are feed resources • natural feed sources are poorly managed (create shortage) • but the area has considerable potential for livestock production

Continued 3.5. Rural Infrastructure 3.5.1 Rural road • most parts of the area are not accessible • All weather roads from Azezo to metema yohans has economic importance (produces and goods) • There other dry weather roads are also important for transporting farm producec (from production sits and villages) 3.5.2. Rural water supply • Water supply is poorly developed ( there is no access to clean water)

Continued 3.5.3 Market facility • Local and woreda market facilities are available • The community sells and buys farm produces and goods • Surplus products and live animals are brought to markets • Price fluctuation occurs between post and pre- harvest months • 3.5.4 Health and education facilities • The most common human diseases is malaria • It occurs in all parts of the study areas • Causes considerable loss of production • The available health facilities are hardly accessible • Schools are in adequate in distribution

4.1. Development objectives, potentials, problems 4.1.Development objectives Intensify and expand agricultural production • Secure and intensify livestock production • Protect environmentally sensitive areas • Provide possible recommendations to specific local conditions

Continued 4.2. Development potentials Aim of agricultural production is to increase production and bring food security • As compared to the other parts, the area has potential for agricultural production • It has a good potential for increasing livestock feed resources • But need improved feed resources management • Roads and markets are important to increase income from animals • The natural forest is under pressure • It needs conservation and management (serve as a green belt to protect intensification of Sahara desert) • latish is parts of potential area- located in the study area

Continued 4.3.Development constraints 4.3.1 Low crop productivity 1.Poor soil drainage (Water holding characteristics of vertisol) • Plain land have vertisols 2.Pests and disease -Pests and disease of crops • weed infestation • wild animals 3.Labour shortages - in the time of weeding and harvesting periods 4.Draught oxen shortages – A critical pre condition for crop production • Very significant at the time of sowing • robbing is one of the major causes

Continued 5. Improved Inputs - fertilizers are required • improved seeds withstanding water logging • Inavailability of farm tools such as (broad bed and furrows-maker ) 6.Irrigation technology- traditional irrigation along perennial rivers • lack of improved technologies, seeds, and extension services - limited irrigation development • Bad lands -severely degraded areas • miss utilization of natural resources/causes/

Continued 4.3.2. Low livestock productivity 1.Disease and parasites –Health service centers are few -They are found scattered -Endemic and debilitating disease -Tick- born and internal parasite - May result low calving, poor skin quality and low draught power 2. Feed sources – Poorly managed and free grazing - Supply and palatability of feeds decreases as dry seasons progress - Results in short milking period 3. Robbing of animals (robbing is a very serious problem)

Continued 4. Poor access to marketing • no good marketing access for selling products prices are dis- incentive to farmers 4.3.3.Low forest productivity • Deforestation - The natural forest is fragile • Forests are destructed progressively • Fire burning, mis -utilization, expansion of farming, free grazing are the causes • Park potential area(Alatish) is not protected • Incense forest – significant area is covered with incense forest

Continued • It is poorly managed • Methods of production is distructive • Inaccessibility also hampers the use and management of incense forests 4.3.4. Water supply - inaccessibility to pure water (most parts) • The communities are exposed to water- born diseases • women travel long distances for fetching of water 4.3.5. Accessibility – Most partsare inaccessible with motor-driven vehicles (The poor road net work has a negative impact on marketing agricultural products)

5.Indicative Land use plan 5.1.Land use development strategies 1. High input rainfed crop production • Increasing crop production through increased use of inputs/ seeds, fertilizers and chemicals/ • Investments for land improvements /e.g,improving drainage/ • Focusing on commercial crops/sesame, cotton/ ( has suitable physical environment to meet requirement) • Access to markets/to obtain inputs and produces/ • Extension services/technical assistances/ • Credit facilities/ inputs required/

Continued 2.Livestock feed production • Livestock is an essential part for crop production (but feed sources are poorly managed and results in feed shortages in dry seasons) • This strategy should focus on improving feed production and management Focus : Forage biomass has to be properly managed and harvested at palatable stage • Controlled grazing on pasture lands shall be practiced • Improved feed production on un cultivated lands/ improved technologies for collecting& preparing forages/

Continued 3.Improved livestock production • The area has a high potential for livestock production • The potential has to be managed and improved by strategies • The strategy should focus in improving and commercialization of livestock Requirements:- Improve management of the feed resources • create access to markets • improve feeding systems • provide access to credit • create access to veterinary services

Continued 4.Intensive Livestock production • The study area has a high livestock potential • It has to be managed properly/to gain maximum profit/ Requirements:- commercialization of the livestock sector/through dairy and fattening/ • Create access to market and credit services • Develop cooperatives/gain support for high costs/ 5.Development of Agriculture • Vegetation cover of the area is reliable potential for apiculture development • Implement bee keeping/to improve cash income/ • As a result the livelihood of the community will be improved

Continued 6.Protection of ecologically sensitive areas • Natural forest of the area is the major parts of the green belt • It contributes for protecting the expansion of the Sahara desert • Conserving forest resources is protecting ecologically fragile areas • But expansion of farm land creates pressure on it Possible opportunities • -Develop community -based eco-tourism/such as Alatish/ • -Community- based protection of natural forests/wild fire/ • provide training to potential users

Continued 7.Rural road network • Main and feeder rural roads are important components of road netwok • Accessibility of remote areas is governed by a route system • So, development of roads should aim at improving accessibility of the area-would improve marketing opportunities, exposure to technologies, access to off-farm labour and education • Will help to develop potential area/dibaba, afar, mehdid, Nefasgebeya,serferedi/

Continued 8.Agricultural extension services • extension services are means to transfer information and improved technologies • Create close contact of services giving staffs with the users • Inaccessibility and lack of transporting mechanisms are obstacles to obtain services

6. Scope of the plan and Recommended planning Zones 6.1.Scope of the plan The land use plan comprises of activities for sustaining and expanding agricultural production • Thereby increases income of the population • The plan provides framework for sustainable development& recommendations • Recommendations focus on land units having similar constraints and potentials for agricultural production • It shows the kind of land use management and utilization options • Potential users of the plan are the community, government, NGO, & agricultural investors

continued 6.2.Recommended planning zones Identified planning zones are three • Planning zones are classified based on land forms, constraints and potentials • As a general truth, planning zones are areas with homogeneous resources types • Recommendations are grouped according to the planning zones • Boundary of planning zones are determined based on land forms

Continued Planning zone 1:Plain lands • Shares the largest area coverage/133928.87ha(52.3%)/ • The planning zone comprises of plains, undulating& rolling plains • The proportion of arable land is very significant as compared with other land uses • Accessibility is poor/but some dry weather road/ Potential • Large area is moderately suitable for crop production • Most part of the planning zone is highly suitable for rice • Major sources for animal feeds and grazing areas • Accessible with dry weather road/to transport agriculture produces/ • Has deep to very deep soil

Continued Constraints • almost all of the planning zones are covered with vertisols • a high risk of water-logging problem/reduce production/ • water logging restricts livestock movements • natural forests are destructed/farm expansion/ • fire burning destroys forests • inaccessible with all weather road • some farm lands are far from settlement areas

Continued Development strategies • In order to alleviate the identified constraints and problems in the planning zone, the following strategies are proposed; • constructing broad beds and furrows/water logging-vertisols/ • improve livestock feeding/controlled grazing/ • road networks should be improved and constructed • access to improved and appropriate technologies • control pests and diseases

Continued Expected impacts • drainage problem/water logging will be improved/ • animal feed resources will managed, improved and properly used • all weather roads will create conducive conditions for transportation • create access to health centers

Continued Planning zone 2: Hills and mountains • Involves hills and mountain land forms • Covers an area of 102632.76ha /40.08%/ • Has limited proportion of arable land • Rather has a potential for forest development Potentials • Most parts have incense forest and low land bamboo • A good potential for apiculture development • Habitat areas for wild life • Part of the green belt/protect expansion of Sahara desert/ • Ecologically valuable area

Continued Constraints • Shallow to very shallow soil depth • Covered by stones and rock out crops/restrict root penetration/ • Topography limits expansion of cultivation • Hardly accessible to perform development activities • Incense is produced improperly • Natural forest is not protected • Deforestation or land degradation • Over utilization of steep slope lands • Natural forests are mis utilized and poorly managed • Extensive/free grazing(destroys forests/

Continued Development strategies • Protect ecologically sensitive areas/encroaching agriculture/ • Area closure of the degraded areas from any contacts • Apply rules and regulations to avoid fire hazard/fire breaks/ • Improve the method of production to increase productivity of incense /provide training, organize farmers/ • Construct road networks • Promote apiculture and stimulate goat production • Apply controlled grazing

Continued • Expected impacts • Strategies will improve the productivity of the planning zone • Protection of ecologically sensitive areas will result in co-existence/between nature and users/ • Un productive lands would be brought back to productive uses • As roads constructed, the area will be accessible • Apiculture will reduce livestock pressure on forest areas/by increasing income/

Continued Planning Zone 3: Degraded/ plains, Hills and Mountains/ • It covers degraded plains, hills and mountains • Its total area is about 19494.68ha/7.62%/ Potentials • Eco-tourism development/dominantly/ Constraints • the problems are critical • the planning components are not suitable for agriculture • over-utilization of the resources • high risk of erosion/natural vegetations removed/ • not easily accessible • incense forests are mis-used and not protected • no opportunities for livestock grazing

Continued • Development strategies • severely degraded areas shall be protected from any contact • apply biological conservation measures/to protect erosion risk/ • incense forests must be protected and properly managed • ruminant vegetation cover shall be conserved and managed

Continued • Expected impacts • severely degraded areas will be rehabilitated/conserve rain water, protect erosion damages/ • vegetation will regenerate/serve as sources of feed/ • incense forests will be protected/increase production/ • roads will make the area accessible

Land use planning on MQ Study area