Linking Small-Scale Irrigation and Household Food Security in Drought Prone Area of North East Ethiopia: A Case of Alawuha Irrigation Scheme, Gubalafto Woreda, and North Wollo Zone.
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Date
2011-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
In north eastern part oj Ethiopia, drought induced Jood insecurity has been a long-lasting
problem. In this thesis, an attempt made to identify householdJood security status and its
determinants in one oj drought prone area- Gubalaflo Woreda. Moreover, the linkages
between Small Scale Irrigation and household Jood security in provision oJJood energy
assessed. A multi- stage stratified sampling procedure was used to select 115 sample
households Jrom both irrigation users and non-users living within the targeted kebeles. A
combination oj quantitative analysis like descriptive statistics, Household Food Balance
Model, binary logit model and qualitative study were used to reach at reliable results by
using data gathered Fom both primm)' and secondary sources. The survey result
revealed that 29 % oj sample households were Jood insecure and 71 % Jood secure.
There is huge gap in Jood calorie availability ranging Jrom 788- 8405Kca in the study
area. Food insecure households wereJound to have an average oJ24%Jood gap in terms
oj dietary energy, which is needed to fitlfill the national minimum requirements. The
average per capita calorie supply Jor irrigation users was Jound substantially increased
by 889 Kcal, which is about 42 % percent oj the minimum requirement oj Jood calorie
requires by an individual. The use oj SSI was Jound significantly related to household
Jood security situation in provision oj household dietmy energy and taking a lion share in
the proportion oj study areas major consumable Fom food crops production. The logit
model revealed that household size, educational status oj household head, number oj
farm oxen, cultivated land size, engagement in nonj'arming, access to irrigation and
credit service were Jound significant determinants. Correspondingly, the study disclosed
that the long distance between irrigated land to Jarmers residence, lack oj cleaning and
maintenance oj scheme, Jree grazing, poor irrigation methods and crop selection were
the major constraints in the irrigation Jarm. SSI is one oj the viable solutions to
household Jood supplement and hence promoting oj smallholders to produce directly
consumable Jood grains is advantageous. It is important to address those Jood security
determinants and Jarmers' views in planning and executing oj development policies and
programs by all stakeholders to tackle the problem oj household Jood insecurity in the
study area.
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Keywords
Irrigation and Household Food Security