Contribution of Small-Scale Irrigation on Rural Household Food Security in Merewa and Mutifecha Oromiya Special Zone Ethiopia
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Date
2020-10
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Addis Ababa University
Abstract
The extent of small-scale irrigation has successfully increased the food security of households in rural
Ethiopia. However, it is not well understood that households face a food insecurity problem due to natural
induced hazards. The households in Merewa and Mutifecha area introduced small-scale irrigation to
improve food security. The main aim of this study was to examine the contribution of small-scale irrigation
to the food security of rural households and to identify the factors that limit participation in irrigation. Data
was collected from 202 irrigation users and non-users selected randomly by taking from two sampled rural
Kebeles of Merewa and Mutifecha. Survey questionnaire, focus group discussions, observations and key
informants’ interview were used to collect the data. Data analysis was performed using descriptive statistics
and econometric models using SPSS version 20 and STATA version 14. Statistical Techniques, including the
t-test and the X2
-test, were used to analyze the descriptive results, while the probit and poison regression
model was used to determine the determinant of participation in small-scale irrigation and its role in the
Identify household food security. The finding of the study revealed that, the status of food security using FCS
cut-off point was 61.39% with adequate food consumption, 30.69% with borderline food consumption and
the poor food consumption households’ being 7.92% for irrigation participants which was higher than nonirrigation participants 25.49% adequate,33.34% borderline and, 41.17% poor FCS and
statistically significant at 5% level. The Study also found Education, access to market information, access to
training, male gender in the household, total livestock size are the main factors that largely explain rural
participation and access to irrigation significant at 5% which that there are statistically significant
differences in the use of improved seeds, fertilizers and pesticides, as well as in the production of diversified
agricultural products, between irrigation users and users who do not use 5% irrigation. Market access, lack
of capital to buy agricultural products, frequent diseases Infestation, lack of knowledge of the use of modern
irrigation technology, and lack of supply of irrigation inputs were the five main restrictions for participating
in small-scale irrigation practices within the study area. The study recommends market access, the
expansion of appropriate crop protection mechanisms, provision of education and awareness of farmers
through extension experts and the provision of other complementary services in order to increase the
participation of irrigation to improve food security. Therefore, the Woreda Department of Agriculture, the
division of natural resources and crop production should meet in coordination with interested development
partners in order to promote funding development of these small irrigation schemes.
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Keywords
Small-scale irrigation, food security status, Irrigation users, Merewa and Mutifecha, Ethiopia.