The Role of Irrigation Development projects in Poverty Alleviation and Food Security Attainment in Ethiopia: The case of Small-Holder Irrigation Development projects in Fentale Woreda, East Shewa Zone, Oromia Regional State.
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Date
2010-06
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
This study aims to examine the role of irrigation development projects in poverty alleviation food
security attainment in Fentale woreda of Oromia Region. Its main objective being the study of effect of
irrigated agriculture and how the out comes are making irrigators are better - off than non- irrigators
in terms of access to sufficient food, household income, increased onjarm employment opportunity, and
overall resource bases. The study also looks at the major factors that affect the irrigation development
in the study area in order to understand how these factors may limit the role of irrigation to improve
the livelihoods of the community in the area.
To serve these objectives, household survey, focus group discussion, key informant interview, and field
observation were used to collect data at community, household and individualleve!. Annual household
production, agricultural intensity, cropping pattern, income generated, asset owned and other socioeconomic
data were collected using structured questionnaire with the help of locally recruited and
semi-trained enumerators. Back ground information of the study area, benefiCiaries, irrigation
potential and other related dala were gathered from concerned government line departments and
institutions operating in the zone. The analysis is undertaken using statistical tools such average,
percentage, and standard deviation, for the quantitative informatiOn. SPSS software version 17 was
used
The Findings of the study high lights the positive effects of irrigated agriculture in that, irrigation helps
irrigators to increase agricultural production, generate more household income, possess more
productive and non-productive assets, enhanced onjarm employment opportunity, and improved
resources for education and health care services.
Based on the findings of the study, the researcher recommends that to improve the performance of
smallholder irrigation project, a concentrated effort has to be made for the development market
promotions and reasonable transportation services that can enable the farmers to sell their products in
farther market places where there is fair price. Furthermore, practical effort is also considered
necessCllY to solve the problem of credit rendering institutions and provision of input supply to enhance
effectiveness of the small holder irrigation project in the study area.
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Keywords
Food Security Attainment in Ethiopia.