Abstract:
The Menz Gira Midir Woreda Godebey irrigation was concentrated on expansion of
hectares under irrigation, whilst skirting around the socio-economic effects of such
investments. Attention paid to the socio-economic impact of small-scale irrigation
developmental though growing is still limited. This study aims to know the status of
small-scale irrigation in North Shoa Zone and investigate the causes of failure of
Godebey micro earth dam and identify its economic, social and environmental impacts.
The assessment was carried out on Godebey small-scale irrigation schemes in the Menz
Gira Midir Woreda. The data collected by primary and secondary techniques through
reconnaissance survey, development agents and woreda experts were consulted in the
information gathered by questionnaire. It came out from the study, the main findings
were: projects that are planned with full farmer participation perform better than those
that are planned by experts on their own, backgrounds may have internal problems and
usually suffer from lack of group cohesion.
As explained earlier the irrigation infrastructure has been exposed for leakage, erosion
siltation and rot and rust problem. Attempt has been made to identify the main causes of
hydraulic failure of Godebey irrigation structure giving emphasis to seepage. The socio economic survey of Godebey irrigation project was conducted by structured
questionnaire, and the social, economic and environmental impacts were reported by
the local people. 72% and 28% of the respondents report that the main cause of failure
of the dam is sedimentation and design problem respectively; the main problems
reported in the area were shortage of rain fall, irrigation water shortage, fuel wood
problem and farm land shortage.
Recommendations regarding: Identification on the source of hydraulic failure needs an
extensive back analysis with help of frequent field visit; the concerned agencies should
organize the farmers, which are found at the side of the reservoir in order to practice
irrigation;
