Impact of Small Scale Irrigation Development on Farmers’ Livelihood Improvement in Ethiopia: A Review

Abstract

This review aims to illustrate the impact of small scale irrigations on farmers’ livelihood improvement in Ethiopia. It discusses the Ethiopian small scale irrigation development, categories and it impact on farmers’ livelihood improvement. The Ethiopian government has made a huge investment to develop small-scale irrigation schemes, and plans to enhance the recent level of irrigation infrastructure three fold by the end of 2020 to solve the household food insecurity problem of smallholder.Small scale irrigation is prioritized as one of the best alternatives for sustainable livelihood improvement, transformation growth and rural poverty alleviation in the country .It has multi-dimensional impacts on the living development of the rural people. It benefits smallholders in the course of crop diversification and intensification, employment opportunities, livestock production, credit services and increasing household incomes. Therefore, this review is important for understanding what was done in the past and what is going on now in improving farmers’ livelihood through small scale irrigation development in Ethiopia.

Keywords: Small scale irrigation, Livelihood improvement, Ethiopia

DOI: 10.7176/JRDM/62-02

Publication date: January 31^st 2020