On-Farm Demonstration and Evaluation of Rooftop Water Harvesting and Low-Cost Drip Irrigation System in Moisture Deficit Areas of Daro Labu District, Eastern Ethiopia

Abstract

The efficient use of water is seen as a key to crop production in semi-arid and arid areas of Ethiopia. For smallholder farmers, low-cost drip irrigation systems provide a means of maximizing return on their cropland by increasing the agricultural productivity per unit of land; and through increasing cropping intensity during the dry season. The experiment was conducted in 2012-2014 cropping seasons in moisture deficit areas of Daro Labu district Sororo peasant association (PA), Eastern Ethiopia. The study was conducted to evaluate and demonstrate rooftop water harvesting practice in combination with low-cost drip irrigation system in moisture deficit areas and increase the productivity of farmers using harvested water with water saving drip irrigation technology. It was also aimed to improve farmers’ awareness, knowledge and skill of utilizing water harvesting practices and water saving technologies. One farmer, who actively participates and has house roofing with corrugated iron sheets, was selected. On roof, side collectors and gutters were tied and appropriate site selected to place plastic tank for storage. The collected water during rainy season was stored in the two plastic tankers (total capacity of 8000 liters) for irrigating off-season for high value crop tomato (Cochoro variety) during three years of practice. The plastic tank and gutters were found from nearby as a suppliers and low-cost drip set which operates with gravity installed at 1m height above the ground level to supply water for the crop was obtained from district bureau of agriculture. The plot area on which tomato was cultivated varied depending on rain fall amount and variability during three years of practice. The marketable yield obtained varied from 5.24 to 39.06 t ha^-1 with average value of 25.76 t ha^-1 and corresponding gross income varied in between 78, 600 to 313, 405 ETB per hectare. Further, farmers’ mini field day was organized to assess their reaction towards the technologies that over 73% said they are affordable and 77% reported their operation is simple and can be handled with minimum training. Thus, the technologies are found important and recommended to be used in moisture deficit areas for both as supplementary and complementary irrigation.

Keywords: low-cost, drip irrigation, rooftop water harvesting, water use efficiency