Tesfaw, Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng 2018, 7:1

age System
ain DOI: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206
igati & Dr

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Irrigation & Drainage Systems Engineering
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ISSN: 2168-9768

Review Article Open Access

Small Scale Irrigation Development

Tesfaw M*
Water Resource and Irrigation Management, Woldia University, Ethiopia

Abstract
The country Ethiopia is situated in East Africa and hence agriculture is the base for people’s basic fulfillment and
the country is abundant by water resource. Even if we have ample amount of water still now rain-fed agriculture is more
practiced than irrigation water application. Irrigation can be defined as the application of water to the soil for increasing
the moisture content which is important for plant root-growth and development to prevent stress that may cause reduce
the amount of yield as well as the quality of the crops.
There is positive relation between irrigation service and poverty alleviation. The availability of water for irrigation
in community helps to improve food security. It increases the potential for producing more food consistency in drought
prone and food insecure areas.
Small scale irrigation farming has played a vital role in enabling food production by lowering the risk of crop failure
and sustaining households and food security status.
Extension works should be done to aware the importance of irrigation system and the involvement of the local
farmers could be include when the system is going to be efficient. Government and other related policy formulation
organizations should focused on decentralized system among the users.
Irrigation is more effective if all users and non-users participate actually during the planning, implementing,
maintaining, monitoring and evaluating works. The participation of the stakeholders is pillar during the management
and sustainability of the irrigation structures.

Introduction management needs an integrated manner from users, policy formation,

and extension workers. The irrigation structure is to be sustainable it
The historical back ground of the country Ethiopia shown that requires proper design, construction and operation and maintenance.
agriculture is the dominant activities to sustain rural community’s When these interventions could be applied appropriately; farmers
life and the base for people’s basic fulfillment. And also the country would like to solve their problems and improve their economic status.
has special features to practice agricultural activities because of its
geographical and environmental factors [1]. Ethiopia has 111.5 million There is positive relation between irrigation service and poverty
hectare total land from million hectare is suitable for agriculture. alleviation. The availability of water for irrigation in community helps
Currently only 16.5 million hectare is cultivated. Due to the variability to enhance food security. It increases the potential for producing
of rainfall we need irrigation as a supplement for the incensement of more food consistency in drought prone and food insecure areas [3].
productivity. One of the challenges Ethiopia facing in attaining food security and
reducing poverty is high dependence on rain fed Agriculture. The
Water is renewable natural resource which is very importance country’s economy which has been highly dependent on agriculture
for any activities done over natural environment. However, when in is much weakened recurrent droughts. The major problem associated
adequate quantity and quality, it can rather serve as limiting factor with the rain fall dependent Agriculture in the country is the high
in poverty reduction and over all nationally development. therefore degree of variability and unreliability of the rain fall patterns. As
imperative that the linkage between water development initiative a result the current government has placed particularly emphasis
in agriculture, food, energy, health, education and decentralized on the development and expansion of irrigation land [4]. We now
governance sectors be clearly understood and carefully managed to that, the majority of agricultural cropping in Ethiopia are “rain fed
benefit from them in proper manner and to minimize or avoid negative Agriculture”. There are four major categories of productive use of
cross sectional impact. water in Agriculture: (1) rain fed Agriculture; (2) supplementary
From the very beginning irrigation can be defined as an artificial irrigation; (3) irrigated Agriculture; and (4) livestock. Irrigation is one
application of water to soil to create the moisture content which is of a means to increase the productivity of the agriculture and to meet
suitable for the growth and development of crops and leach the salts the food demand of the rural communities [5]. I have to share most
if there is an accumulation of salts in the area that to be irrigated [2]. writers’ idea which was decided that we have no standard and agreed
This activity is done by human to apply water to the crops throughout estimation criteria to determine the irrigation potential of the country.
considering the agro ecology of the irrigated area for improving the
rural population’s way of life and it has contributed to be agriculture
is the driving force of an Ethiopian’s economy. Throughout the crop *Corresponding author: Tesfaw M, Assistant Lecturer, Water Resource and
period adequate water is required near the root zone of the plant for Irrigation Management, Woldia University, Ethiopia, Tel: +251920649816; E-mail:
mengesha816@[Link]
their growth during the crop period. The rainfall may not be adequate
to fulfill the water requirement, and the intensity of rainfall may not Received March 01, 2018; Accepted March 13, 2018; Published March 24, 2018
be well distributed throughout the crop season so, irrigation becomes Citation: Tesfaw M (2018) Small Scale Irrigation Development. Irrigat Drainage
absolute necessary to full fill the water requirement of crops. Sys Eng 7: 206. doi: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206

Agricultural water management considers all activities in the field Copyright: © 2018 Tesfaw M. This is an open-access article distributed under the
terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted
like conserve moisture by applying different irrigation mechanisms to use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and
meet the labor, land and cost requirement of the system. Irrigation water source are credited.

Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, an open access journal Volume 7 • Issue 1 • 1000206
ISSN: 2168-9768
Citation: Tesfaw M (2018) Small Scale Irrigation Development. Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng 7: 206. doi: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206

Page 2 of 7

But according to Awulachew et al. [6], Ethiopia has estimated irrigation agriculture is being practiced under small holders, medium and large
potential of 3.5 million hectare during the year 2005-2006; the potential farming. The Agricultural sector it leading in Ethiopia economy, 47%
of total estimate area irrigated agriculture in Ethiopia was 625,819 of the total GDP, as compared to 13.3% from industries and 39% from
hectares which was the total constituents about 18% of potential, it other. At present some 197,000 hectares of land is under irrigation [15].
was planned to expand irrigation development in the country by an Irrigation development is a key for suitable and reliable agricultural
additional hectares to the year 2010 [7]. Which constituents about 33% development which leads to overall development in Ethiopia [14].
of potential in government policy document irrigation development Now days irrigation activities to be develop by different ways like
has already been identified as an important tool to stimulate sustainable the extension workers would like to provide information to create
economic growth and rural development is considered as a corner stone the farmers awareness for the advantage of irrigation system, the
of food security and poverty reduction [7]. government policy could support the system and also state farm and
other investment which are using irrigation system is a role model
From the history of the country, Small scale irrigation scheme has
for farmers. Based on the area coverage the irrigation system can be
been normally practiced after the disastrous drought in 1973 to realize
classified as in the following ways.
food security and to increase the peasant livelihood by producing cash
crop. And we try to understand from here is that the practice were 1. Small-scale irrigation system (<200 hectare)
included small-scale irrigation up to 100 hectare with a traditional way
2. Medium- scale irrigation system (200-300 hectare)
and modern irrigation scheme up 200 hectare [8]. In 1980 recurring
cycle of drought and environmental hazard the need for small scale is 3. Large- scale irrigation system (>300 hectare).
highly expanded to address drought and food storage and the need for
This classification system is the most common in Ethiopia is about
more food for the interval market [9].
46% of proposed irrigation developments are in small-scale irrigation
Currently small scale irrigation is highly favored by government as category [14].
a means of bringing about house hold food security, reduce dependency
on food aid economic growth [10]. Through the country has 4.5 Irrigation and water resource
million ha of irrigable land, irrigation covers only 0.16 million ha or Surface water resource: The country Ethiopia has 12 river
about 5% of the total irrigable land. The farmers are dependence on basins however their contribution for irrigation is vary from basin
rain fed agriculture has made the countries agricultural productivity is to basin based on different criteria includes the topography, system
extremely low and susceptibility of the variability agro- ecology which management, and some basins may have a political issues. From the
leads to limit the productivity and in turn resulted in food shortage. time being surface water source can be assessed through considering
Small scale irrigation is a policy priority in Ethiopia for rural the meteorological data based on the current hydro-meteorological
poverty alleviation and growth, as well as climate adoption; only relationships. The concept of river basin needs a dynamic knowledge
around 5% of Ethiopian’s irrigable land is irrigated. And less than 5% because the system connected to the well-being of the society [15,16].
of total renewable water resources are withdrawn annually. Generally It has often been encouraged that the most logical unit for the water
the country is predominantly an agrarian and agriculture is the driving resource planning and management should be conducted accordingly;
force to sustain their life and their basic needs with in directly or it is desirable that all river basins have its own demarcation, organized
indirectly involvement. master plan and their potential in terms of economic development be
known.
This paper would like to show the countries experience on small
irrigation practice and its effects on the farmer’s way of life. In the 1960s and 1970s, a wide-ranging reconnaissance and
feasibility studies were conducted on the Abbai (Blue Nile), Awash
History of irrigation in Ethiopia and Wabe Shebelle river basins. The reports were shown that the river
The Ethiopian agriculture history stated that irrigation was basin is the largest among the other basins and has a potential to irrigate
practiced before centuries but the system to apply is much traditional. for large agricultural field. Most river basins are trans-boundary and
governed by international water management policy and have a political
Salas [11] in the study conducted to explore whether irrigation agenda. It is familiar to us small scale irrigation can be performed with
was a pillar for the state development and urban development in the in a house hold level while large scale irrigation project would be too
early civilization of the country found with inadequate information costly and needs detailed engineering studies. It argued that without an
about irrigation water management and they were tried to understand organized water management program on those basins there would be
rain fed agriculture is better [12]. Moreover in the high lands of the no predictions’ of irrigation development at all.
Ethiopia irrigation were practiced have long been in use since from the
prehistoric time for producing subsistence food crops [6,13]. Bache Surface water source for the irrigation purpose is better as compared
and Chesworth [13] stressed that supplementary irrigation has been as the ground water source because:
practiced by small holder farmers of Ethiopia for centuries to solve their 1. Mostly ground water contains salt which is not suitable for crop
livelihood challenges. Surface irrigation system was more practiced and growth
which requires much water with a small irrigated area.
2. Extraction of ground water requires cost and skilled human
Ways of irrigation development in Ethiopia power depending on the ground water table
From the very beginning we said that irrigation development is 3. The sustainability of the ground water is quite problematic
much better for sustainable and reliable agricultural development
4. The availability of ground water is primarily depend on the
which leads to overall development in Ethiopia [14] noted that
nature of the aquifer.
irrigation development is a key for sustainable and reliable agricultural
development which leads to overall development in Ethiopia. Irrigated Having on the above reasons’ surface water source can be easier

Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, an open access journal Volume 7 • Issue 1 • 1000206
ISSN: 2168-9768
Citation: Tesfaw M (2018) Small Scale Irrigation Development. Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng 7: 206. doi: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206

Page 3 of 7

to manage for irrigation activities. Generally all those 12 river basins 100 hectare area coverage and [8]. Even if the system has a number
in the country have its own significant contribution for irrigation of problems, farmers have traditional water users associations, in the
development (Table 1). form of water communities. In the association the individual farmers
have a role for the development of the scheme and are generally well
The main objective of all these schemes has been to determine
organized and are effectively by farmers. Small scale irrigation system
the water potential, assess the extent and nature of water utilization,
can be apply in all farmers such as growing of vegetables at a house hold
and recommend priority areas for the development of surface water
level and within a small community by sharing resources and cooperate
resources in the country. The following map shows the special
closely to achieve common goals. The association may comprise up to
distribution of river basins among the regions of the country with
200 users who share common canal or its branch. Example of small-
respect to irrigation potential (Figure 1).
scale irrigation include household based rain water harvesting, hand
Ground water resource: As compared to surface water resources dug well, shallow wells individual house hold-based river diversions
Ethiopia has lower ground water potential. Having on the revealing and other methods can be used.
information available on ground water potential is estimated to be
The development of small scale irrigation: When small scale
about 2.6 BMC (billion meter cube) annually rechargeable resource
irrigation becomes develop in rural areas of the community agricultural
[17] estimated that at least 13.2 BMC infiltration into the ground water
productivity to be enhanced. This helps to minimize the dependence
system of which 50% could be extracted.
and erratic rainfall by providing suitable supply of water by the system
Agriculture is the driving force of an Ethiopia economy by using 12 to increase food security for the communities. Irrigation development
river basins water sources and which contains annual runoff volume of can also improve the quality of the crops which in turn to maximize
122 Billion m3 of water and 2.6-2.65 Billion m3 of ground water potential the human nutritional aspect. Traditionally farmers have built small-
[6,14]. The numerical estimation showed that the country has abundant scale scheme on Inventiveness, from government aid by (technical
water resource. The cultivated agricultural land of Ethiopian currently and material support), they manage them with in a collaborative and
under cultivation is about 12 million hectare. Even if the potential of integrated way through their own user associations [8]. The committee
the resource is higher which is not meet the actual irrigated area [18]? is traditionally called “yewhe Dagna” or” yelemat burden”.
In our context ground water source is not available for irrigation Traditional practice of small-scale irrigation is made traditionally
purpose rather we use municipal or drinking purpose especially in by building divert ditches at a field level. Earth and stone embankments
lowlands of the Afar region and Somalia region by hand dug wells even are built at aside of the river and stream, to gradually left and divers
the ground water table is below 600 m. Depending on the nature of the the water on the field, where as modern scheme are characterized by
geology ground water can be dig out and used for different purpose. modern conveyance structure [20]. The government has go through
its plan to achieve irrigation development by considering the previous
Aim of irrigation target and also modify the system when the scheme is weak. The
The aim of irrigation is to enable the farmers’ to make at most previous developments target was to put additional 274, 612 ha by 2016
use of the natural resources, water and soil using his or her labor and [21]. Its revised target is mainly related to maximize the area coverage
skill to produce crops (subsistence and commercial) for livelihood. as well as to improve the agricultural productivity by including medium
Livelihood includes on farm non-farmer and off farm activities that and large scale irrigation system. And now days the sector is under the
ministers of Water, Irrigation and Energy and it is will also strive similar
aims at food security in the first place poverty alleviation, biodiversity,
targets [22].
crop diversification and last but not least socio-economic importance of
the entire rural community, climate and topography (shape and slope) Stake holders who participate in small-scale irrigation: In broad
is to be taken to account [19]. terms, stakeholders including individuals farmers, private or public
enterprise, benefactors and water user organization which are concerned
Small-scale irrigation system: Small-scale irrigation system in with water resources and have an interest in their development. The
Ethiopia is generally includes traditional small-scale irrigation up to explanation can be broad or narrow involvement liable on the type of
Basin Catchment Area Irrigation potentials (Ha) (Respective recent master plan Irrigation Potential (WAPCOS 1995)
(Km2) studies)
Small Scale Medium Scale Large Scale Total Total Drainage Irrigable Area Percent Irrigable Area
Area (km2) (Ha) of the Country
Abbay 198,890.7 45,856 130,395 639,330 815,581 201,346 1,001,000 27
Tekeze 83,475.94 N/A N/A 83,368 83,368 90,001 3,17,000 8.5
Baro-Akobo 76,203.12 N/A N/A 1,019,523 1,019,523 74,102 9,85,000 26.5
Omo-Ghibe 79,000 N/A 10,028 57,900 67,928 78,213 4,45,000 12
Rift Valley 52,739 N/A 4000 45,700 139,300 52,739 1,39,000 3.7
Awash 110,439.3 30,556 24,500 79,065 134,121 112,697 2,05,000 5.5
Genale Dawa 172,133 1,805 28,415 1,044,500 1,074,720 117,042 4,23,000 11.4
Wabi Shebele 202,219.5 10,755 55,950 171,200 237,905 102,697 200,000 5.4
Denakil 63,852.97 2,309 45,656 110,811 158,776 74,102 - -
Ogaden 77,121 - 77,121 - -
Ayisha 2,000 2,000 - -
(Gulf of Aden) -
Total 1,118,074.53 3,731,222 982,060 3,715,000 100

Table 1: Irrigation Potential in the River Basins of Ethiopia.

Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, an open access journal Volume 7 • Issue 1 • 1000206
ISSN: 2168-9768
Citation: Tesfaw M (2018) Small Scale Irrigation Development. Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng 7: 206. doi: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206

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Irrigation Potentials
Rivers
Lakes
ABBAY

OGADEN

0 150 300 600

Kilometers

Source: Ethiopian geographical information system (GIS data).

Figure 1: Geographical map of a Research Area.

Ministry of Preparation of studies, plans

Water and guidelines, and the
Resources formulation of policies
Stakehol
der
involve
The Regional
ment
administrations Implementation of these plans, policies and
should
strategies
be
mandat
ory Public sector Concerned with water
agencies resources issues and activities

Individuals and NGOS

at the local level.
Individual water
users

Figure 2: Hierarchy of water resource development authority.

water resource development schemes under consideration. When the Irrigation is more effective if all users and non-users participate
project is said to be larger it needs higher number of stake holders’ actually during the planning, implementing, maintaining, monitoring
involvement. and evaluating works. The participation of the direct stakeholders
becomes the actor to facilitate during managing and governing of any
From the following schematic representation of the hierarchy of
irrigation schemes may be realized in several ways, provisional on
water resource development organization from the higher to lower the
the nature of system as well as the size of system. The management
stake holders involvement should be mandatory when the project is
committee may be elected by the water users, and they try to organized
going to be efficient (Figure 2).
water users group. From the earlier period peoples were ignored
In view of the fact that the above chain of the authority for the women’s participation during irrigation development projects. But
development of water resource on the agricultural water management female headed household become a gender biased in contradict females
and water supply sense so having on that the stakeholders involvement have a central role for the development of irrigation water project.
will have to be somewhat better. While local stakeholders’ involvement Irrigation should have adverse effects among the beneficiaries, if there
is lower the development sense becomes nothing since individual are not equal and fair distribution resources.
stakeholders have a role for sustainable projects. Where private sectors
may also be considered as a stakeholder. Top-down approach of the Gender issues: Unlike the water supply projects, the irrigation
hierarchy will deny the main stakeholders the results become lose the water development projects female involvements are lower. In most
chance to have logic in water resource development activities. The rural areas women are the primary water carriers and users. In order
paper thus will emphasis in specific on water users shall said to be direct to promote small scale irrigation development in Ethiopia have
stakeholders to tell apart them from the secondary stakeholders. compensated service to gender. Female involvement on the irrigation

Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, an open access journal Volume 7 • Issue 1 • 1000206
ISSN: 2168-9768
Citation: Tesfaw M (2018) Small Scale Irrigation Development. Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng 7: 206. doi: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206

Page 5 of 7

water development couldn’t be strong enough their active participations Assessment or reviewing of irrigation sector in Ethiopia
can be taken in to considerations. Most writers’ were wrote about the
women’s participation during irrigation development I have to reflect The modern history of Ethiopia shows that the country has a
their ideas and I have to decide regarding to the benefit derived from number of irrigation sectors from small (household level) to large
crop production during the household interviews, women were (state controlled level). Small and medium scale irrigation sectors can
asked openly about their participation as well as involvement in field be practiced in most rural communities of the country while large
crop production activities . The answers fell into three categories, no irrigation sectors are available in middle Awash, Metehara, Wonji, Nura
participation, semi-participation and full participation. Era, Fincha, Tendaho, Kesem, Kuraz, Tana beles, etc. either commercial
or public sponsored projects which is >>3000 ha area coverage.
No participation: This group consists of women who do not work
in the fields, almost 20% of the women in the fields. Almost 20% of the Challenges and opportunities of small-scale irrigation
women in the sample fall in to no participation category but woman’s In order to practice the small-scale irrigation system development
involvement become indirect like; preparing food for paid workers. opportunities and problems can be encourage. The system is going to be
Semi-participation: In this group we find women who participate efficient hope for the best and use opportunities while facing threat and
in field activities mainly during peak seasons, when labor is scarce prepare the worst through minimizing the problems. Having on this the
and extra help is needed from all members of the family (for example following challenges and opportunities can be occurred.
planting and harvesting seasons). 60% of the women fell in this group. Challenges: The country has been a series of challenges even
Full participation: Women in this group participate in field during good rain seasons and natural failure due to different factors
activities, every day. Women involvement in decision making regarding such as pests, erratic rain fall and other environmental constraints.
the benefits obtained from irrigated agriculture to the amounts of the Ethiopia could try to face those challenges in terms of food security
crop to be sold, the amount to be allocated for home consumption, the is accompanying with in adequate food production to sustain rural
way in which the money should be spent etc. women’s responses also communities. Therefor increasing arable land or attempting to increase
fell into three groups (Figure 2). Never consulted, 14% of the women to promote the food security in the country, we are not expected to
reported that they were never consulted by their husbands on decisions. agricultural yield alone will promote food security and requires other
26% of the women fell in this group. Always consulted, more than half substantial products to be produced. According to field data records
of the woman is shared decision making with their husbands. shown that the following are challenges of irrigation development are
listed and explained. These are:
Women’s has a central role during production process and in
some case female headed household to be sustaining their life and to 1. Shortage of basic technical knowledge of using modern
secure food production involvement and participation becomes better. irrigation systems such as drip, sprinkler and spate irrigation
There are a number of limiting factors why females are participating in systems;
irrigation water application includes; cultural rules, related to technical 2. Inadequate awareness about how to manage irrigation water
skills, the ability to do labor works and so on.
with in the field and irrigation scheduling;
Women there for be involved in the planning, operation and
3. Inadequate knowledge of an improved and diversified irrigation
maintenance of rural water supply schemes. The following diagram
agronomic practice;
shows that the scale of female participation for the development of
irrigation system (Figure 3). 4. During small-scale irrigation development the structure
depends on scheme based approach rather than area catchment
Economic contribution of small-scale irrigation to farmer’s
based;
livelihood
5. Lack of involvement in design, construction, operation and
The development of small- scale irrigation scheme has led to increase
maintenance of the irrigation projects;
cropping intensity per year and increase production by supplementing
the rain fed production. It also enables the farmers to produce cash crop 6. The output of the current irrigation schemes becomes low and
such as coffee, sugarcane, cotton, banana and mango. Now a day the fragile;
price of these cash crops grown in the area increase and competitive in
the market through time to time and their livelihood improved. And 7. In some case problems related to the land owner and other
also save extra money by the iqub and in bank and by more ruminant infrastructures;
Animals. 8. Users Poor economic back ground.

Participation in field activities Participation in decision making Opportunities: The basic opportunities of irrigation development
in Ethiopia includes:
1. The growth and transformation plan could a special consideration
no 26%
for the development and growth of the irrigation system;
20% sometimes
60% 2. Individual farmers can be practice house hold water harvesting
20% full 60% never
14% and other irrigation activities through his /her indigenous knowledge;
semi always
3. Special consideration for the encouragement of private and
public enterprise development who can proposed an irrigation projects;
Figure 3: Women’s participation in field activities and decision making.
4. Abundant water resource and suitable environment for growers;

Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, an open access journal Volume 7 • Issue 1 • 1000206
ISSN: 2168-9768
Citation: Tesfaw M (2018) Small Scale Irrigation Development. Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng 7: 206. doi: 10.4172/2168-9768.1000206

Page 6 of 7

5. Availability of suitable land for irrigation development especially opportunity for the household to be diversifying their income base
at arid area of the country; and reduced their dependency on rain fed agriculture that would like
to improve food sufficiency status than before the development of
6. Availability of in extensive labor.
small scale irrigation practices. Regardless of the financial and labor
Advantage and disadvantage of small-scale irrigation constraint, women are also benefiting from the small-scale irrigation
practices by producing vegetables and renting their land. Due to
Advantage of small-scale irrigation: If we manage irrigation well practicing small-scale irrigation, water application problems are
activities in proper way it has a number of positive impacts like; generate improved.
income, food sufficiency, create employment opportunity, social needs
can be self-actualization, increase in agricultural production through Extension works should be done to aware the importance of
expansion and growth of crops, and poverty reduction with in an irrigation system and the involvement of the farmers could be include
overall view. Within a wide range of application it is better to determine when the system is going to be efficient.
the merits of an irrigation system in a certain community are to be Government and other related policy formulation organizations
economically stable, social acceptable, environmentally attractive [23]. should focused on decentralized system among the users.
The basic purpose of small scale irrigation is to provide water for References
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Irrigat Drainage Sys Eng, an open access journal Volume 7 • Issue 1 • 1000206
ISSN: 2168-9768