THE ROLE OF FARMERS PARTICIPATION IN SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION IN HOUSEHOLD ASSET BUILDING: THE CASE OF TWO SCHEMES IN SORO WOREDA, HADIYA ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Ethiopian economy is largely based on agriculture. Agriculture which is the main source of livelihood for the majority of people in Ethiopia is mainly rain-fed and it depends on erratic and often insufficient rainfall. As a result, there are frequent failures of agricultural production. Small-scale irrigation has unquestionable potential to improve the livelihood of poor rural households in developing countries like Ethiopia. Moreover, the livelihood of small-holder farmers is based on physical assets, human capital assets, social assets and financial assets. Small-scale irrigation has also a potential to enhance those assets. However, the studies are limited to indicate the contribution of participation in small-scale irrigation in creating household assets in broader view. Therefore, this study was conducted to assess the contribution of participation in small scale irrigation on building household assets in Soro Woreda Haddiya Zone Southern Ethiopia. This study also investigated the factors that affect participation of smallholder farmers in small-scale irrigation. Three stage sampling procedure was adopted for the selection of 174 sample respondents which constitute 87 irrigation users and 87 non-user household heads. Primary data were collected through survey, key informant interview and conducting focus group discussion. Various documents were reviewed to collect the secondary data. Descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and binary logistics regression were used for analyzing quantitative data while narrative method of data analysis was used for analyzing qualitative data. The analysis from descriptive part of this study shows that participation in small-scale irrigation has positive contribution for the asset ownership and well-being of rural farm households in the study area; there are clear increases in agricultural production through diversification and intensification of crops grown, household income, child education and human health improvements. The econometric model analysis revealed that education status of the household head, frequency of contact with extension agents, availability of family labor force and number of Oxen are important determinants that positively and significantly influence the probability of participation in small- scale irrigation schemes while distance from households residence to the water source and gender of the household head are negatively and significantly influence the probability of participation in small- scale irrigation schemes. Finally, it is recommended that the government especially local government and non-governmental organization should work to hamper factors that hinder participation in small-scale irrigation and enhance factors that initiate participation in small-scale irrigation which were identified in the study area.