IMPACT OF SMALL-SCALE IRRIGATION SCHEMES ON HOUSEHOLDS’ FOOD SECURITY IN AMBO DISTRICT, OROMIA NATIONAL REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

Small-scale irrigation is the existing resource and feasible technology to enhance agricultural production and productivity and curb the deep-rooted food insecurity problem in Ethiopia. However, in most parts of the country, the potential impact of the technology on households’ food security has not been exhaustively analyzed. The aim of this study was to identify factors affecting household participation in small-scale irrigation schemes, to determine household food security status, and to analyze the impact of small-scale irrigation scheme on households’ food security in Ambo district, Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia. Both primary and secondary data were used. Primary data was collected from 260 randomly selected households in the Ambo district. Descriptive analysis, daily calorie intake, household dietary diversity score, copying strategy index, and propensity score matching were employed as tools of data analysis. The logistic regression result revealed that age of the household head, educational level, farm size, irrigation site, sex of the household head, credit utilization, occurrence of crop pest and diseases, and frequency of extension contact were variables that statistically and significantly affected households’ participation in small scale irrigation scheme. Similarly, the study findings showed that the food security status of households who participated in irrigation had a better consumption profile by 907.9 in kilocalorie intake, 0.704 in dietary diversity, and -0.651 in copying strategy index than non-participants, respectively. Sensitivity analysis revealed that participation in small scale irrigation scheme had both direct and indirect positive outcomes on improving households’ food security status. Therefore, agricultural policies and strategies should focus on promoting small-scale irrigation by considering the distance of the schemes from household land, improving service given through extension contact, and manipulating adult education with supportive training to lift numerous small-holder farmers out of poverty and enhance their food security status.