Socio-Economic and Environmental Impacts of Irrigation-The Case of Ziway State Farm
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Date
1992-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
Ziway State Farm is located in Southern Shoa some lOkms
South-east of the town of Ziway. It produces flowers, fruits
and vegetables both for domestic and foreign markets. The
main objective of the study was to assess the productivity and
profitability of the farm and indicate its socio-economic and
environmental impac~ in the region.
Primary as well as secondary data on the farm were
collected. The land-use assessment of the farm revealed that
73 percent of the land under irrigation is used for the production
of annual crops (flowers and vegetables). An analysis of income
and expenditure showed that the farm is not profitable. Crop
marketing analysis showed that the products of the farm are
more export-oriented rather than for domestic market.
The labour absorptive capacity of the farm was found to
be high. The farm employs labourers on permanent as well as
seasonal basis. The great majority of the labourers were
seasonal. Most are young people and females out number males.
The provision of irrigated agriculture in the region has
dislocated peasants and aggravated the problem of housing.
One of the most important findings of the study is that water
use on the farm is not efficient. It may be concluded that
water application systems of the farm should be based on
scientific knowledge of irrigation water use. It is also
recommended that more research has to be undertaken related to
soil Hnalysis, water quality monitoring as well as labour and
so ~io-economic factors which affect the production and
productivity of the farm.
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Keywords
Impacts of Irrigation