Review on participatory small-scale irrigation schemes and small-scale rainwater harvesting technology development and its contribution to household food security in Ethiopia

Abstract

This review aims to compile the past, present and future trends of participatory small-scale irrigation schemes (PSSIS) and small-scale rainwater harvesting technology (SSRWHT) development to ensure household food security in Ethiopia. It discusses the Ethiopian PSSIS and SSRWHT development based on the historical backgrounds, current conditions of development and its contributions to the national economy, challenges and opportunities, and future development perspectives. PSSIS and SSRWHT development has been suggested to be a central key part in curbing food scarcity and alleviating poverty not only in water scarce regions of the Ethiopia but also in many other developing countries. Government, donors and NGOs are investing in developing irrigation systems, especially on PSSIS and SSRWHT. Still irrigated land is 5 to 10% of 5.3 million hectares of irrigated potential area of country. This review indicates that, the existing current performance of PSSIS and SSRWHT development in Ethiopia is not significantly contributing to national economy of the country, when compared to rain-fed agriculture. Accordingly, irrigation sub-sector is not contributing its share based on the resources potential of the country. There is no consistent and reliable inventory data, lacks agreed reports in common consensus and well-studied and documented with regards to water and irrigations related potentials and implementations of PSSIS and SSRWHT development in the country.

Assessment of Potential Suitable Surface Irrigation Area in Borkena River Catchment, Awash Basin, Ethiopia

“…For these enhancing public and private investments in irrigation development has been identified as one of the core strategies which aimed to change economic performance from rainfall and enable sustainable growth and development in the country [1,[5][6]. In addition to this by considering the current population growth rate and food insecurity in the country [7][8][9] and [10] indicates that development of irrigation plays an important role in stimulating economic growth and rural development by increasing and stabilizing agricultural production and productivity of the country.…”

The Impacts of Improving Water Management of Smallholder Agriculture in Ethiopia

“…These characteristic impacts on food production are closely related to the persistence of poverty in all rural areas of Ethiopia (FAO, 2015). Smallholder agriculture, thus, is a pertinent and potentially worthwhile implement for minimizing poverty and maintaining domestic food security in these parts (Tadesse and Baihilu, 2017).…”

“…If production falls, subsistence farmers have insufficient or no substitute income to supply food for their families. When alternatives exhausted, the poor are enforced to exploit land resources, including fragile ones to survive, and it turns out that they are both the sufferers and willing agents of environmental degradation and deforestation (Tadesse and Baihilu, 2017). Consequently, the Ethiopian government has been trying to alter from outdated and labor-intensive, rain-fed, supply-oriented, and production-driven farming to technology-intensive automated, irrigated and, market-driven ones (Yihdego and Ghosal, 2016).…”

“…-Household food security status differentiated among irrigators and non-irrigators(Tadesse and Baihilu, 2017) …”

Review on Hydrological and Environmental Challenges for Irrigation Agriculture Development in Ethiopia

“…In line with this, concurrently in many parts of the country; it uplifted the food security of many smallholder farmers. But, On the other way, according to [7], how much the country has 5.3 million hectares of irrigable potential land and the governments of Ethiopia followed the development of small-scale irrigation, still only 5 to 10% of this potential land is irrigated and produces less than 3% of the total food production of the country. This show that, irrigation sub-sector is not contributing its share based on the resources potential of the country to adapt climate change in the country [7].…”