Female Headed Households’ Participation in Peri-Urban Modern Small-Scale Irrigation Projects in Ethiopia, The Case of Kobo Town

Abstract

This study was intended to identify the determinant factors influencing female headed households’ participation in peri-urban modern small scale irrigation projects in kobo town, Ethiopia. To achieve this objective both primary and secondary data were consulted.  Purposive sampling was used to select the study town and irrigation sites where as simple random sampling technique was employed to select 333 household heads (both participants and non-participants). Primary data were collected from the sample female household heads through structured questionnaires. Moreover, Key informant interviews, Focus Group Discussion and personal observation were also used for triangulation. Descriptive and econometric techniques were employed for data analysis. Binary logit model was used to identify determinants of peri-urban modern small scale irrigation participation. Our analysis discloses that, educational status of the household head, family size, Total Livestock Unit, access to credit service and distance from the nearest market centres have significant and positive impact on participation. While age of the household head and distance to irrigated farm are significantly and negatively associated with participation. Hence, for better participation of female headed households, development of irrigation projects should consider the above mentioned determinate variables in to account.

Keywords: female headed households, modern small scale irrigation, participants, non-participants