Ciibsaa: Maccaa Oromo Indigenous Soil Fertilizing Mechanism in East Wallagga Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

This research was conducted in three districts from East Wallaggaa Zone of Ethiopia. The purpose of the study was to explore ciibsaa Indigenous soil fertilizing mechanisms practices for fertilizing farmland and garden. The objective of this research was to explore the contributions of Oromo indigenous knowledge in soil fertility management. To achieve this goal, we employed different data collection methods. In primary data collection, both individual and group interviews were meticulously used. Key informants were selected purposively and the selected people were extensively interviewed. We made in-depth interviews with elders, farmers, community leaders and knowledgeable persons. Focus group discussions were held, observations were made and informal discussions were employed to get relevant data on this topic. The findings revealed that the Oromo people has indigenous knowledge of soil fertilizing mechanism and the ways they used to classify soil and how the land becomes fertile after ciibsaa indigenous treatment. Nowadays, this indigenous soil fertility management is declining because of various factors. Those factors are population growth, decreasing number of livestock and adaptation of chemical fertilizer.