Browsing by Author "Feleke, Engdasew"

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    Environmental and Socio-economic Impacts of Small Scale Irrigation Farming Households in Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia
    (Addis Ababa University, 2020-11) Feleke, Engdasew; Assefa PhD, Engdawork
    Smallholder rain-fed agriculture is the mainstay of the majority of the population in Ethiopia. However, the performance of the sector is very poor particularly in the drought-prone parts of the country. Small scale irrigation has been introduced to overcome climate variability induced livelihood challenges of farm households; Central rift valley of Ethiopia is known for its long time experience in irrigation. This research aims to examine the environmental and socio-economic impacts of small scale irrigation in the Central Rift Valley of Ethiopia. Household survey, interview and soil and water laboratory testing were used to collect primary data. About 259 irrigation users and 172 non-irrigation user households were selected for the survey. Convenience and snowball sampling methods were used to select interviewees. The study showed that irrigation user households have higher gross income and farm income than non-irrigation users (P< 0.01 and P<0.05 respectively). Irrigators have higher cultivated land holding (0.89 hectares) than nonirrigators (0.84) at P<0.05. The highest percentage of irrigators (71%) and non-irrigators (77%) have never used credit service. Many complex factors determine farmers’ decision to participate in irrigation. Poor market access due to road problems and lack of transparency in the performance of the local irrigation institutions found to be among the critical constraints that negatively affect farmers’ decision to participate in irrigation. The current study revealed that irrigation water that falls with the value of SAR > 15 and Adjusted ESP >13 at EC< 4ds/m indicates the sodic nature of the water. Accordingly, the groundwater chemical composition (ESP = 63.3, SAR = 116.28 and EC= 1.973), showing the sodic type of the water at Bochessa site. Thus, the study proofed that the type of the irrigation water affects the quality of the soil (farm lands irrigated using groundwater have high ESP (ESP=29.7)) and the soil is categorized as sodic soil. Sodic soils adversely affect plant growth mainly hindering the osmotic process and diminishes the economic profitability. The study further revealed that small scale irrigation enhances agricultural productivity, serve as a source of diversified food, creates employment opportunity, means to cope up with the effects of climate variability, and increases household asset and income. However, the prevalence of pests and diseases, degradation of natural resources, and biodiversity modification are some of the negative effects of irrigation. Water scarcity and associated conflicts for water use found to be a serious problem due to the high demand for water from multiple users. The sustainability of irrigation-based livelihood is gloomy in the study site due to farmers’ limited access to livelihood capitals, unequal participation of women farmers in irrigation, and lack of transparency of irrigation institutions. The study suggested that creating market linkage, increasing accessibility of rural financial institutions, introducing gender-sensitive irrigation technologies, adopting of water-saving irrigation technologies and ensure equity in irrigation water use as key approaches to enhance the sustainability of irrigation. The study further recommends assuring sustainable rural livelihood agricultural policymakers and practitioners should focus on improving the performance of both rain-fed and irrigation. The study suggests some future researches to be conducted on the effects of SSI farming on human health and biodiversity change and how the environmental impact assessment is implemented by large scale irrigators in the CRV of Ethiopia.
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    Students Awareness, Attitude and Intension Towards Urban Environmental Problems in Selected Preparatory Schools in Addis Ababa
    (Addis Ababa University, 2010-06) Feleke, Engdasew; Shiferaw, Tesfaye(PhD)
    Environmental problems such as air and water pollution, solid waste and climate changes in urban areas are the results of human behavior. Only change in human behavior can reduce these environmental problems. Thus, studying the level of students’ environmental awareness, attitude and intension is an entry point to change this situation among the young generations. Therefore, the objective of the study is to find out students’ level of awareness, attitude and intension in relation to urban environmental problems. As a methodology both secondary and primary data, quantitative and qualitative data have been used. Using stratified sampling method 350 preparatory students were selected for the study. The data were analyzed by using descriptive and inferential statistics. The research findings indicate that the majority of the students hold moderate level of environmental awareness, favorable attitude and found to have an intension to contribute for environmental improvement. There is no difference in students’ environmental awareness, attitude and intension based on gender and grade level. Relatively higher age groups were found to have better awareness and more favorable attitude, but their intension is the same. Social science students were found to have more favorable attitude and better intension than natural science students, but they are similar in their awareness. Students in the missionary school were found to have more favorable attitude and intension to contribute for environmental protection than private and government schools, but students from private school were found to have better awareness. There was a weak positive bivariate correlation among students’ environmental awareness, attitude and intension. And the predicative power of one dependent variable over the other is also weak. School subjects are the major source of environmental information. Based on the findings it was recommended that, in order to increase students’ environmental awareness, attitude and intension curricula have to be developed in a participatory approach by including the needs and priorities of students and the linkage between schools and the community should be strong. Keywords: Students’ awareness, attitude and intension, urban environmental problems, Addis Ababa