Indigenous knowledge assessment on irrigation water management practices at Western Showa Zone, Ethiopia

Abstract

Farmers practices in irrigation water management mostly from indigenous knowledge but the potential of such knowledge is not much understood in terms of irrigation water management in West Showa. Therefore, this study was carried out based on the objective to identify the indigenous knowledge on irrigation water management of the West Showa. The survey was conducted at West Shoa Zone, Dandi, Ambo, Toke Kutaye, Liban Jawi, Ilu Galan and Bako Wored. The survey was made on 117HHs. The collected qualitative and quantitative data both from primary and secondary sources was analyzed using appropriated statistical methods SPSS. The survey result showed that farmers have developed several indigenous in knowledge of irrigation water management practices. Among these knowledge, frequent  maintenance of river side diversion weir, main line, sub main and in field furrow to avoid flow obstruction, cutting back water flow in the furrow when water reached at furrow end to decide amounts of irrigation water to be applied, giving priority for drought sensitive crop type and crop growth stage that cause significant yield when there is shortage of water, irrigate their crops after 5:00 pm to reduce evaporation water loss during irrigation, applying the next irrigation when the soil is dry (soil crack) and/or crop start wiling, application of farm yard manure and frequent weeding to increase soil water holding capacity and to avoid soil moisture competition among the crop and weed are the best one. Key words: Farmers practices, irrigation water management, small scale irrigation.