Indigenous and Modern Farmland Management Practices and their Implications on Sustainable Farmland Productivities in Dabat Woreda, North Gondar, Ethiopia

Farmland is quite unique and highly specialized resource. The best farmland is crucial for healthy environment and gainful construction which requires better and successful management practices. This research was aimed to assess the impacts of indigenous and modern farmland management practice to agricultural productivity. The data generated from primary and secondary sources through questionnaires, key informant interview, observation and formal and informal discussions were analyzed and interpreted qualitatively and quantitatively. Simple statistical descriptions like Percentage, tables paired sample T-test and coefficient of correlation was employed with the aid of Statistical Packages for Social Sciences (SPSS) to analyze the quantitative data obtained from questionnaires. It was found that although different introduced farmland management methods are put in practice in Dabat was, traditional management practices take the dominant share with respect to their intensive implementation, and some of environmentally adapted and less costly indigenous management methods have not gotten attention. If they are properly managed, organic fertilizers help to maintain long run soil fertility with less cost on farmlands and the surrounding environment, but require long processes. Age, sex, number of labor forces, number of livestock, number of farm plots, and contact with DAs are the main socio-economic and demographic factor that has relationship with farmland management practices. The farmers recommended that the local government should provide the introduced farmland management like chemical fertilizer.