Factors Affecting Farm Households’ Participation in Small Scale Irrigation in the Case of Hidabu Abote District, Ethiopia

Abstract

The objective of the study was to examine factors affecting farm households’ participation in small-scale irrigation in Hidabu Abote District, Ethiopia. A three (3) stage sampling technique was used to draw 212 sample households (97 irrigation farmers and 115 non-irrigation farmers) from three (3) kebeles of the study area. The kebeles were selected using a simple random sampling technique and farmers living in the kebeles were first grouped into two strata (irrigation farmers and non-irrigation farmers), and then the study households were randomly selected. The necessary data were collected through household surveys, field observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and econometrics statistics. Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors affecting the decision of households to participate in small- scale irrigation. The binary logit result revealed that education of household head, family size, off-farm, credit and training positively affect households’ participation in small-scale irrigation. In contrast, farmland distance to the water source of the household head negatively affects the decision to participate. The research recommended that giving training, experience sharing, providing credit access for female household heads, developing ponds, spring and water harvesting are very important for smallholder farmers in the study area.

Keywords: Hidabu Abote, Ethiopia, Irrigation Participation, Logit Model, Small –Scale Irrigation

DOI: 10.7176/JNSR/14-1-03

Publication date: January 31^st 2023