Abstract
Irrigated agriculture, particularly small-scale irrigation (SSI), is a mainstay for sustainable livelihoods in the developing world. In Ethiopia, SSI sustainability is threatened mainly due to excessive sedimentation. Stakeholders’ perceptions of the causes of sedimentation and how they sustain SSI under excessive sedimentation conditions were investigated in two SSI schemes in Ethiopia. A participatory rapid diagnosis and action planning was implemented, consisting of a literature review, participatory rural appraisal, and semi-structured interviews. Results show that farmers slightly differed in perception of excessive sedimentation drivers. Farmers reported design problems as the main cause of excessive sedimentation (64%), followed by poor operation and maintenance (O and M) practices (21%) and external factors (15%). In contrast, 62% of the interviewed engineers indicated erosion and irrigation technologies as the main causes of excessive sedimentation, while few reported poor design (13%). In addition to an intensive desilting campaign, farmers delayed the start of the irrigation season to avoid the intake of highly sedimented water. Local social capital and knowledge appeared to be more important than formal knowledge and blue-print institutions for dealing with sedimentation problems. Well-organized structure and extra time devoted by famers were vital for SSI sustainability. Integration of the farmers’ knowledge with that of the engineers could yield more effective ways to deal with sedimentation problems.
Highlights
Irrigated agriculture is a prime sector to ensure food security, alleviate poverty, and promote economic development in the developing world [1]
The following criteria were applied in selecting the case study sites: (i) the scheme should be a gravity/diversion type, making use of river runoff; (ii) the scheme of interest should utilize a river as its water source; (iii) the scheme should be managed exclusively by farmers or an irrigation community; (iv) the users should have a relatively long period of experience in water and Sustainabsielidtyim20e1n9t, 1m1,a6n1a2g1ement; (iv) the scheme should be functional for a relatively long period; (vi) 4 of 18 management of the scheme should face relatively severe sedimentation problems; and (vii) a water user association (WUA) should be active in scheme operation and management
The following criteria were applied in selecting the case study sites: (i) the scheme should be a gravity/diversion type, making use of river runoff; (ii) the scheme of interest should utilize a river as its water source; (iii) the scheme should be managed exclusively by farmers or an irrigation community; (iv) the users should have a relatively long period of experience in water and sediment management; (iv) the scheme should be functional for a relatively long period; (vi) management of the scheme should face relatively severe sedimentation problems; and (vii) a water user association (WUA) should be active in scheme operation and management
Summary
Irrigated agriculture is a prime sector to ensure food security, alleviate poverty, and promote economic development in the developing world [1]. Small-scale irrigation (SSI) schemes in particular make a massive contribution to national economies in many developing countries, while serving as an incubator for collective action [2]. “traditional” SSI schemes are largely overlooked by states [3]. Governments prefer the development of more “modern” irrigation schemes, considering “farmer-led” irrigation schemes “inefficient”, “unproductive” and “traditional” [4,5,6]. To date in Africa, the total area under SSI schemes is much larger than that under medium- and large-scale irrigation [3,7]. Sustainability 2019, 11, x FOR PEER REVIEW
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