The Effect of Small-Scale Irrigation on Household Food Security in Ada’a Woreda, Addis Abeba Area, East Shewa Zone of Oromiya
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Date
2024-09
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study explores the impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security in the Ada’a area, focusing on the relationship between irrigation use, demographic factors, and constraints to its adoption. The study aimed to assess how small-scale irrigation influences food availability, income, and overall food security, particularly in rural communities. Using a combination of statistical methods, including Chi-square and T-tests, data was collected from 200 households, comparing irrigation users with non-users. A variety of factors, such as access to technology, technical knowledge, and water management practices, were examined to determine their impact on irrigation effectiveness. The findings show that small-scale irrigation significantly enhances food security, with 82% of irrigation users being food secure, compared to 48% of non-users. Furthermore, irrigation users reported higher incomes (12,000 ETB) and crop yields (1,500 kg) compared to their non-irrigating counterparts. Demographic factors, such as education level and family labor, were found to significantly influence food security, while factors like age and gender had less impact. The study highlighted the importance of integrating education, training, and technology access to enhance the efficiency and sustainability of irrigation practices. However, the study also revealed critical constraints to irrigation use, including limited access to modern irrigation technology and inadequate technical knowledge. Poor water management practices did not significantly hinder irrigation use. These findings emphasize the need for targeted interventions, including providing access to affordable irrigation technologies and capacity-building programs to improve technical knowledge among farmers. The results of this research contribute to the understanding of small-scale irrigation’s role in enhancing food security and suggest targeted policy interventions to address the barriers to its effective use. This study also provides insights into how improving irrigation systems can reduce food insecurity and enhance agricultural productivity in the Ada’a area.
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Agricultural productivity, Demographic factors, Food security, Household Income, Small-scale irrigation