Impact of Small Scale Irrigation on Smallholder Farmers’ Livelihood Improvement: In Case of Damota Gale district, Wolaita zone, SNNPR

Abstract

This study mainly intended on impact of small scale irrigation on small holder farmer livelihood improvement in case of Damota Gale district, Wolaita zone, SNNPR. Mainly in this study both primary and secondary data were used which include qualitative and quantitative types of data.  In study investigator employed multi-stage sampling technique based on this technique three kebele were selected and 140 respondent were selected from total household on study area. Structured questionnaire were used to collect essential primary data from sampled representative of irrigators and non-irrigators and   employed both descriptive statistics and econometric model (i.e chi², t-test, logit model and propensity score match) to analysis collected data. Both descriptive and propensity score match (ATT) impact analysis indicates that small scale irrigation have contribution on small holder farmers livelihoods. i.e. based on descriptive result small scale irrigation have significant contribution on income at 5% significance level and household monthly expenditure at 1% significance level from non-irrigators small holders farmers. Finally, average treatment on treat (ATT)impact analysis results revealed that small scale irrigation have statistically significant impact on small holder farmers agricultural output, income level and household expenditure.  Small scale irrigation should be encouraged and developed by all small holders in order to improve agricultural production in return to improve livelihoods, So government and non-governmental organization should support small scale irrigation activities in order to reduce poverty or to improve living status especial those their aim is to reduce food insecurity.

Keywords: Impact, Small Scale Irrigation, Logit, ATT, Livelihoods, Damota Gale

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/11-5-04

Publication date:March 31^st 2020