Abstract:
The level of performance of irrigation system is one of the most important issues that need to be
addressed in Ethiopia. This study was carried out at Boji Tika small-scale irrigation to
characterize and identify existing irrigation practices in terms of assessment of performance
indices and water productivity for future improvements. The farmers in Boji Tika irrigation
scheme have long experiences in irrigation, attained from traditional knowledge. The irrigation
scheme has 60 ha of irrigable area. The criteria for selection were its nearness to Ambo
Research Center, availability of secondary data and organizational set up. Collecting primary
and secondary data of each irrigation scheme has been carried out by the study. Primary data
collection included canal water flow measurement and physical structure status. The secondary
data collection has been carried out in collaboration with government officials, of irrigated
crops, area irrigated per crop per season or per year, crop types, maintenance and operation
cost. Conveyance efficiency and delivery capacity efficiency were the selected performance
indicators for evaluation. Main canal conveyance efficiencies for 30 m canal reaches at two
locations for lined canal and 200 m at various location for unlined canal were 92.05 % and 77.8
% respectively. The corresponding canal losses were in the order of 0.092 and 0.019 l/s per
unit meter length.
For future improvement of efficiencies and overall water productivity of the scheme proper
design and layout of appurtenant structures, guidance and support farmers in arresting serious
threat of gulley on water control, operate training farmers and improvement of physical
structures of the scheme are essential.
Performance assessment of small scale irrigation is the systematic observation, documentation
and interpretation of the management of an irrigation system, with the objective of ensuring that
the input of resources, operational schedules, intended outputs and required actions proceed as
planned.
