Challenges and Opportunities of Irrigated Agriculture: The Case of Gedeb River Catchment of Machakel Woreda, East Gojjam Zone

Abebaw, Lijalem (2011) Challenges and Opportunities of Irrigated Agriculture: The Case of Gedeb River Catchment of Machakel Woreda, East Gojjam Zone. Masters thesis, Addis Ababa University.

PDF (Challenges and Opportunities of Irrigated Agriculture: The Case of Gedeb River Catchment of Machakel Woreda, East Gojjam Zone) Abebaw, Lijalem.pdf - Accepted Version Restricted to Repository staff only Download (1MB) | Request a copy

Abstract

This study has investigated the socioeconomic, institutional and biophysical challenges and opportunities of irrigated crop production in Gedeb River Catchment in Machakel Woreda focused on what were the socioeconomic, institutional and biophysical constraints and opportunities; to what extent irrigation could improve the income of households and created employment opportunities and to what extent irrigation causes soil erosion and water logging. The River Catchment has different agro-ecology and socioeconomic situations thus; it was classified as upper, middle and lower catchments considering the agro-ecology and socioeconomic situations. From these catchments, three irrigation areas i.e. Laytemamagn, Yewela and Gotu were selected purposively. From Laytemamagn, Yewela and Gotu 35, 70 and 35 sampled households respectively were selected randomly. The study used survey, key informant interview and focus group discussion methods to collect primary data; and used books, journal reviewed articles and working papers for secondary data collection. For the analysis of the data, one way ANOVA, T-test, Chi-square test, percentage, mean and standard deviations were employed. The finding of the study revealed that average irrigated land holding size in Yewela is greater than Gotu and Laytemamagn. Partial trade livelihood strategy in Laytemamagn helped in search of market for irrigated crop products than Gotu. Crop intensity in Laytemamagn and Yewela is two times per year; Gotu produces once per two to three years. The extension service provided was inadequate and not packaged. ACSI credit service has constraints to access which were identified by farmers was similar in each irrigation areas. The water governance mainly done by water users but interference by the government bodies aggravated water use conflicts. Water scarcity in Laytemamagn was due to streams drying; Yewela due to transmission of water through cracked dam and Gotu due to percolation and seepage of water in the soil and furrow canal respectively. Employment opportunity was created for household members in Laytemamagn; both for household members and the community directly and indirectly in Yewela and Gotu. Net income gained from irrigated crops was much higher in Yewela than Laytemamagn. The soil erosion and water logging problems are minimal in the three areas. This was due to the farmers in the three irrigation areas are aware of the causes and control mechanisms of soil erosion and water logging. Therefore, the researcher recommends the policy makers and development practitioners to develop policies and strategies to alleviate the challenges, and strength the opportunities identified in the three irrigation areas and extrapolate to other similar environments in agro-ecology and socioeconomic situations

Item Type:	Thesis (Masters)
Subjects:	S Agriculture > S Agriculture (General)
Divisions:	Africana
Depositing User:	Tim Khabala
Date Deposited:	09 Aug 2018 10:14
Last Modified:	09 Aug 2018 10:14
URI:	http://thesisbank.jhia.ac.ke/id/eprint/8387

Actions (login required)

View Item