Determinants of adoption of small-scale irrigation practices as adaptation strategies to climate change stresses in Kersa District, Eastern Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to assess the factors influencing farmers’ decisions to adopt small-scale irrigation practices as an adaptation strategy to climate change in Kersa district, East Hararghe Zone, Oromia. The data were collected from a sample of 288 farm households (130 adopter and 158 non-adopters). Both qualitative and quantitative data were obtained from primary and secondary sources. A binary logistics regression model was used to identify the determinants of irrigation scheme adoption. The results indicate that the adoption of small-scale irrigation scheme was influenced by the age of the household head, dependency ratio, distance from water source, household size, frequency of extension contact, access to credit, livestock holding, off/nonfarm activities, membership in an agricultural cooperative, access to climate information, and perception of climate change, which had significant positive effects. Small-scale irrigation practices are a practical solution to lessen the effects of climate change stresses. Therefore, to improve rural farm productivity and lessen the effects of climate change stresses, the agricultural and natural resources office should focus scientific attention on the key factors that influence the adoption of small-scale irrigation.