DIRE DAWA UNIVERSITY

SCHOOL OF BUSINESS AND ECONOMICS

DEPARTMENT OF ECONOMICS

SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION PARTICIPATION OF

ETHIOPIAN FARMERS (IN CASE OF DUGDA WOREDA

BY: NUGISIE SIDA

A SENIOR ESSAY SUBMITTED FOR PARTIAL

FULFILLMENT OF THE REQUIRMENT FOR A BACHELOR
DEGREE OF ART IN ECONOMICS

ADVISOR: G/KRISTOS. G (MSC)

DIRE DAWA, ETHIOPIA

CHAPTER ONE

1. INTRODUCTION
1.1 Background of the study
In small scale irrigation schemes around the worlds, including the developing countries
farmers have over time evolved complex systems for allocating land and irrigation water.
These systems are based up on indigenous principles of natural resources use, and are put
in to practice through coherent sets of operational rules, such principles and rules are also
related to a series of land and water rights recognized by the community and exercised by
the beneficiaries of the rogation schemes.

Arrangements for land and water allocation are after particularly complex in situation
where these production factory are scarce. Under these circumstances, farmers are acutely
interested in any prospective change either in water and land availability or in the
principles and practices for allocating these resources. Infringement up on existing land and
water rights becomes a controversial matter, and often results in political and legal moves
to defend these rights and even in violent physical remedies.

Agriculture is the backbone of Ethiopia economy and it engages the majority of population.
It provides both food and raw material to the rest of the economy. Agriculture employees
about 80% labor force in Ethiopia. The Ethiopia agriculture sector for about 50% of GDP
and about 90% of the countries foreign exchange earnings. It is also the supplier of food
staff to consumers and about 70% of raw material to agro industries (MOFED, 2002,
Ayele. K, 2006).

Irrigation is practiced in Ethiopia since ancient times producing subsistence food crops.
However, modern irrigation system was started in 1960’s with the objectives of producing
industrial crops in Awash valley. Private concessionaires who operated forms for growing
commercial crops such as cotton, sugar cane, and horticultural crops started the first formal
irrigation schemes in the later 1950s, in the upper and lower Awash valley.

The main purpose of irrigation development in the 1960s was to provide industrial crops to
the growing agro – industrials in the country. The agro – industries where established by
foreign investors and had the objective of increasing export earnings. During the 1960s,
irrigation was seen as part of the modernization of the country’s agricultural economy. In
small scale irrigation is defined as continuous and reliable water requirement by small scale
holder farmers practice small scale irrigation activities on their own land with out high cost.
Small scale irrigation is the policy priority in Ethiopia for rural poverty alleviation and
growth (MOFED, 2006).

Although irrigation was started earlier in Dugela district, it started to expand in 1990s by
other private investors who comes from other places rather than who born in the district.

The district was popularized by to tomato and onion production, which is familiar with
climate condition of the district.

Even though, irrigation practice was started and influenced by the other private investors,
known a day some of small holder farmers within the district started to engaged in the
activity.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Ethiopia also covers 12 rivers basins with an annual run off volume of 22 billion m 3 of
water with an estimated 2.6 billion m3 of ground water potential. This amounts to about
1743m3 of water per person per year, a relatively large volume, but due to economic water
scarcity which is described through lack of water storage capacity and large spatial and
temporal variations in rain fall, there is not enough water for most farmers to produce more
than one crop per year with frequent crop failures due to dry spells and drought. Moreover,
there is significant erosion reduction the productivity of farm land.

Irrigation is one of important practice under agriculture. The use of irrigation increases, the
volume of output and reduce food insecurity to some extent. Although Ethiopia has a great
opportunity for irrigation due to high availability of human and water resource, it is not
well known by using irrigation practice rather than depending on rain fall. The same is true
for Dugda district. The major problems to increase small scale irrigation participation in the
district are lack of knowledge and awareness about small scale irrigation importance by
small farmers, this leads to expectation of these house holds on rain water by which they
produce only one time a year. The other problem are financial problems, fluctuation, of
market price on products and in equality of income distribution among farmers.
Irrigation contribution to live hood improvement through increased income, food security,
employment and poverty reduction. Irrigation enables small holders to adopts more
diversified cropping patterns and to switch from low value staple production to high value
market oriented production.

The development of small scale irrigation is one of major intervention area, to boost
agricultural production in the rural parts of the country. This helps poor farmers to over
come rain fall and water constraint by providing a sustainable supply of water for
cultivation and livestock, strength the base for sustainable agriculture, provide increased
food security to poor communities and contribute to the improvement of human nutrition.

Many research failed to address the problem that affect the small scale irrigation, especially
some people who have a capital, but they have lack of awareness how they can done the
small scale irrigation and about 40% of population engaged on this small scale irrigation is
come from other place and who live their.

Therefore, this study will aim to view participation of small scale irrigation practice in
Dugda district and analysis determinants that affected participation.

1.3 Research Question

 What is the level of people’s participation on small scale irrigation practice?
 What are the constraints that affect people’s participation in small scale
irrigation?
 What is the rule of government to improve small rural households
participation?

1.4 Objective of the study

1.4.1 General objective
This paper tries to deal with in major determinants of small scale irrigation in Dugda
district.

1.4.2 Specific objectives

Specifically the study is attempt

 Examine the level /performance of small holder farmers in the sectors.

 Discuss the constraints of small scale irrigation participation.
 Example the government contribution to the sector.
 To examine the contribution of small scale irrigation to the livelihood of
the community.

1.5 Significance of the study

The attainment of the objective mentioned above is important tool for agricultural
development of the country and the study area. This is because awering people about
contribution of irrigation to household helps to increase income, increase area coverage or
high participation and availability of different resource like labor.

Generally it enables to bring a desirable change in countries as well as in the study area.

1.6 Scope of the study

The study covers one district of east Shoa zone of Oromya regional states. It focuses on
determinates of small scale irrigation participation by rural households and also analyzed
the constraint that affect the participation of the people in the study area.

1.7 Limitation of the study

The study was limited to only one district due to time and resource constraint like budget
constraints, non availability of current data and in some of government bureau, worker do
not allow using data available in the office. These and other factors might limit this paper
not to be done easily.

CHAPTER TWO

2. Literature Review
2.1 Theoretical Literature
2.1.1 Definition of irrigation
Irrigation may define as the process of supplying water to land by artificial means of for the
purpose of cultivation. In other case irrigation means the action of applying water to land in
order to supply crops and other plants with necessarily water; or irrigation is the artificial
application of water to the land or soil. It is used to assist in the growing of agricultural
crops, maintenance of land scopes and revegetation disturbed soils in dry season and during
periods of in adequate rainfall. Ordinary water is supplied to land by nature through rain,
but generally it is not enough for the proper growth of the plants as such the basic objective
of irrigation is to supplement the natural supply of water to land so as to obtain an optimum
yield from the crop growth on the land. (P.N. Modi, 2004).

Irrigation in fact is nothing, but delivery the volume and quality water required by plant
throughout a season to optimize plant growth and crop production. (Winchell, 2000).

Generally, irrigation may be defined as a sciences of artificial application of water to land

in accordance with crop requirement throughout the crop period for fledge nourishment of
crop (George, 1989).

2.1.2 Necessity of irrigation

The yield from an agricultural land depends on up several factors. But the most important
factor is that the crop get adequate water various growth stages of the plants. The natural
supply of water to the land for the production is throw rain thus, if the normal rainfall at
any place is adequate to meet the total water requirement of crops grown and the time
interval of the rain is such that water is available when ever the plants need it, then
irrigation is not required.

According to P.N. Modi, 2004 the following factors are that which necessitate irrigation.

A. In adequate rain fall:- when rain fall at the place is in adequate to meet the crop
requirements, then it would necessary to use irrigation in such cases water may
be conveyed from the places where it is available in abundance to the place of
deficiency.
B. Uneven distribution of rain fall: the total rain fall a region may be in adequate,
but it may be unevenly distributed over the time as well as place. The entire
rainfall for any region may occur only some period of the year and for the rest
of the period, there may be no rain. In addition uneven distribution of the
rainfall may also show considerable variation from year to year.
C. Growing a number of crops during a year: the rainfall for a region may be
sufficient to grow only one crop in a year for which on irrigation may be
required. However, in the same year, it would possible only if irrigation
facilities are longer period of maturities for which irrigation is in variably
needed.
D. Growing superior crop: certain inferior or low price crops require less water and
hence for growing such crops only the rain water may be sufficient and no
irrigation is therefore needed. However, there are applications of large quantity
of water and for growing such crops irrigations is necessary.
2.1.3 Benefits of Irrigation

According to (N.N. Basak, 1999; D.K. Majumbar, 2002) the following are important
benefits of the irrigation

 Yield of crops:- in the period of low rainfall or drought the yield of crop may be
increased by the irrigation system.
 Protection from famine:- the food production of a country can be improved by
insuring the growth of crop by availing the irrigation facilities. This helps country
to prevent famine situation.
 Improvement of cash crops:- irrigation helps to improve the cultivation of cash
crops like vegetable, fruit, tobacco, etc.
 Prosperity of farmers:- when the supply of irrigation water is assured the farmers
can grow two or more crops in a year on the same land. Thus, the farmer may earn
more money and improve there living standard.
 Source of revenue:- when irrigation water is supplied to the cultivation in some
taxes it helps to corn revenue which may be spent on other development schemes.
 Navigation:- the irrigation canals may be utilized for in land navigation which is
further useful for communication and transportation of agricultural goods.
Irrigation also other benefit such as
 Water conservation:
One of the most of important benefit of irrigation is the fact it enables the user to
save a lot of water. This is very beneficial, especially if you are living in a area
where water is already a scarce commodity. The best type of irrigation in such a
situation is drip irrigation. This is because it enables the farmer to save a huge
amount of water in place with minimal water.
 In habits ground water usage:
Ground water in dry and arid areas is usually quite deep and every little. This is
because any water is observed deep in to the ground or evaporated in to the air
through regular irrigation, the over use of ground water is limited and thus the land
because even more fertile.
 Great benefits to plants:
The key aim of irrigation is to supply adequate water for proper plant growth. On
the other hand there are different kind of irrigation that you can use to achieve that.
Through using drip irrigation, you make certain that each drop of water reached the
desired plant for more giants. This is a great method as it enables the water to be
 available to plants throughout the day and thus keep them green while assisting
them to grow healthily and quickly.

Irrigation also creates job opportunities and it could employee for the household family as
well as for un employed youngster in rural area. (Tesfay, A, 2004).

2.1.4 Enhancing food securities through small

scale irrigation
The amount of investment required to expand irrigated agriculture around the major basins
is often considerable, (Befekadu, D and Berhanu, N. 2000).

Irrigation has increased food securities and improved living standard of population in
many part of the world. Between 1967 and 1997 global cereal production increased by 84%
at a time when population increased by 67% and malnutrition among children under the
age of the five in develop countries decline from an aggregate rate of over 45% to 31%
during this period. There is a number of reason this increased food production in chiding of
high verities of seeds and increased used of fertilizer. However, the role of irrigation water
to crop land has also a significant role, (Robert Evers on and Probhu Pingali, 2007).

Irrigation is clearly important for promoting food production in the drier parts of Africa. At
the World Food summit in 1996, the food and agricultural organization (FAO) estimated
that 60% of the extra food required must future come from irrigated agriculture. At the
Ethiopia 70% people, crop production is adequate for only 6 to 9 month of the year and
nutritional deficiencies are important cause of death. Between 5 and 15 million Ethiopian
needs food aid annually, part of government of Ethiopia strategy to address those
challenges aimed to increases production and farmers income through government and
expansion of small scale irrigations schemes.

2.1.5 Sources of water for irrigation

Irrigation water is arranged from streams, lakes wells, springs, ponds, etc. Stream is the
simplest sources by division of stream water coming from higher land to irrigate by gravity
a fairly level land down word mostly this type of water arrangement is dove in public
sector by different state government either independently or jointly.

Natural spring, lakes and ponds where ever available in the hilly areas are drown irrigation
water through gravity channels or portable pumping sets (Pream Singl Arya, 2009).

Ethiopia has considerable water resources which can be utilized to expend the land surface
available for the production of food and cash crops through irrigation. Ethiopia has started
using its abundant water for specific irrigation purposes, it has nine major rivers with a
total length of 17000km and these major rivers have an annual discharge of 102 billion
cubic meter. It is numerous lakes cover an area of 7400 square km (Kinfe, A. 2001).

2.1.6 Development of irrigation in Ethiopia

Irrigation is practiced in Ethiopia since ancient time producing substances food crops.
However, modern irrigation systems more started in the 1960’s with the objective of
producing industrial crops in awash village. Private concessionaires who operated farms for
growing commercial crops such as cotton, sugarcane and horticultural crops started the first
formal irrigation schemes in the late 1950’s in the upper and lower Awash village. In
1960’s irrigation agriculture was expended in all parts of Awash village and in the lower
rift valley (IWMI working paper, 123). With the 1975 rural land proclamation small scale
irrigation scheme where transformed in to producer’s cooperatives. After major famines of
1984 /85 the government began to focus on potential of small scale irrigation as food
security and started promoting farmers and community oriented small scale irrigation by
providing assistance and support to local communities for rehabilitating and upgrading
traditional scheme (Habtamu G, 1990).

The potential for water storage and stream diversion for irrigation is highland the
responsible fertile and workable soil is suitable for agriculture. But subsistence’s nature of
farming limits the number of perennial rivers and streams and precludes irrigation in many
areas (Hiwet, 1986, Helleden and Eklundh 1988). It has been estimated that small irrigation
could increase production, in Ethiopia by 5% at most although its potential contribution
may be significantly greater in more arid low land areas. The irrigation development of
ministry of agriculture (MOA) was established and is responsible for the development of
small scale irrigation starting from 1985 on worlds.

The 1984 /85 famine provided major stimulus for the development of the environment
sponsored small scale irrigation program communities where producer cooperative lad
been established and 57000 hectare for small scale irrigation prevent and cooperative farms
by 1993 /94 given in 1985 total of 213000 farmers irrigated an estimated 53000 – 62000
hectares cooperative farms present association and 16000 hectare in cooperative farms
(FAD, 1996).

In 1986 /87 of crop cultivated under small scale irrigation highly dominated on few
selected region i.e; more over 2/3 of the total irrigation area and nearly 90% of farmers
using irrigation which Hararghe, Welega and Shewa region, 23% of all farmers using
irrigation in Hararghe, 30% in wolega, 7% in Illibabure, 5% in Wollo, and 4% in Shewa
were conducted on irrigation. The result of crop yield is unreadable, in the 1020% peasant
ssociation and producer cooperative for which cropping could be collected: vegetable the
most well cultivated crops followed by maize, potato and fruits (FAO, 1996).

Generally, after 1984 /85 peasants irrigation has expended in different part of Ethiopia. It is
clearly stated on the report implementation and assessment of Ethiopia economy (1988: 84)
it is possible to say that not more than 43 of the expected put were generated as it as been
put market related problems, under developed j kill of farmers about irrigation failure of
policies and institutions has been the serious problems.

Different estimators put the total irrigable area in Ethiopia at 1.8- 3.8 million hectares, of
which only about 1400 hector were irrigation 1989 with out about equal proportion under
small scale and large scale irrigation (Assefa. 1990).

Much of the Ethiopia high land is well endowed with basic resource for agriculture
development good soil and amendable climate. But they suffer from erratic rain fall with
considerable farming skill in the high as estimated small scale irrigation (ministry of
Agriculture, 1989).
 2.1.7 Classification of irrigation project
In Ethiopian the following criteria are use for classification of irrigation project;

 Small scale under 200 hectares

 Medium scale 200 to 300 hectares
 Large scale over 300 hectares

During the Dergue ear the government persuades the development of medium and large
scale irrigation schemes as state farms. Following the down fall of the Dergue. The current
government until recently with drew from expanding state farms and further construction
of medium and large scale irrigation while the development of small scale irrigation.
schemes has continued under regional mater mines and energy bureaus.

The development of medium and large scale irrigation has virtually ceased since the mid
1990’s until recently. This is due to the with drawal of federal government from running
state development enter prises such as irrigated state farms, following the adoption of
market based economic policy (MOWE,2010).

2.1.8 Irrigation potential of Ethiopia

The total area of Ethiopia is about 110 million hectares and the cultivable land of the
country is about 13.2 million hector: from this the cultivated land is about 6 million hector
among which small scale farmers occupy 96% of the cropped area, while the remaining 4%
are cropped by state farms and producers cooperatives (FAO,2001).

Based on various master plans and land and water resources surveys, the gross irrigation
potential would be about 3.7 million hectares. Under traditional and modern irrigation the
total area irrigated till 1991 was 176015 hectare, this figure has increased to 197250 hectare
in 1998. According to data recently compiled by MOWR 200415 from different master
plan studies and regions the area under irrigation in the country has increased to about
250613 hectare. This is due to rapid incensement of the area under traditional irrigation
(MOWE,2010).
According to FAO the area equipped for irrigation in Ethiopia by 2001 was 289530
hectare. The following figure refers to year 2001 irrigated areas per state in Ethiopia.

Table: distribution of irrigation area in Ethiopia per state

State Irrigation area in /hectare/

Addis Ababa 352

Afar 43759

Amhara 69789

Benishangul Gumuz 600

Dire Dawa 1500

Gambella 116

Harar 937

Oromia 112487

Somali 12700

Southern 34685

Tiray 12607

Total 289530

2.1.9 Irrigation as a source of employment

Irrigation creates job opportunity for different peoples. Irrigation industry employees can
effect farmers, Business land scopes and ever dry areas affected by drought. Increased
employment for the poor may originate from the labor intensive nature of irrigation
development construction and subsequent maintenance and from intensive cultivation both
on their own farm as well as the farms of other large farmers who may find it difficult to
provide extra labor from family resource during peak tines (Hussein and M.A Lanjira,
2004). According to USA department of labor statics employments of ground maintenance
workers which include employees in the irrigation field is protected to increased by 18%
from 2008 to 2018 (yashe kia king, 1999).

2.1.10 Inputs for irrigation

According to Birhanu. G and D. pad on (2000) the experience of irrigation water
development in the last five decades in Ethiopia suggest that several measures need to be
takes to support farmer managed small scale irrigation project. This includes enhancing and
improving the efficiency of traditional irrigation system such as:-
 Improving market access by building roads and improving product quality.
 Developing appropriate extension and credit service and in put supply system.
As stated by them small scale irrigation increase the intensity of use of specially labor,
oxen, improved seed fertilizer. By promoting increase in use of such inputs, irrigation
contributes to increase crop production. Their findings was that the predicated average
impact of irrigation on use of inputs, was an 18% increase in crop production relative to
rainfall plots and main impact of irrigation crop production is through promoting increased
intensity of farming rather than through increase productivity of farming practice. The level
of input use in terms of quantity and quality are higher in irrigation schemes that is dry land
areas suggesting that there is more intensive crop production in irrigation schemes that in
dry land agricultural (FAO, 1997).
Condition need for irrigation development according to (Alien and perry, 1996) a number
of conditions must meet for successful small scale irrigation development. These are:-
- Availability of suitable land
- Availability of water resource
- Availability of labor
- Availability inputs like (speeds, fertilizer and pesticide)
- Access to market
- Capital resource

2.1.11 Major constraints of irrigation

FAO 1997 pointed out that many sub Sahara countries have realized the critical role of
irrigation in food production, but that a number of constraints have been responsible for a
relatively slow rate of irrigation development in this region.

These constraints are:-

- Relatively high cost of irrigation development

- In adequate physical in frustration and market
- Poor investment in irrigation
- Lack of access to improved irrigation scheme
- Lack of cheap and readily available water supplies.

FAO, 1997, also further identified the following constraints to be affected the capacity of
farmers to invest and manage irrigation project.

- Poor resource base of farmers

- Small size of land holding
- Un secured or lack of land tittles
- High investment rate
- Poor transportation and marketing facilities

2.1.12 Small scale irrigation and income distribution

As state earlier improvement income of small holder farmer is one of the advantages of
small scale irrigation. But there is in equality of income distribution among farmer. Often
the reach rather than the poor get access to irrigation which would make irrigation un
suitable for rural development. The poor will even lose an absolute term of irrigation
causes land concentration or displacement of labor (Husain and Hanjra, 2000).

2.1.13 Government role in small scale irrigation

The government does not have a very positive role to play building and managing irrigation
scheme whether they are large or small. The Kenya experience demonstrate that farmers do
much better when they build, own and operate the scheme themselves. But the government
does have a critical role to play in creating enabling environment for technology
development and up take for small scale irrigation. Government can play direct role in
extension services training and provision of other technician support services like training
on small dam construction.

Government can mobilized real time information on market and convey it to farmers
association and facilitate the creation of farmers network to disseminated and utilize such
information (R. Percell, 2010).

2.2 Empirical Literature

2.2.1 Irrigation development in the world
Irrigation is an ancient as civilization among the more not able irrigation work in the world,
more those of Egypt, Iraq, India, and Pakistan, Peru and Mexico.

More than six –major irrigation based civilization a rose between 2000 and 6000 years ago.
They include the Sumerians, Babylonians and Assyrians, thrived in the basins of the Tigris
Euphrates Rivers of present day Iraq, the long tasting irrigation society was developed in
the valley of Nile river, the Harappa civilization developed in the Indian River valley of
present day Pakistan, the yellow river basin of north central of China saw measure
development of irrigation workers during the period. Some time later irrigation based on
culture a rose in central Mexico, Costal Peru and American south west each of which saw
the rise and fall of advanced societies depending on irrigated agriculture. The influence of
irrigation on the development of the above societies and their Vulnerability and
environmental deterioration offer lessen for global irrigation of modern time (A.M
Michael, 1978).

2.2.2 Irrigation development from 18th to 20th AD

From progressive growth of irrigation in the world during the period 1800 AD to 2000 AD
four countries namely India, China, USA and Pakistan accounts for over half of the worlds
irrigated land major countries including India China, Indonesia, and Pakistan depends on
irrigated agriculture for more than half of their domestic food production with irrigation
farmers can grow two or three crops a year. Irrigation has been a key driver in the size of
food production. In 20th c about 40% of world food is grown in the 17% of crop land that
irrigated (A.M. Michael, 1978).

2.2.3 Irrigation development in Africa

The 53 countries of Africa could be grouped in to seven on the basis of geographic and
climate homogeneity which has direct influence on irrigation. these regions are the
northern, the Sudano – Sahelian,and the gulf of guinea, central –eastern Indian ocean is
lands and southern Africa.

Irrigation in Africa has been very un even the part of water managed areas in agriculture
varies from less then 1% of the cultivated land in Zaire, Uganda, China, Togo, and
Comoros to 100% in Egypt and Djibouti, where agriculture is impossible without
irrigation. About 42% of Africa irrigated area is in Egypt and Sudan, Morocco and
Madagascar accounts for another 30%of irrigated area.

Food production in Africa has been increasing at an estimated 2.3% per year, while cereal
crops have been increasing at only 1.8% per year hence, the food imports are rising
alarmingly.

Types of irrigation development have been uneven most of about two-third of irrigation
area is under formally large and medium scale project. They are concentrated mostly in
Egypt and Sudan. The remaining one-third of irrigation area is mostly traditional small
scale system. (FAO, 2001).

2.2.4 Socio-Economic and other related variables

and Irrigation Development
 2.2.4.1 out put market system
Irrigation with utilization of more productive to technology as well as selling final products
depend on adequate performance of market. Mouse hold decision and responses are
governed and market related institution. Hence the removal of market constraints/
institutional to out put –in put and market are expected to allow rapid process of the
introduction and adoption to local condition of productivity improving technologies and
farming practice.

2.2.4.2 Capital and skilled man power

Farmers ability to use their irrigated in influenced by Varity of factors in chiding personal
views, family views, technology, and profitability, public opinion, research change agent
and market. Some of these factors can be alleviated through schooling and adequate
training.

In general skilled farmers took fast decision about the situation of irrigation project,
utilization of other organic fertilizer for production and finalized home need. Skilled man
power also active agent to influence on product demand, it is significant for farmers to
encourage farmer to produce marketable products, farmers to know what to produces and
when and how to sell their product.

2.2.4.3 Technology and in puts

Agriculture inputs are required for increasing production and productivity of agricultural
sector, these includes improved varieties seed, fertilizer, pesticides, other irrigation policy
facility, farm implement and post harvest technologies. As the case these input are
complementary and vended to be available for frames to use these input, access to credit
and improvements in the marketing system are crucial.
 CHAPTER THREE

3. Methodology and Data Analysis

3.1 Source of Date
The source of data for this paper was primary data and secondary.

The primary data that obtained from sampled rural house hold farmers and agricultural and
rural development office of the district and the secondary data was collected from the
different related documents, books, internets, and written documents from the organization.

3.2 Method of data collection

The data for this study was obtained through questionnaire and interview.

The questionnaire asks respondent about socio-economic variables such as sex, family size
and education level etc. and interview asks about total amount of peasant engaged in
irrigation, total amount of irrigation land and others related information necessary would be
collected from books, publication, articles etc.

3.3 Sampling Technique

The sampling technique that was used random sampling because it made my task easy and
avoids the possibility of making personal bias. It is easer to administrator and number of
unit was sampled for a given cost.

Regarding on sampling technique to make a sample to statically efficient the researcher

employed grouping the whole peasants engaged on irrigation and sample farmers were
selected proportionally from all kebeles; the 144910 peasants in the woreda and 36 kebeles
in woreda, from those 18 kebeles participation in small scale irrigation. I was selected six
kebeles, those are, Shubi Gamo, Darara Dalacha, Burqaa Danbal, Baqalee Giriisa, Tuchi
Danbal, and Walda Qallina and each stratum a total of 40 household was randomly
selected.

3.4 Methods of data analysis

Concerning methods of analysis, the method used for this paper is descriptive method. In
descriptive analysis data has been analyzed through tables and percentages.

The most of the data which collect are qualitative in nature and it believe to be appropriate
method of data editing, classification and then analysis for all data interpretation are relying
on the descriptive.

Chapter Four

4. Data presentation and Analysis

4.1 Results and discussion of the rural household’s survey

4.1.1 Demographic structure of the household

The part of the study presents the farmer household sex - age structure.
 Respondents Number Percent%

Sex

Male 33 82.5

Female 7 17.5

Total 40 100

Age group

20-35 15 37.5

36-50 23 57.5

51-65 2 5

Above 65 _ _

Total 40 100

As indicated in the above table out of the total forty farmers included in the survey
14 (35%) of them are between the age of 20 – 35 years, 17 (42.5%) of them are
between the age of 36 – 50 years, 2 (5%) of them are between the age of 51 – 61
years male and 5 (12.5%) of them are between the age of 20 – 35 years, 2 (5%) of
them are between the age 36 – 51 years of female.

In general in the above table total number of male is 33 (82.5%) and that of female
is 7 (17.5%). This shows that female participation in small scale irrigation is less
than male participation and 57.5% respondents are participation in small scale
irrigation founded in youths age .This is because most of households who own
land in this area youths.Most of the adults do not have adequate land since the land
distribution was made before they come to this world .

4.2 Educational level of the Households

Respondents In number In percentage (%)
Illiterate 15 37.5%
Elementary school 17 42.5%
High school 6 15%
Graduate 2 5%
Total 40 100%

From the above table we can understand that, even though high percent of the
participation are (42.5%) in elementary school and (37.5%) illiterate respectively.
There are also participate who have educational level of high school and graduate
that accounts about 20% together.

From this we can also understand that lliterate participates are more familiar with
irrigation than illiterate participates. This is due to lack awareness and experience
about small scale irrigation and they do not known ,how they increase their product
and consumption by using irrigation .

4.3 Distribution of land for small scale irrigation

The average land holding of sampled households range from less than one hectors
to above four hectors.

Land size in hector per Number of households Households in percent

household
< 1 ha 14 35%
1 – 2 ha 15 37.5%
2 – 4 ha 5 12.5%
> 4 ha 6 15%
Total 40 100%

The average agricultural land holding of the farmers is too low. As indicated in the
table above more than 72.5%of the farmers own only less than 2 hector. This is
because of some reason, like that: lack of credits facilities, finance problem,
increasing the oil price, scarcity of land, increase the price of fertilizers, etc and
remaining 27.5% participants have above 2 hector.

4.4 Fertilizer used for small scale irrigation

As the data indicated in four years 2001 – 2004 from the agricultural office of the
district fertilizer used for small scale irrigation was only modern fertilizer.

Year Fertilizer in ‘kuntal’ Land in Household

hector
DAP UREA Total
2001 37935 36079 74014 10244 3465
2002 33649.5 44866 78515.5 12014 4447
2003 43400 40950 84350 15818 4867
2004 49571.5 42762 92333.5 5848 4888
Written document from the officeFrom the above table, in stated years (2001 –
2004), the total use of fertilizer for small scale irrigation shows increasing pattern
74014 kun, 78515.5 kun, 84350 kun and 92333.5 respectively. This is because of
increase in land for irrigation, increase in number of participant households and
change of awareness of people about using fertilizer. But the table indicate that
DAP increasing than the UREA. From interview of manager this is due to that DAP
increase productivity while UREA use to make plant green and beauty. Since
farmers are productivity and benefits oriented they shift more to using DAP.

From table we can also understand that increasing pattern of number of households
and irrigated land. This is shows that increase of participation in small scale
irrigation, and the productive of land is increase pattern from 10244 hect,12014
hect,15818 hect,and 58485 hector respectively. This is due to house holds get high
profit from small scale irrigation.

4.5 Products that produced with small scale irrigation

Type of Years and size of land in hector
product

2001 2002 2003 2004

Tomato 4612 4484 894 1647
Onion 4426 5967 5276 6656
Cabbage 184 267 279 364
Papaya 169 151 100 100
Other 853 1284 1228 1281.5
Total 10244 12153 7777 10048.5
Source: written document from office

The cultivated land of the district 43924.5 hector of total surface area of the district
which accounts 55828 hector, from these cultivated land, irrigated land in stated
years shows in pattern 10244 ha, 12153 ha, 5218 ha, and 5848.5 of cultivated land
of the district respectively.

The major product of the district that produced by small scale irrigation were
tomato and onion. As shown in above table production of onion, cabbage and other
shows increasing while tomato and papaya shows decreasing pattern.

This is because of that production of tomato requires huge amount of money and
simply exposed to weather condition which in turn leads to increase cost for
pesticides than that of onion production and others. Papaya also requires long
period of time at least one year to earn money from it and three to four year to end
its productivity. Therefore to produce twice and above in a year, farmers prefer
product like onion, cabbage and others.

4.6 Economic activities of household

Activities Household Percentages
Only irrigation 13 32.5%
Irrigation with other 27 67.5%
activities
Total 40 100%

As shown on the above table, more respondents economics is irrigation with other
activities which accounts ( 67.5%) of respondents. These other activities which
participants practice next to irrigation are rain fall farming livestock rearing, trade
and others. Some respondent belief that other activities next to irrigation have its
own advantage.

That is used as a guarantee if there is a failure of irrigation. About (32.5%)

respondents only on small scale irrigation.

4.7 Income Distribution of Households

Income level Number of Percentage
respondent
< 10 kuntals 7 17.5%
Before joining 10 – 20 kuntals 10 25%
small scale 20 – 30 kuntals 12 30%
irrigation 30 – 40 kuntals 9 22.5%
> 40 kuntals 2 5%
< 20 kuntals - -
After joining small 20 – 40 kuntals 9 22.5%
scale irrigation 40 – 80 kuntals 18 45%
80 – 160 kuntals 7 17%
 > 160 kuntals 6 15%

From the above table we can understand that about 95% respondents got average
annual income 40 kuntals and less than before joining small scale irrigation while
about 77.5% got above 40 kuntals average annual income after joining the sector.
This shows that there is some profit from participating in small scale irrigation.

There are also about (15%) respondents those who get more than 160 kuntals
average annual income which is good income and may motivate participants on low
level and non participants to be engage and be beneficial from the sector. In small
scale irrigation the households are more depend on the production of vegetable
which is high price than other production in the market.

4.8 Responses for open ended questions

According to respondents there are many constraints of small scale irrigation like
scarcity of land, change in weather condition which reduces productivities and
increases cost for pesticides, financial problem, problem of road facilities,
fluctuation of market price for fertilizer, labor pesticides, oil price, lack of storage
facilities, lack of credit facilities in which many participants blame governments
role to improve households participation rather than giving training and advice
through DA. In small scale irrigation even existing participation is due to personal
initiation of households and budget more benefits from small household
participation.

CHAPTER FIVE

5. CONCLUSION AND RECOMMENDATION

 5.1 Conclusion
The paper attempted to investigate determinants of small scale irrigation participation in
Dugda district. In doing so it has utilized descriptive analysis by interpreting the result of
data by the tables and percentage share. For this purpose data from agriculture and rural
development bureau of the district and household survey was employed.

The number of households, fertilizers, used and land for irrigation in the district shows
increasing trend from data of stated years (2001 - 2004) that shows increasing the
participation level of rural house holds.

Even though participation level rural households shows increasing trend women
participation in small scale irrigation is low which shows that negative social impact of on
women is still exist and this may worse development the society life as well as that of
country.

It is important to note that increased use of fertilizer in the started years, this is because of
that increase of participants house holds, increase in land for irrigation and change of the
awareness of people about using it.

There is in equality of income distribution among rural house holds, this makes large
households (those who are financial strong) superior over small household farmers.

There are many factors that constraints in small scale irrigation this factors are change in
weather condition, scarcity of land, increase of cost for input, fluctuation of market price,
lack of credit facilities, financial problem and of road facilities.

Even though small scale irrigation is a policy priority in Ethiopia for rural poverty
alleviation and growth the government role to improve household participation is low in
changing the policy in to practice rather than giving training and advice through DA.

5.2 Recommendation
Considering the current status of small scale irrigation sector with previous year researcher
can make the following to improve the performance of small scale irrigation.
Since 75% of our country’s farmers were depend on rainfall for their agricultural
production, its performance was still at its low level so, it is possible to promote and
expand irrigation facilities for the farmer that have a great advantage to reduce to low
performance of agricultural productivities.

Government should strengthen its involvement in modern farming system through

community mobilization and create awareness, since it bring changes in the life standard of
the beneficiaries.

Since the number of females was very small in the irrigation system due to traditional out
look, the government, other institutional organization like NGOs, private and community
organization should work in increasing the participation of women in the small scale
irrigation.

Government should help the households which are unable to benefit from irrigation scheme
due to lack of capital to purchase improved seeds, fertilizers and modern water pump.

Government should play important role in stabilizing market price (reduce the fluctuation)
of price.

Government and NGOs should provide credit services to farmers.

Generally, researchers and extensions should generate develop the recommended improved
small scale irrigation to increase the production level of small scale output and finally
improve food insecurity situation of the farming community.

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