Analysis of Technical Efficiency of Small Scale Irrigation Technologies in Two Selected Areas of Amhara Region, Ethiopia

In the past decade, to improve crop production and productivity, Ethiopia has embarked on an ambitious irrigation farming expansion program and has introduced new large- and small-scale irrigation initiatives. However, in Ethiopia, poverty remains a challenge, and crop productivity per unit area of land is very low. Literature on the technical efficiency (TE) of large-scale and small-scale irrigation user farmers as compared to the non-user farmers in Ethiopia is also limited. Investigating smallholder farmers’ TE level and its principal determinants is very important to increase crop production and productivity and to improve smallholder farmers’ livelihood and food security. Using 1026 household-level cross-section data, this study adopts a technology flexible stochastic frontier approach to examine agricultural TE of large-scale irrigation users, small-scale irrigation users and non-user farmers in Ethiopia. The results indicate that, due to poor extension services and old-style agronomic practices, the mean TE of farmers is very low (44.33%), implying that there is a wider room for increasing crop production in the study areas through increasing the TE of smallholder farmers without additional investment in novel agricultural technologies. Results also show that large-scale irrigation user farmers (21.05%) are less technically efficient than small-scale irrigation user farmers (60.29%). However, improving irrigation infrastructure shifts the frontier up and has a positive impact on smallholder farmers’ output.

Download Full-text

Performance Evaluation and Assessment of Quashni Small Scale Irrigation Scheme, in Amhara Region

Lecture Notes of the Institute for Computer Sciences, Social Informatics and Telecommunications Engineering - Advances of Science and Technology ◽

10.1007/978-3-030-43690-2_10 ◽

2020 ◽

pp. 126-147

Author(s):

Muluedel Aseres ◽

Mamaru A. Moges ◽

Seifu Tilahun ◽

Berhanu Geremew ◽

Daniel Geletaw ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Performance Evaluation ◽

Small Scale ◽

Amhara Region ◽

Irrigation Scheme ◽

Small Scale Irrigation ◽

Evaluation And Assessment

Download Full-text

The Diffusion of Small-Scale Irrigation Technologies in Ethiopia: Stakeholder Analysis Using Net-Map

SSRN Electronic Journal ◽

10.2139/ssrn.3657153 ◽

2020 ◽

Author(s):

Elizabeth Bryan ◽

Fitsum Hagos ◽

Dawit Mekonnen ◽

Demie Abera Gemeda ◽

Seid Yimam

Keyword(s):

Stakeholder Analysis ◽

Small Scale ◽

Irrigation Technologies ◽

Small Scale Irrigation

Download Full-text

Sources of Inefficiency in Small-Scale Irrigation in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Analysis

10.21203/rs.3.rs-788145/v1 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Teshager Sisha ◽

Surafel Dillie

Keyword(s):

Rural Communities ◽

Poverty Reduction ◽

Stochastic Frontier Analysis ◽

Stochastic Frontier ◽

Household Head ◽

Small Scale ◽

Factors Affecting ◽

Frontier Analysis ◽

Irrigation Technologies ◽

Small Scale Irrigation

Abstract Increased production, food security, poverty reduction, and rural economic development can be supported by increasing efficiency in the use of scarce resources and technologies. Promoting small-scale irrigation practices may provide opportunities to improve the efficient utilization of land and labor. This paper assesses the extent of technical efficiencies of two household irrigation technologies: rope & washer and pulley practiced by farmers in two pilot areas of rural communities in Ethiopia. Stochastic frontier analysis (SFA) was used to estimate efficiency levels and identify the factors affecting inefficiencies. Labor and land are found to have contributed a greater share in the quantity of production of the crops under study. Plough repetition and experience in irrigation also contributed significantly to increased output. The results obtained from the stochastic frontier analysis indicate that farmers are operating at a significantly lower mean efficiency level of 70%, indicating the existence of room for increased production without additional investment. Distance to the nearest market, female household head, higher dependency ratio and using rope & washer (compared to pulley) increases the likelihood of being inefficient, whereas higher educational attainment of the head of the household and irrigation experience reduces the probability of inefficiency.

Download Full-text

An Assessment on Effect of Adoption of Small Scale Irrigation Technologies by Fadama Users in Agricultural Zone III of Niger State, Nigeria

Journal of Agriculture and Ecology Research International ◽

10.9734/jaeri/2015/15282 ◽

2015 ◽

Vol 3 (2) ◽

pp. 59-66

Author(s):

Mohammed Usman

Keyword(s):

Small Scale ◽

Irrigation Technologies ◽

Small Scale Irrigation

Download Full-text

Stakeholder Roles and Perspectives on Sedimentation Management in Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes in Ethiopia

Sustainability ◽

10.3390/su11216121 ◽

2019 ◽

Vol 11 (21) ◽

pp. 6121

Author(s):

Zerihun Anbesa Gurmu ◽

Henk Ritzema ◽

Charlotte de Fraiture ◽

Mekonen Ayana

Keyword(s):

Action Planning ◽

Irrigated Agriculture ◽

Small Scale ◽

Irrigation Season ◽

Structured Interviews ◽

Design Problems ◽

Irrigation Technologies ◽

Small Scale Irrigation ◽

Blue Print ◽

Rural Appraisal

Irrigated agriculture, particularly small-scale irrigation (SSI), is a mainstay for sustainable livelihoods in the developing world. In Ethiopia, SSI sustainability is threatened mainly due to excessive sedimentation. Stakeholders’ perceptions of the causes of sedimentation and how they sustain SSI under excessive sedimentation conditions were investigated in two SSI schemes in Ethiopia. A participatory rapid diagnosis and action planning was implemented, consisting of a literature review, participatory rural appraisal, and semi-structured interviews. Results show that farmers slightly differed in perception of excessive sedimentation drivers. Farmers reported design problems as the main cause of excessive sedimentation (64%), followed by poor operation and maintenance (O and M) practices (21%) and external factors (15%). In contrast, 62% of the interviewed engineers indicated erosion and irrigation technologies as the main causes of excessive sedimentation, while few reported poor design (13%). In addition to an intensive desilting campaign, farmers delayed the start of the irrigation season to avoid the intake of highly sedimented water. Local social capital and knowledge appeared to be more important than formal knowledge and blue-print institutions for dealing with sedimentation problems. Well-organized structure and extra time devoted by famers were vital for SSI sustainability. Integration of the farmers’ knowledge with that of the engineers could yield more effective ways to deal with sedimentation problems.

Download Full-text