HARAMAYA UNIVERSITY

COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND NATURAL RESOURCE

DEPARTMENT OF AGRICULTURAL ECONOMICS

A Proposal Submitted to Department of Agricultural

Economics Fulfillment of the Requirement for BSc. Degree

in Agricultural Economics
THE ROLE OF SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION IN POVERTY REDUCTION IN CASE

OF SOKKORU WOREDA

PREPARED BY: HABTAMU ABERA

ID NO : 3074/14

ADVISOR: AWUGITEN G/HANA (MSc)

 ACKNOWLEDGMENT

First and for most I would like to thanks GOD for giving me the strength to bring

my long time dream and effort into reality. Then I would like to express my

gratitude and appreciation to my advisor AWUGITEN G/HANA (Msc), for this his

constructive comments and guidance. I am also express my thanks to my lovely

mother BAYUSH BEKELE and ABERA WOLDE my father and all my Relatives

person as well as friends giving love and support during my three years stay at

under graduate school. Finally I thanks all those assisted me with ideas,

comments, and contacts are too numerous to mention your names here, your

countless contribution have not forgotten.

 Gxhdgssdhfjgkgkggigfjgjgjjdj gkcjfjfj I

ABSTRACT

The aim of this study is to analysis the role of small scale irrigation in poverty

reduction in case of Sekkoru woreda. A simple random sampling is applied to

select 99 samples size which participants of the small scale irrigation in poverty

reduction in the study area. The descriptive statistics were used to describe

characteristics of the respondents in small scale irrigation. Method of data

analysis used descriptive method of data analysis for the collected data from both

primary and secondary data sources are first edited, classified and organized

heterogeneous classes into substrata based on their common

characteristics.Structured questionnaire were used to gather relevant

information from the sample to identify the role of small scale irrigation in

poverty reduction. The result revealed all respondent participants in small scale

irrigation .The descriptive statistics result revealed variables were significantly

affect the participation small scale irrigation in poverty reduction at 10(0.1)

percent probability level. Therefore the study suggest government must expand
source of credit,income generating activity, training and educating about the

irrigation enhance and empower farmers in small scale irrigation.

Gxhdgssdhfjgkgkggigfjgjgjjdjgkcjfjfjhxc II

ACRONMYS

MoFED:- Ministry of Finance and Development

FDRE:- Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia

MoWR:- Ministry of Water Resource

CSA:- Central statistical Agency

IWMI:- International Water Management Institute

MoA:- Ministry of Agriculture

UNDP:- United Nation Development Program

UNECA:- United Nation Economic Development for Africa

Gxhdgssdhfjgkgkggigfjgjgjjdjgkcjf III

TABLE OF CONTENT

Content Page

ACKNOWLEDGMENT ..................................................................................................... I

ABSTRACT ...................................................................................................................... II

ACRONYMS .........................................................................................................................III

TABLE OF CONTENT .......................................................................................IV

CHAPTER ONE ................................................................................................................. 1

1. INTRODUCTION ......................................................................................................... 1

1.1 Background of the Study .......................................................................................... 1

1.2 Statement of the Problem ........................................................................................ 2

1.3 Research questions ................................................................................................... 4

1.4 Objective of the Study ............................................................................................. 5

1.4.1 Specific Objective of the Study ............................................................................ 2

1.4.2 General objectives of the Study ............................................................................ 5

1.5 Significance of the Study ......................................................................................... 5

1.6 Scope of the Study .............................................................................................. 6

1.7 Organization of the study ....................................................................................... 7

1.8 Limitation of the Study .......................................................................... 8

CHAPTER TWO ....................................................................................................................... 9

2. LITERATURE REVIEW ..................................................................................................... 9

2.1 Theoretical Literature .................................................................................................... 9

2.1.1 Definition of Irrigation .............................................................................................. 9

2.1.2 Sources of water for Irrigation ............................................................................... 9

IV

2.1.3 Irrigation in Ethiopia ................................................................................................. 10

2.2 The Role of Small-scale Irrigation in Food Security .............................................. 10

2.3 Participatory small scale irrigation development program ................................11

2.4 Classification of the irrigation developments in Ethiopia .................................. 11

2.4.1 The small scale irrigation system ........................................................................... 11

2.4.2 Medium scale irrigation system .............................................................................. 12

2.4.3 Large scale irrigation system ........................................................................................................ 13

2.5 Definition of poverty .................................................................................................... 14

2.6 Benefits of irrigation ..................................................................................................... 14

2.7 The strategies to poverty reduction through irrigation ............................................................. 15

2.8 Factors hinder transfer of appropriate small scale irrigation ................................................. 16

2.9 Empirical literature ..................................................................................................... 16

CHAPTER THREE ................................................................................................................. 17

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY ...................................................................................... 17

3.1 Description of the Study .............................................................................................. 17

3.2 Data Source of the Study ..................................................................................... ........ 17

3.3 Method of Data Collection .......................................................................................... 18

3.4 Sampling Techniques ................................................................................................... 18

3.5 Methods Sampling ........................................................................................................ 18

3.6 Method of Data Analysis ..................................................................................................................... 19

4. WORK PLAN ............................................................................................................................................ 21

4.1 TABLE: Work Plan Illustration ............................................................................. 21

5. REFERENCES .............................................................................................................. 22

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CHAPTER ONE

1.INTRODUCTION

1.1 Background of the Study

Irrigation is the process of providing water to the land by artificial activities.

Irrigation as methods for improving natural production by increasing the

productivity of available land there by expanding total agricultural production of

the world, availability to irrigation was considered essential for crop production,

asset creation and expansion of development frontiers.

Irrigation plays the key role in the performance of agriculture, which increases

income growth. Developing countries that ensure sustainable economic growth

can be able to reduce their poverty levels (MoFED, 2010). Develo

Poverty reduction is the first millennium development goal. Poor countries like

Ethiopia were expected to have the number of people living below one dollar by

the end of 2015(MoFED, 2010). Thus, following government efforts, poverty has

declined from 45.5% in 1995/1996 to 29.6 in 2010/2011(MoFED, 2012). Irrigation is

practiced in Ethiopia since ancient time producing subsistence food crops.

It was claimed that reason Ethiopia cannot assure food security for its

production with rain fed agriculture alone without a sustentative contribution of

irrigation. Thus government of Ethiopia has prepared water sector development

program to be implemented in 15 years between 2002 up to 2016. This program

assigned a prominent role to be development irrigation in country for food

production (MoWR, 2002).

Although irrigation was started earlier in Tulo woreda, it start to expanded in

1990 by small-householder people in that living area. That woreda or district was

popularized by Tomato, potato, cabbage, onion, carrots production, which is

favorable climate conditions of the woreda.

1.2 Statement of the problem

Agriculture is still the key sector in many developing African countries. Its

contribution goes to the extent of stimulating other sectors by providing input

supply. However African agriculture is dominantly rain-fed agriculture and , as a

result, yields are low and farmers can be trapped in a cycle of poverty and food

insecurity for decades(UNECA 2009,p.117)

In Ethiopia agricultural production is primary rain fed so it depends on erratic

and often insufficient rainfall. As a result, there are frequent failures of

agricultural production. Irrigation has the potential to stabilize agriculture

production and mitigate the negative impacts of variable of insufficient rainfall.

Irrigation development also can help offset some of the negative effect of rapid

population growth 2.6% per years in Ethiopia (CSA, 2007).

Population growth causes agricultural activities expands into marginal land,

which leads to forest, land and water degradation. This environment degradation

can reduce agricultural productivity, which in turn worsens food insecurity and

poverty. In order to respond to growing food demand, food production should

increase. The three methods to increase food production are: increasing

agricultural yield, increase the area of arable land and increasing cropping per

year or intensity. Irrigation has the potential to increase both yield and cropping

intensity in Ethiopia (Awulachew et al, 2010).Irrigation increases agricultural

productivity and farm income per ha(Hussain, 2006).

This helps poor to overcome rainfall and water constraint by providing a

sustainable agriculture provide increased food security to poor communities and

contribution to the improvement income in our community (Asfew, 2007).

1.3 Objective of the Study

1.3.1 General objective of study

The general objective of the study is examined the role of small scale irrigation in

poverty reduction in case of SOKKORI woreda.

1.3.2 Specific objective of the study

To assess the problems that hinder effective with small scale irrigation in order to

poverty reduction.

To assess the role of small scale irrigation at household and community level.

To assess role of government in stimulating the small scale irrigation in poverty

reduction.

1.4 Significance of the study

The successful accomplishment of this study has the following importance

It was open clues about the role of small scale irrigation in poverty reduction in
study area.

1.5 Scope of the study

The study was investigated the role of small scale irrigation in poverty reduction

in Jimma zone of Sokkoru woreda and Deneba, Cheka, Yeroharo and Ekafko

kebeles. The study mainly the role of small scale irrigation in poverty reduction

particularly.

It is obvious if longer used for a study which uses time series data for analysis;

because there is no proper data lack of modern materials like computer in the

woredas and this study was take secondary data for the support of the primary

data from 2006-2009(4 years).This study was like other scientific work delimited

by time and space. It’s time of study was bounded by period of 2010.

1.7 Limitations of the study

While conducting the research the researcher faces with many problems. The

main limitation of the study was the following.

Lack of availability relevant information on the issue.

Unwillingness of respondents i giving the reliable information especially in their

own income and national status.

Financial and time constraints are the most limitation of the study.

But the researcher, despite the mentioned limitations, tried to resist them.
 CHAPTER TWO

2. REVIEW LITERATURE

2.1 Theoretical Literature

This part contains the theoretical and empirical related literature with the
conceptual work of the researcher study.

2.1.1 Definition of irrigation

Irrigation is the process of providing water to the land by artificial activities.

Irrigation has been used by human for thousands of years to supply water areas

of land as extensive as thousands of areas limited as small lawns and gardens. It

is the artificial application of water to the land or soil to assist in the growing of

agricultural crops, maintenance of land scope and revelation distributed soils in

dry season and during period of inadequate rainfall (MoFED, 2002).

2.1.2 Sources of water for Irrigation

The common water resources for irrigation are included: rivers, streams, lakes,

and reservoirs. These water resources are very important in agricultural

activities and other activities, but according to Ethiopia as well as many

developing countries are not effectively using those resources. Ethiopia has

considered water resources which can be utilized to expand the land. Ethiopia

has started using its abundant water for specific irrigation purpose; it has

different natural resource of water (Arya, 2009).

 2.1.3 Irrigation in Ethiopia

Irrigation is practiced in Ethiopia since ancient time producing subsistence food

crops. Irrigation can be increasing agricultural yield areas of arable land, and

cropping intensity or numbers of crops per years. The challenge that Ethiopia

faced in terms of food insecurity is associated with both inadequate food

production, and natural failures due to erratic rainfall.

Irrespective of the lack of knowing what is the accurate potential and what has

been developed and despite efforts of the government to expand irrigation

especially on small-scale irrigation system, the country has not achieved

sufficient irrigated agricultural productivity due to overcome the problems of

food insecurity and extreme rural poverty, as well as to create economic

dynamism in the country (MoWR, 2002).

Modern irrigation system started in the 1960s with objectives of producing

industrial crops in awash village. Private Concessionaries that operated farms for

growing commercial crops in the 1975 rural land proclamation small-scale

irrigation schemes transfer into producers cooperatives(MoWR, 2002)

After major famines of 1984/85 the government began to focus on potential of

small-scale irrigation as food security and started promoting farmers and

community oriented small-scale irrigation by providing assistance and support to

local communities for rehabilitating and upgrading traditional scheme

(Habtamu, 1990).

2.2 The Role of Small-scale Irrigation in Food Security

Some of 17 percent of world agricultural land is irrigated these 250 million was

account for more than one-third of global food production. Almost three-quarter
of the total irrigation area in different country in Asia country which thanks to

package of innovative technology introduced through the so-called green

revolution has achieved remarkable success in increasing food production

sustain it is over growing population (Yonas, 2006).

Irrigation has increased food securities and improved living standard of

population in many part of the world. Irrigation is clearly important for

promoting food production in the driers part of the world and as part of Africa.

At world the food summit in1996, the food and agricultural organization (FAO)

estimated that 60% of extra food required in the future come from irrigated

agriculture.2.3 Participatory small scale irrigation development program

The program’s goal is to improve the food securities, nutrition income of poor

people rural households by developing irrigation schemes for small scale farmers

on their lands. Many of the households cultivate plot of less than one hectare. The

schemes it’s developed have provided a model that can be so called up and

replicated throughout the country to ensure sustainability and the full

participation of local community members, farmers own and manage irrigation

system through their own water users association (IWMI, 2004)

2.4 Classification of the irrigation developments in Ethiopia

According to the ministry of water resources irrigation development in Ethiopia

is classified. This classification is different size depending on the size of irrigated

land area (MoWR, 2002).

2.4.1 The small scale irrigation system

Small scale irrigation system that covering an irrigated area of less than 200

hectares growing primarily subsistence crops. The small scale irrigation system
services mainly to supplement rainfall and provide greater degree of security to

peasant farmers. This irrigation system in Ethiopia is understood to include

traditional small scale up to 100 hectares and modern communal system up to

200 hectares (MoWR, 2002).

The traditional farmers have built the small scale system on their own initiative,

sometimes with government technical support and material support. They

manage them through their own users association or communities and water

users associations have long existed to manage traditional system in Ethiopia.

The small scale irrigation system is wide spread and has a vital role to play in

Ethiopia (Asfew, 2007).

2.4.2 Medium scale irrigation system

Those extending between 200 hectares and 3000 hectares and provide to produce

different subsistence cash crops. Medium small scale irrigation has great role in

the economy and that contains some cash crops (Dereje, 2005).

2.4.3 Large scale irrigation system

The irrigations have others classification depending on history of establishment,

times of establishment management system and nature of the structures as

follows:

According to program accelerated and sustained developing to end poverty

(PASDEP) which spans the years from 2005-2010(government of Ethiopia in,

2005);

Traditional system:-the small scale irrigation system which usually uses

diversion weirs made from local materials which need annual reconstruction or
from small dams. The Canals are usually earthen and the schemes are

constructed by local community effort and have been functional for long periods

of time, somewhere recently constructed with the aid of NGO,s and government

(Asfew, 2007).

The traditional irrigation in Ethiopia is a complement to rain fed agriculture and

the crops are grown often horticultural crops and fruits peasants have a keen

awareness of the benefit of irrigation and are willing to invest their labor in the

construction and maintenance of schemes.

Modern system:-The small scale irrigation system more permanent diversion

weirs made from concrete hence no need for annual reconstruction and small

dams. The primary and sometimes secondary canals are made of concrete. They

are community managed and have recently been constructed by

government(Asfew, 2007).

The development of modern irrigation has relatively recent history in Ethiopia as

well as traditional irrigation existences of long periods. The private

concessionaries operates farms for commercial cotton, sugarcane and

horticultural crops. This started first formal large and medium irrigation schemes

in Awash Valley (MOA, 1993).

2.5 Definition of poverty

Giving a comprehensive definition of poverty is difficult, because have varies

definition of poverty. Poverty is a social contract so its definition varies according

who ever formulates the concept. It also creates social isolation and results in

powerlessness and hopelessness (Chambers, 1998).

Absolute Poverty: is described as a lack of basic security, the absence of one or

more factors that enable individuals and families to assume basic responsibilities

and to enjoy fundamental rights(UNDP, 2006)

Relative Poverty: is used in terms of particular groups or areas in relation to

economic status of other members of the society and poverty results from even

consists of a lack basic securities, which includes financial resources, but also

education, employment, housing, health care and other related aspects.

2.6 Benefits of irrigation

According to (N.N. Basak, 1999; D.K. Majumbar, 2002) the following are important

benefits of the irrigation Yield of crops:-in the period of low rainfall or drought

the yield of crop may be increased by the irrigation system.

Protection from famine:-the food production of a country can be improved by

insuring the growth of crop by availing the irrigation facilities. This helps country

to prevent famine situation. Improvement of cash crops: -irrigation helps to

improve the cultivation of cash crops like vegetable, fruit,etc.

Prosperity of farmers: - when the supply of irrigation water is assured the

farmers can grow two or more crops in a year on the same land. Thus, the farmer

may earn more money and improve their living standard.

Water conservation: One of the most of important benefit of irrigation is the fact

it enables the user to save a lot of water. This is very beneficial, especially if you

are living in a area where water is already a scarce commodity.

Great benefits to plants:- The key aim of irrigation is to supply adequate water

for proper plant growth. On the other hand there are different kinds of irrigation
that you can use to achieve that. Through using drip irrigation, you make certain

that each drop of water reached the desired plant for more giants.

2.7 The strategies to poverty reduction through irrigation

All or some of intervention given below can help to the smallest producers
improve their own livelihoods and contribute to future food production. The
successful uptake will depend on application of research on how to irrigation can
reduce poverty and on the awareness of good practices invest in irrigation by
different peoples, extending information about the benefit of small scale
irrigation.

2.8 Factors hinder transfer of appropriate small scale irrigation

The appropriate technology on small scale irrigation development can be

improved significantly. Some of the problem most frequently encountered as lack

of interaction between farmers and technical advisers that means farmers are

still not sufficiently part of process of choosing the technology suited to their

circumstances, especially when schemes are being developed or rehabilitated.

When a technical advisers lack of skill, commitment or backup to interaction

meaningfully with the farmers and have no irrigation experience or have

inadequate exposure to technical to debate the option, physical that contain soil

condition, topography, rainfall characteristics and others socio-economic activity.

2.9 Empirical Literature

2.9.1 The empirical literature on the role of small scale irrigation in poverty

reduction
A study by Bagson and Kudu (2013) indicated that small-scale irrigation schemes

are very important in poverty reduction, livelihood enhancement, enhancing

food security, especially in recent times when the rainfall pattern is increasingly

becoming erratic.

Irrigation development is being promoted by government and non- government

organization as one of the development strategies contributing to the overall

agricultural development of the country in general and to rural household food

security in particular (Workicho, 2007).

Takele (2008) study conducted on small-scale irrigation schemes utilization and

farmer’s willingness to pay for irrigation water revealed that, educational levels

of households head positively and significantly influenced farmer’s utilizations of

small scale irrigations schemes.

Wagnew (2004) conducted a case study using formal survey on socio economic

and environmental impact assessment of four community based small-scale

irrigation in the Upper Awash Basin of Ethiopia, concluded that, rural credit

systems, institutional support, monitoring of irrigation schemes, training in water

management, marketing and general crop 19 production, empowerment of local

communities, economic evaluation of optimal plot size, cropping patterns,

agronomic practices and resources utilized in the irrigation schemes were

necessary conditions for viable and sustainable irrigation schemes.

In the previous study they are not considered the problem that hinder effective in

small scale irrigation and the government role in small scale

irrigation.Motivation of the researcher is to fill this gap the problem that hinder

effect in small scale irrigation like physical topography,financial

problem,technical problem,social problem and to study the main role of

government in the small scale irrigation in the study area.

CHAPTER THREE

3. METHODOLOGY

3.1 Description of study area

The survey of the role of Small scale irrigation in poverty reduction conducted at

household’s level in Sokkoru woreda. Sokkoru woreda is one of the woreda in

Jimma zone in Oromia regional state. Which have 12 Kebele in Sokkoru woreda.

Sokkoru woreda located at distance of 221 km from that of capital city of Ethiopia

and 139.7 km from that of Jimma zone.

The astronomic location is Latitude: 8° 04' 60.00" N, Longitude: 37° 29' 59.99" E.

Sokoru is one of the woredas in the Oromia Region of Ethiopia. This woreda is

named after the former awraja of the same name, and covering much of the same

territory as the current woreda, as well as its administrative center, Sokoru.

Part of the Jimma Zone, Sokoru is bordered on the south by Omo Nada, on the

west by Tiro Afeta, and on the north and east by the Southern Nations,

Nationalities and Peoples Region; the Gibe River defines the northern boundary.

The 2007 national census reported a total population for this woreda of 136,320,

of whom 68,469 were men and 67,851 were women; 12,724 or 9.33% of its
population were urban dwellers. The majority of the inhabitants were Moslem,

with 91.63% of the population reporting they observed this belief, while 6.99% of

the population said they practised Ethiopian Orthodox Christianity, and 1.19%

were Protestant.

3.2 Research Design

This study adopted a describtive research design, which involves quantative and

qualitative data. This research design is suitable for the study, since it seek to

provide insights and understanding of small scale irrigation.

3.3 Data source of the study

The source of data for the research was used both primary and secondary source.

The primary data was collect from rural household farmers and the secondary

source data would be collect from the written documents.

3.3 Method of data collection

To collect necessary raw data the researcher used primary and secondary data

collection instrument. As primary data collection instrument are structured

questionnaires and interview would be employed through telephone survey.

Initially structured questionnaires was developed in English language and then it

was translated in to Afan Oromo language because Afan Oromo is the common

language of study area. The key informant interview would be done for those

household who cannot read and write to collect necessary raw data.

The secondary data collection instrument, published and unpublished such as

books, internet, and annual report would be used. Information that was used to
describe geographical location and Socio economic activities of the study area

collectet from Sokkoru woreda Irrigation Development office.

3.4 Sampling Technique

The researcher used multistage sampling technique in selection of rural

household respondents. In first stage, out of 12 woredas in Jimma zone, Sokkoru

woreda would be selected purposively. Because of most dominant irrigation

processor/users in that district. In the second stage the kebeles of Sokkoru woreda

would be startefied into three as near, medium and far based on the criteria of

their distance from woreda’s town (Sokkoru) and then four(4) kebeles were

selected because studying the whole woreda kebeles needs more finance and it is

difficult to get all available data from each sub city. In the third stage, sample size

would be selected from each selected four(4) kebeles by using simple random

sampling technique.

3.5 Method of Sampling

The sample household respondents would taken from selected kebeles using

random sampling method. After the researcher gets the total household of

selected kebeles as sample, then the researcher would be used the formula of

Yaro Yamman (1963) to determine the sample size from target population.

ns= N/1+N(e)2

Where: N = Target population of selected kebeles

e = Level of significance

ns = Sample size
 The total households of 12 kebeles of Sokkoru woreda were about 147384. The

Target population household of selected kebeles were about 22693 and the level

of significance were 10%(0.1). Then the sample size was determined as follows.

ns = N/1+N(e)^2 = 22693/1+22693(0.1)^2 = 22693/227= 99.56~ 99

The total number of household from each kebeles included in the sample

proportionally as follows

No Sample Kebeles Total number Number of sampled Percentage (%)

of household house hold

1 Deneba 8692 8692/22693×100=38 8692/22693×10

0=38.30%

2 Abalti 5260 5260/22693×100=23 5260/22693×10

0=23.18%

3 Kumbi 3867 3867/22693×100=17 3867/22693×10

0=17.04%

4 Ikafko 4874 4874/22693×100=21 4874/22693×10

0=21.48%

Total 22693 99 100%

3.6 Method of data analysis

After the data collection, method of data analysis used descriptive method of data

analysis for the collected data from both primary and secondary data sources are
first edited, classified and organized heterogeneous classes into substrata based

on their common characteristics.

After data pass through this processing mechanism, then it would be passed

descriptive analysis by using percentages, graphs and tables.

4. WORK PLAN AND BUDGETARY PLAN

4.1 WORK PLAN

Table: Work Plan Illustration

Activity Oct Nov Dec May June July

Topic selection 

Proposal writing 

Proposal submission 

Data Collection 

Project 
 Writing report 

Final report submission 

REFERENCE

 Alem D,Adunga Eneyew,(2009), Extent report on poverty analysis study.

 Asfew D, (2007), Scaling up Agricultural Water Development in Africa, the

case of Ethiopia: Ministry of Water Resources, Federal Republic of Ethiopia.

 Awulachew, S, B. etal, (2005), Experiences and Opportunities for promoting

small scale irrigation.

 Dereje, Chimdessa, (2005), Assessment of socio-economic impact of

irrigation.

 D.K Majumdar, (2002), Irrigation water management.

 FDRE, Samuel, (2006), Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia poverty

reduction development goals.

 Hussain, Hanjra MA, (2004), Irrigation and poverty reduction; Review of

the empirical evidence, IWMI, Irrigation and Drain 53: 1-18

 SOKKORU woreda agricultural and rural development office, (2007)E.C,

Annual report on agricultural activities, Jimma, Ethiopia.