Small-scale irrigation and household food security: a Case study of two irrigation schemes in lalibela woreda Of north wollo zone,amhara region

Abstract

This study aims to examine the role of small-scale irrigation development to assure household food security in drought prone Woreda of LalibelaNorth Wollo Zone, Amhara region. Its main objective being the study of the impact of irrigation on household food security, paying particular attention to its contribution towards increasing agricultural production, household income and the potential to reduce dependency on food assistance. The study also looks at the management and operation processes of irrigation schemes and its role to performance level of schemes. To serve these objectives, household survey, focus group discussion and key informant interview were used to collect data at household and individual level. Annual household production, income generated, asset owned and other socio-economic data were collected using structured questionnaire with the help of locally recruited and semi-trained enumerators. Background information of the study area, irrigation potential, food aid, beneficiaries, and market survey data were gathered from concerned government line departments and institutions operating in the Woreda. The finding of the study highlights the positive impact of irrigation development in that it helps to sustain, diversify and increased agricultural production. Irrigation enables farmersto generate more income and maintain productive assets like draught oxen. The study alsorevealed that irrigation promotes the use of agricultural inputs through supply of waterduring the dry season and when the amount and distribution of the main rain is found to beinadequate. Such opportunities of irrigation improve food availability and food securitysituation of irrigation households. The result of this study also shows that households with access to irrigation have been ableto double their annual income through the production of high value horticultural crops.Irrigation is providing gainful self-employment for participants and improving householdaccess to marketable food. Moreover, households could diversify their diet composition andfound at a better nutrition status due to diversified food sources produced through the use ofirrigation