Abstract:
Ethiopia’s agriculture is dominated by small-scale rain-fed production in which its performance is subjected to irregular rainfall pattern. Small-scale irrigation is believed in helping to address this problem there by reducing rural poverty, food insecurity as well as improving overall contribution of agriculture to the national economy. This study was aimed at examining the determinants of small-scale irrigation participation and its impact on household food security in Angacha District. The study was employed mult-stage sampling technique to select 246 sample respondents from irrigation participant and non participant household heads. The primary data were collected using an interview schedule and conducting focus group discussions and key informant interview. Various documents were also reviewed to collect the secondary data. To analyze the data, double hurdle model was used to identify the determinants of participation and intensity of participation in small-scale irrigation. Propensity Score Matching (PSM) was applied to examine an impact of small-scale irrigation participation on household food security. Probit part of double hurdle model result shows that education status, livestock holding, frequency of extension contact, access to credit and the proximity of the farm land from the irrigation water sources significantly determine the decision of participation by the sample households in small-scale irrigation. Moreover, truncated part of double hurdle model reveal that land holding size, access to credit and livestock holding significantly determine the intensity of participation in small-scale irrigation. The result of PSM analysis indicates that participating in small-scale irrigation farming increased calorie intake of households by 25.17% Kcal/AE per day for participant households than non-participant households. On the other hand, there were some significant challenges such as shortage of irrigation equipment, lack of regular supply of agricultural inputs, long distance between irrigation water sources and farm field and inadequacy of extension service that affected irrigation farming activities by the farm household in the study area. Therefore, attention should be given by government, especially office of irrigation development of the district to major constraints that affect irrigation farming activities to improve and sustain the positive impact of irrigation
