Characterization and Redesigning of Mada Batu Small Scale Irrigation Scheme, West Arsi Zone of Oromia Region

Bayan Ahmed

doi:10.7176/cer/13-3-01

Abstract

Irrigation enhances agricultural production, improves the food supply and income of rural population in Ethiopia. From this important viewpoint irrigation projects were widely studied, planned and implemented throughout the country. However, little or no attention was given to the monitoring and evaluation of the performance of already established schemes. The aim of this study was to characterize and redesign of Mada-Batu small scale irrigation scheme in order to improve the performance of the irrigation system. Firstly, scheme was characterized in terms of capacity, dimensions and functionality of reservoir, main and secondary canal and then redesign of the scheme was done depending on the current command area of the scheme. The scheme has trapezoidal shape of reservoir with a capacity of 2604 m 3 live storage along with trapezoidal shape of main canal with average size of 161, 59, 38.2 cm at the top, bottom and depth respectively and maximum discharge capacity when gate was fully opened at off take was 70 l/sec. The overall efficiency of the scheme is rated at reasonable category. The current redesigned capacity of main canal was 524 l/s and dimensions of 253.9, 74 and 60 cm at the top, bottom and depth respectively. Keywords: Mada-Batu, small scale irrigation scheme, characterization, command area, redesigning DOI: 10.7176/CER/13-3-01 Publication date: May 31 st 2021

Highlights

Ethiopia has total area coverage of 1.13 million km2, of which 99.3 percent is a land area and the remaining 0.7 percent is covered with water bodies of lakes (MoWR, 2002)
Characterization of the Irrigation Scheme Mada Batu irrigation scheme was established by Ethio-Korean government at the end of 1977 E.C
Irrigation is highly expected to play a major role in the realization of Ethiopian food security and poverty alleviation strategy

Summary

Introduction

Ethiopia has total area coverage of 1.13 million km, of which 99.3 percent is a land area and the remaining 0.7 percent is covered with water bodies of lakes (MoWR, 2002). Due to lack of water storage and large spatial and temporal variations in rainfall, there is no enough water for most farmers to produce more than one crop per year and there are frequent crop failures due to dry spells and droughts which have resulted in a chronic food shortage currently facing the country (Seleshi et al, 2007). Irrigation is one means by which agricultural production can be increased to meet the growing demands in Ethiopia (Seleshi et al, 2005). The development of irrigation and agricultural water management holds significant potential to improve productivity and reduce vulnerability to climactic volatility in any country (IWMI, 2010)

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