Year-end Sale % OFF 
Abstract
Being the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, agricultural practice has been traditionally dominated for centuries by small-scale farmers. Even though small-scale irrigation is practiced in the study area, its impact on household income is not analyzed systematically for further policy action. This study was conducted to evaluate the impact of participation in small-scale irrigation on household income in Abay Chomen district. In this study, two-stage sampling technique was used to select 167 target respondents. The primary data were collected using an interview schedule and conducting of focus group discussions and key informant interview. Various documents, such as published journals, policy documents, were reviewed to collect secondary data. Propensity score matching method of impact evaluation has been employed. The Propensity Score Matching model result revealed that participation in small-scale irrigation had a significant effect on household income. Since participation in small-scale irrigation have significant effect in improving household income, the government, especially Irrigation Development Office of the district should attempt to hamper factors that hinder participation in small-scale irrigation and enhance factors that initiate participation to improve participation in small-scale irrigation and hence household income in the study area. Key words: Household income, participation, propensity score matching, small-scale irrigation
Highlights
In spite of agriculture status as the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, agricultural practice has been traditionally dominated for centuries by small-scale farmers and its performance has long been adversely affected by shortage of rain and water that left many to sustain their lives on famine relief support (Abebe et al, 2011)
The impact evaluation in this particular case of study was conducted by the use of propensity score matching (PSM) method of impact evaluation mainly because of the absence of baseline data
Propensity score matching (PSM) consists of four phases: estimating the probability of participation, that is, the propensity score, for each unit in the sample; selecting a matching algorithm that is used to match beneficiaries with nonbeneficiaries in order to construct a comparison group; checking for balance in the characteristics of the treatment and comparison groups; along with estimating the program effect and interpreting the results (Stuart, 2010)
Summary
In spite of agriculture status as the backbone of the Ethiopian economy, agricultural practice has been traditionally dominated for centuries by small-scale farmers and its performance has long been adversely affected by shortage of rain and water that left many to sustain their lives on famine relief support (Abebe et al, 2011). A rapid increase in the area covered by irrigation, especially small-scale water use, provides farmers with opportunities to raise output on a sustainable basis and contribute to the reliability of food supplies (FAO, 2012). This indicates that there should be new means of production through irrigation water application by smallholder farmers rather than strongly relying on rain-fed agriculture. Increasing the opportunity and reducing the hindrance to irrigation participation needs to be made because irrigation is one means by which agricultural production can be increased to meet the growing food demands in Ethiopia, since agriculture still plays a critical role in the economy
Sign-in/Register to view highlights & summary Talk to us
Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have
Schedule a callDisclaimer: All third-party content on this website/platform is and will remain the property of their respective owners and is provided on "as is" basis without any warranties, express or implied. Use of third-party content does not indicate any affiliation, sponsorship with or endorsement by them. Any references to third-party content is to identify the corresponding services and shall be considered fair use under The CopyrightLaw.
