Environmental Impact Assessment of Diversification of Horticultural Crops: A Case Study of Ethiopia

Recently adopted horticultural crops under the policy of diversification of agriculture in Ethiopia will possibly have an impact on bio-physical, social-economic environment. This study was conducted to assess the potential impact of under construction horticultural project, for different crops of horticulture. Impacts were computed on soil and water resources, air quality, flora and fauna, local socio-economic aspects and human health in the peripheries of the Tana Lake, Ethiopia. Environmental quality index and range methods were used for impact assessment. The analysis shows that high level impact may be on soil and water resources, medium level impact on ecosystem and human health and low level of impact on the air quality and socio-economic conditions of surrounding population