Soil erosion which manifests itself in the form of gullies, rills and sheet wash is an
immensely complicated process involving the interaction of many biological, social,
economic, environmental and political factors. It varies in its occurrence both
spatially and temporally. The ultimate result of soil erosion is that it reduces crop
yields and ruins agriculture, though the exact extent of soil erosion and land
degradation is not known.The study was carried out in Masvingo Province, Zaka
District, Ward 5 with 4502 households using the questionnaire survey, interview
and field observations as research methods. The study established that population
pressure ( people and livestock), as evidenced by, cultivation of steep slopes
,stream bank cultivation, deforestation and overstocking are major problems .From
the results, it emerged that people continue to compound the problem by settling
and extending farmlands on steep slopes, stream banks, grazing land and dambos/
veils. Therefore, there is need to educate people on conservation, proper tillage,
proper or correct stocking rates, develop a proper land tenure system and avoiding
land degradation. There are patches of abandoned land on account of failure to
support crops or grazing. This means that there is need for soil conservation
measures to be instituted so as to save the soil from further deterioration. This is
not to say nothing has been done before, rather it is the enormity of the problem
that dictates that form and decisive action needs be taken sooner rather than latter.
Measures which have been implemented are fragmented and seem to have met
with very limited, if at all any, success so there might be need to revisit both the
approach ,methods, techniques and strategies which have been tried hitherto with
a view to blend them with the yet untried and untested methods.