The impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security: The case of Filtino and Godino irrigation schemes in Ethiopia

Springer Science and Business Media LLC - Tập 22 - Trang 145-158 - 2008
Abonesh Tesfaye1, Ayalneh Bogale2, Regassa E. Namara3, Dereje Bacha4
1Ministry of Water Resources Development, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia
2School of Graduate Studies, Haramaya University, Dire Dawa, Ethiopia
3International Water Management Institute, Africa Regional Program, Accra, Ghanna
4Agricultural Economist, Oromia Agricultural Research Institute, Oromia, Ethiopia

Tóm tắt

Ethiopia’s irrigation potential is estimated at 3.7 million hectare, of which only about 190,000 ha (4.3% of the potential) is actually irrigated. There is little information on the extent to which the so far developed irrigation schemes have been effective in meeting their stated objectives of attaining food self-sufficiency and eradicating poverty. Therefore, the aim of this paper is to identify the impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security based on data obtained from 200 farmers in Ada Liben district of Ethiopia in 2006. The resulting data was analyzed using Heckman’s Two-step Estimation procedure. Studies elsewhere revealed that access to reliable irrigation water can enable farmers to adopt new technologies and intensify cultivation, leading to increased productivity, overall higher production, and greater returns from farming. Our study findings confirm some of these claims. In the study area about 70% of the irrigation users are food secure while only 20% of the non-users are found to be food secure. Access to small scale irrigation enabled the sample households to grow crops more than once a year; to insure increased and stable production, income and consumption; and improve their food security status. The study concludes that small-scale irrigation significantly contributed to household food security.

Tài liệu tham khảo

Abebaw S (2003) Dimensions and determinants of food security among rural households in Dire Dawa, Eastern Ethiopia. An MSc Thesis, Alemaya University Ayalew Y (2003) Identification and intensifying of food insecurity and coping strategies of rural household in North Shoa: The case of Lalomama. A M. Sc. Thesis, Alemaya University Awulachew SB, Merrey J, Kamara B, Van Koppen B, Penning de Vries F, Boelee E (2005) Experiences and opportunities for promoting small scale micro-irrigation and rain water harvesting for food security in Ethiopia. Working Paper 98, International Water Management Institute, Colombo Belayneh B (2005) Analysis of food insecurity causes: the case of rural farm households in Metta woreda, eastern Ethiopia. An MSc Thesis, Alemaya University Chamber R (1994) Irrigation against rural poverty. In: Gujar Jaipur RK (ed) Socioeconomic dimension and irrigation. Printwell, India Dardis H, Soberon PD (1994) Analysis of leisure expenditure in the United States. Proceeding of the American Council on Consumer Interest 39:194–200 FAO (Food and Agricultural Organization of the United Nations) (2001) The state of food and agriculture. World Review Part I: 18–20. Rome. Italy FAO (2005) Global information and early warning system on food and agriculture.World food program. Special report. Italy, Rome Greer J, Thorbecke E (1986) A Methodology for measuring food poverty applied to Kenya. J Dev Econ 24:59–74 Heckman J (1979) Sample selection bias as a specification error. Econometrica 47(1):153–162 Hussain I, Namara RE, Madar S (2004) Water for food security for the poor. A collection of thematic papers. Asian Development Bank IFAD (International Fund for Agricultural Development) (2005) Special country program phase II. Interim evaluation report number 1643-ET, Ethiopia Kumar D (2003) Food security and sustainable agriculture in India: the water management challenge. Working paper 60. International Water Management Institute. Colombo, Sri Lanka Madalla GS (1983) Limited dependent and qualitative variables in econometrics. Cambridge University Press, UK Madalla GS (1992) Introduction to econometrics. Cambridge University Press, UK MoFED (Ministry of Finance and Economic Development) (2002) Sustainable development and poverty reduction program, pp. 1–87. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia MoWR (Ministry of Water Resources) (2001) Irrigation development strategy (Component of the water sector development program). Draft report. Ethiopia, Addis Ababa Mudima K (2002) Socioeconomic impact of smallholder irrigation development in Zimbabwe: A case study of five successful irrigation schemes. In: Sally H, Abernethy CL (eds). Proceedings of private irrigation in sub Saharan Africa. IWMI, FAO, ACP-EU Mulugeta T (2002) Determinants of household food security in Eastern Oromiya, Ethiopia: The case of Boke District of Western Hararge Zone. An MSc Thesis, Alemaya University Ngigi S (2002) Review of irrigation development in Kenya. In: Sally H, Abernethy CL (eds). Proceedings of private irrigation in sub Saharan Africa. IWMI, FAO, ACP-EU OIDA (2000) Stakeholders’ modern irrigation schemes evaluation report. Adiss Ababa, Ethiopia Singh B, Singh BN, Singh A (1996) Effect of mulch and irrigation on yield of Indian mustard on dry terraces in Alfisols. Indian J Agric Sci 60(7):477–479 Sigelman L, Zeng L (1999) Analyzing censored and sample selected data with Tobit and Heckit models. Polit anal 8:167–182 Woldeab T (2003) Irrigation practices, state intervention and farmers life-worlds in drought-prone Tigray. Dissertation, Wageningen University Wooldridge M (2002) Econometric analysis of cross section and panel data. Massachusetts Institute of Technology. London, England WSDP (Water sector Development Program) (2002) Water sector development program 2002–2016, Volume II: Main report. Addis Ababa, Ethiopia Yilma M (2005) Measuring rural household food security status and its determinants in the Benishangul Gumuze Region: The case of Asosa Woreda. An MSc Thesis, Alemaya University Zaman H (2001) Assessing the poverty and vulnerability impact of micro credit in Bangladesh. A case study of BRAC. Office of the chief economist and senior vice president (DECVP). The World Bank