The study was conducted to assess factors that determine a household's participation and intensity of use in the Gemechis district. A multi-stage sampling technique was employed and 167 sample households were selected by using the Cochran formula. Both quantitative and qualitative data types from primary and secondary sources were collected. Cross-sectional data were gathered through a semi-structured questionnaire survey. For both dummy and continuous variables, chi-square (χ2) and independent t-test statistics were used, respectively, to test the significance of the mean value of the two groups of participants and nonparticipants. The double hurdle model was used to analyze determinants of farmers' decision to participate and intensity of use of small-scale irrigation practice. Results of the first part of the double hurdle (probit) model revealed that the sex of household heads, household size, the annual income of the household, farm distance from the water source, access to extensions, and credit services were found to significantly determine the participation decisions of farmers in the small-scale irrigated agriculture, at different significance levels. In the second part of the double hurdle (truncated) model indicates household size, access to own oxen, farming Tale Geddafa ABOUT THE AUTHOR Tale Geddafa is a full-time lecturer in the

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Biogas technology, which converts biological waste into energy, is considered as an excellent tool to improve the lives, livelihoods, health, ecosystem and economy. In Ethiopia, biogas technology has been domesticated to improve the rural energy security and household's income by reducing their dependence on traditional biomass energy and chemical fertilizers. The profitability of biogas installation is rendered doubtful despite its numerous benefits and domestication efforts. Hence, this study aimed at evaluating the cost-benefit analysis and Profitability of biogas technology at household level in West Hararghe zone, Eastern Ethiopia. By using multistage sampling technique, cross-sectional data were collected from 105 systematically selected adopter households. The costs incurred and the benefits gained were analyzed using paired t-test. Payback Period (PBP), benefit cost ratio (BCR) and Net Present Value (NPV) were analyzed using different economic formula. The results indicated the most commonly domesticated plant is fixed dome biogas with volumes of 6 m 3 and 8 m 3. Investing 6 m 3 biogas plant with subsidy (0.73 year) had short PBP than the 8 m 3 plant (0.97 year). This implies, subsidy has been attracting households into biogas adoption. The BCR under assumption with subsidy was found to be 1.34 and 1.10 at 10% discount rate for 6 m 3 and 8 m 3 plants, respectively. Under both assumptions with and without subsidy, the NPV results for 6 m 3 and 8 m 3 biogas plant sizes turn out positive. In general, the results of PBP, BCR and NPV shown that the biogas investment is preferable and profitable for continuing the investment for the future.