ABSTRACT
Increasing population and the associated growing demand for food and other agricultural commodities have caused an intensification and extensification of the agricultural sector witnessed in the last decade (Lambin and Meyfroidt, 2011; Rudel et al., 2009; Tscharntke et al., 2012). As an agriculture dominated basin in Ethiopia, the Upper Blue Nile seems to be experiencing similar pleasures (Bewket and Sterk, 2002; Gebrehiwot et al., 2014). However, the amount, location and degree of suitability of the basin for agriculture do not seem well studied and/or documented (Yalew et al., 2016c). Haphazard land-use has thus far resulted in continuing deforestation, exhaustion of soil fertility, increased soil erosion and land degradation especially in the basin’s highland catchments (Awulachew et al., 2010; Bewket, 2002; Zeleke and Hurni, 2001). Land suitability analysis can help establish strategies to increase agricultural productivity (Pramanik, 2016) by identifying inherent and potential capabilities of land for intended objectives (Bandyopadhyay et al., 2009). It can also help identify priority areas for potential management and/or policy interventions through land and/or soil restoration programs, for instance.
