Small-scale Irrigation Utilization by Farmers in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

The small-scale Irrigation Scheme is vital in assisting Ethiopia's sustainable agriculture development. Therefore, more small-scale irrigation schemes were developed in the country, including the Ella Small scale Irrigation Scheme, considering that irrigation is the apparent response to low agricultural productivity. This research aims to assess the current Irrigation scheme status of the farming households and investigate the factors affecting the farming households in utilizing the scheme. The selected sample size consists of both Irrigators and Non-irrigators farming households, including males and females. For the comparison, to identify the gender role and distribution of the resources equally at the Kebele level. The sample size was 100 household heads through a random sampling technique based on probability proportional to size. The researcher determined the sample size because of its representativeness at 10% of the total population. The data were both quantitative and qualitative. The quantitative data were collected by using a semi-structured interview schedule. In contrast, the qualitative data were collected using a checklist through Focus Group Discussion and Personal interviews with Key Informants. The PA was selected purposively by considering a small-scale irrigation scheme, relative accessibility, and a study area. The researcher knew well since it was one of the project areas for the researcher to work on. The secondary data was collected from different published and unpublished research works done by other researchers on similar or related topics and from stakeholders who directly or indirectly work on developing small-scale irrigation schemes and different records of the Government offices. Having collected data, it was analyzed in three statistical ways of data analysis; these were: Descriptive statistics such as mean, standard deviation, frequency and percentage. In addition, inferential statistics were employed to measure the degree of significant association of independent (explanatory) variables with the dependent variable. Finally, the econometric model employed was the Binary Logit model to examine the utilization of Small-scale Irrigation by farming households and factors that affect households not effectively utilising the irrigation scheme under the study. The Binary Logit model results indicate the educational level of HHs, family size, landholding, livestock holding, frequency of extension contact, access to input supply, occupation of HHs and conflict over irrigation water utilization. Based on the above research findings that the following recommendations were suggested strengthening practical adult education, efficient utilization of labour of active family members, cultivation of high-value crops and vegetables that produces and harvests within a short duration, keeping their livestock from diseases and planting grasses for their forage along with the irrigated plot of the farm, frequent monitoring and evaluation of DAs at least twice a week, providing agricultural input at right cropping time, establishing agro-industries, strengthening Water Users Association and Conflict Resolution Committees.