DMU INSTITUTE OF TECNOLOGY DEPARTMENT OF CIVIL

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QUESTION ONE: -
Write brief description about development of irrigation in Ethiopia and problems in irrigation
development in the country.
Definition of irrigation
Irrigation is defined as the artificial application of water to land in accordance with the crop requirements
throughout the crop period for the purpose of raising crop yields. It is any process, other than natural
precipitation, which supplies water to crops for their successful growth. It can also be defined as the
application of water to the soil to supplement natural precipitation and provide an environment that is
optimum for crop production. In other words, it is the controlled application of water to crop lands.

Irrigation is one means by which agricultural production can be increased to meet the growing demands in
Ethiopia. A study also indicated that one of the best alternatives to consider for reliable and sustainable
food security development is expanding irrigation development on various scales, through river diversion,
constructing micro dams, water harvesting structures, etc.

History of Irrigation in Ethiopia

Irrigation is practiced in Ethiopia since ancient times producing subsistence food crops. However, modern
irrigation systems were started in the 1960s with the objective of producing industrial crops in Awash
Valley. Private concessionaires who operated farms for growing commercial crops such as cotton, sugarcane
and horticultural crops started the first formal irrigation schemes in the late 1950s in the upper and lower
Awash Valley. In the 1960s, irrigated agriculture was expanded in all parts of the Awash Valley and in the
Lower Rift Valley. The Awash Valley saw the biggest expansion in view of the water regulation afforded
by the construction of the Koka dam and reservoir that regulated flows with benefits of flood control,
hydropower and assured irrigation water supply. In addition, the construction of the tarmac Addis-Assab
road opened the Awash Valley to ready markets in the hinterland as well as for export. Although, certain
aspects of the development during the pre-Derg era have wrong doings in terms of property and land rights,
there has been a remarkable emergence of irrigation development and establishment of agro-industrial
centers. Currently, the government is giving more emphasis to the sub-sector by way of enhancing the food
security situation in the country. Efforts are being made to involve farmers progressively in various aspects
of management of small-scale irrigation systems, starting from planning, implementation and management
aspects, particularly, in water distribution and operation and maintenance to improve the performance of
irrigated agriculture.

A better policy environment for the agricultural sector exists since March 1990: the liberalization of the
economy; the encouragement of private commercial farms; the drastic reduction in public investment in

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state farms; the restoration of free grain trade; improvement in the role of extension agents, etc. However,
the land holding of individual farmers is increasingly becoming fragmented because of the growing
population. About six million private farms in Ethiopia register an average size of 0.8 hectares of arable
land compared to 1.5 hectares in 1979/80.

Ethiopia has a significant irrigation potential identified from both available land and water resources. The
country has developed irrigation schemes in many parts of the country at different scales. Data and
information are not uniformly available to accurately know the existing irrigation schemes. While it is
possible to capture the medium and large schemes data accurately, it is difficult to account for the small-
scale irrigation development, particularly, the traditional irrigation development and the privately developed
household-based irrigation schemes which use traditional diversions, water harvesting and ground water
development.

Development of irrigation in Ethiopia

Irrigation development in Ethiopia is categorized by various categories such as by irrigation
typologies, performance, regions and ownership.

The Government of Ethiopia has great emphasis to develop the irrigation of sub-sector by assisting
and supporting farmers to improve irrigation management practices and the promotion of modern
irrigation systems on small (less than 200ha), medium (200 to 3000 ha) and largescale (over 3000
ha) schemes. Gross Potential irrigable land of the country is 3.7Mha (FAO, 1995). But, only
0.19Mha is currently irrigated (FAO, 1995).

Water resource of irrigation in the country can be categorized in to two sources.

 Surface water is about 112 billion m3

 Ground water potential is about 2.6 billion m3

Currently, small-scale schemes irrigate 81138ha, medium-scale schemes irrigate 44837ha and
large scales irrigate 63581ha schemes. Ethiopia’s experience in large-scale irrigation development
and management is in state enterprises, mainly growing industrial crops like cotton and sugar cane.
These are now being transferred, partly to smallholders, and the rest to private holdings. Small-
scale irrigation (SSI) development and management was started in the 1970s by the Ministry of
Agriculture (MOA), in response to major droughts. The MOA implemented more than 50 small

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schemes in the country, including the ADF funded SSI projects in Amhara region. Development
of irrigated agriculture has continued to expand through the implementation of further irrigation
and drainage projects, thus enhancing experience in the subsector. SSI and medium scale schemes
are now implemented through regional offices, often with NGO support.

Surface irrigation is widely used in Ethiopia, with furrow irrigation being the most popular
followed by the basin and border methods. Gravity supply of irrigation water is the most commonly
used means of water abstraction, while pumping is practiced on some farms. In the highlands, the
scope for expanding SSI is constrained by the very low stream flow during the dry season and the
only way to irrigate large areas of peasant land during the dry season would be to construct storage
reservoirs. The Koga Project is the first attempt by the Government of Ethiopia to develop a large-
scale irrigation scheme for peasants.

Figure1. Ethiopian river basins map.

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Development Policy and Strategy:

The MWR (Ministry of water resource) recently issued the Ethiopian Water Resources
Management Policy, which sets guidelines for water resources planning, development and
management. The main objectives of the Water Resources Management Policy are:

 Promote the development of the water resources of the country for economic
and social benefits of the people, on equitable and sustainable basis;
 Manage and combat drought as well as other drought associated impacts, and
disasters through efficient allocation, redistribution, transfer, storage and
efficient use of water resources;
 Conserve, protect and enhance water resources and the overall aquatic
environment on sustainable basis; and
 To develop and enhance small and large-scale irrigated agriculture and grazing
lands for food self-sufficiency at the household level and for food export.
To achieve these objectives, Government strategy is to fully integrate irrigation with the overall
framework of the country’s socio-economic development plans as an integral part of the water
sector. Farmers’ participation will be promoted at all stages, taking into account the needs of
rural women. Small, medium, and large-scale irrigation will be promoted and cost recovery
models will be developed to ensure sustainability. Steps will be taken to ensure the prevention
and mitigation of degradation of irrigated water and to maintain acceptable water quality
standards for irrigation. To this end, a reasonable percentage of GDP will be earmarked as a
committed resource towards the development of irrigated agriculture.

Problems of irrigation development in Ethiopia

One of the main challenges to ensuring timely Program implementation is the ability of the regional
bureau to attract and retain reasonably qualified staff, particularly in remote area locations and this
could be affected by providing staff emoluments with prevailing market rates and adequate
allowances. There is an urgent need for MoA to harmonize approaches among donors in order to
ensure sustainable small-scale irrigation development, for example, by using experiences and
lessons learnt under Participatory Small-scale Irrigation Development Project (PASIDP) as an
important point of reference.

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 Generally, there are many challenges of irrigation development in Ethiopia. These

challenges can be explained as technical constraints and knowledge gaps and are identified
as: -
1) Inadequate awareness of irrigation water management as in irrigation scheduling
techniques, water saving irrigation technologies, water measurement techniques,
operation and maintenance of irrigation facilities,
2) Inadequate knowledge on improved and diversified irrigation agronomic practices,
3) Shortage of basic technical knowledge on irrigation pumps, drip irrigation system,
sprinkler irrigations, surface and spate irrigation methods
4) Scheme based approach rather than area/catchments based approach for the development
of SSI Schemes,
5) Inadequate baseline data and information on the development of water resources,
6) Lack of experience in design, construction and supervision of quality irrigation projects,
7) Low productivity of existing irrigation schemes,
8) Inadequate community involvement and consultation in scheme planning, construction
and implementation of irrigation development,
9) Poor economic background of users for irrigation infrastructure development, to access
irrigation technologies and agricultural inputs, where the price increment is not affordable
to farmers.

Small Scale Irrigation Development Problems

Irrigation development intervention and better access to irrigation enables rural people to diversify their
income sources and contribute a lot to short-term and long term alleviation of social problems. Small-scale
irrigation in particular can promote rural food security, poverty alleviation and adaptation to climate change.
It enables households to generate more income and in some cases transform their livelihoods. This is mainly
because, irrigation development helps to sustain and increase agricultural production, especially in areas
where rainfall is unreliable and fail to come. However, the performance and effectiveness of small-scale
irrigation schemes are constrained by multidimensional problems that are ranging from individual farmers
attitude to institutional arrangements.
Therefore, major constraints those are challenging households of irrigation development and performance
of irrigation agriculture can be presented as follows:

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Lack of mapping data: -

Mapping information not available at a scale suitable for detailed studies of irrigation areas, dam sites, etc.
Similarly, data related to soils are not found in sufficient detail to all potential areas.

Lack of Hydrologic Data: -

The collection of hydro meteorological information are not adequate. River gauges are mostly available
for major rivers and bigger tributaries.

Lack of resources: -

The level of skilled manpower available in the country is not adequate to carry out the number of projects
being demanded by the regions.

Inadequacy in construction: -due to inadequate machinery, equipment and spare parts.

Irrigation Water Management: -Allocation and Distribution

Water distribution is the main issue in any irrigation schemes. The most important performance indicators
in the distribution of irrigation water include adequacy, timeliness and equity in the supply of water. There
should be schedule to decide on the for water distribution, to plan and organize canal clearance, and to solve
problems arising from using water in the scheme. Each irrigation schemes has its own Water Users
Association (WUA) that is responsible for coordinating the distribution of water. The WUA has nominated
an individual who is responsible to open gate as per the program of each farm households.

Absence of sanction on water theft and illegal water users (those diverting the water course to one‘s farm
land out of turn) was complained as the main administrative problem in relation with water distribution.
This is the major administrative problem that encourages water theft and illegal water use.
Agricultural Inputs and Support Services
Various studies in Ethiopia have proven that the success of small scale irrigation partly depends on
appropriate application of modern farm inputs such as:
 chemical fertilizers;
 improved seeds and
 herbicides and other support services.
Therefore, utilization of modern farm inputs plays a significant role in increasing agricultural productivity
and enhances farm households’ food security status.

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However, most of the farmers in Ethiopia were found to be not satisfied in using such modern farm inputs,
mainly due to unavailability (limited supply) and un affordability (high price) to farmers. The proportion of
farm households using improved such modern agricultural below recommended level.
Market and Marketing Facility
Marketing facilities is one of the most powerful factors greatly stimulating agricultural productions of an
area. Hence, there is a positive association between efficient market and development of irrigation
agriculture. Although not directly related to the functioning of irrigation systems, lack of market and
marketing facilities have been proven to be a problem of small scale irrigators. Vegetables like onion,
tomato, potato and the like are perishable and bulky crops, so an efficient marketing channel is necessary.


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QUESTION: - TWO

Mention and discuss briefly about irrigation projects, irrigation methods and command areas
irrigated in Southern Nations, Nationalities and Peoples of Ethiopia (SNNP) Region?

SNNP Region Irrigation Schemes

The Southern Nations and Nationalities Peoples Region (SNNPR) is a region in the country where
numerous nationalities are found. The total geographical area of the region is about 117,000 km2.
The population in the region is estimated to be 14,902,000, of which 13,625,000 or 91.4 percent
of the population are rural inhabitants, while 1,277,000 or 8.6 percent are urban (CSA 2005). The
larger rural population is dependent on agricultural production. A study shows that, even though
the agricultural sector hosts a large population, the food production is by far less than the demand.
Modern and small-scale irrigation has been started recently by the Regional Irrigation Authority,
NGOs and other funding agencies, though a few private and government owned large-scale
irrigation schemes had been in the region since long ago. Around 107 irrigation schemes currently
exist in the SNNPR Regional State. A total of about 7,931.5 hectares of land has been cultivated
by modern irrigation schemes benefiting a total of 38,230 households. Out of these, 4,371 hectares
is from small-scale and 3,560 hectares is from medium scale. The government organs currently
involved with irrigation development in SNNPR region includes:

 Southern Irrigation Development Authority (SIDA),

 Bureau of Agriculture (BoA),
 the Cooperative Promotion Bureau (CPB),
 Bureau of Co-operatives and Rural Development Coordination Office (RDCO).

The NGOs and donors are many and some of them include: World Vision, Lutheran World
Federation (LWF), ADB, ADF, AFD, Action Aid, Greek Aid, IFAD, Food and Agricultural
Organization (FAO), United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), the Ethiopian Social
Rehabilitation and Development Fund (ESRDF) and the Government.

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Figure2. Existing irrigation schemes in SNNP Regional State.

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Generally, irrigation schemes in southern nations, nationalities and people’s region with their
command area is tabulated in table 1 below.

Table1. Some Medium irrigation schemes in SNNP Regional State.

S Name Latitude Longitude Water Planed Actual Planed Actual

No source command command beneficiaries beneficiaries
area(Ha) area (Ha)

1 Harre 6.116 37.566 River 1000 800 2000 1876

2 Zagae 6.233 37.375 River 450 900 1600 1077

3 Woyto 4.946 36.85 River 250 600 650 800

36.85

4 Arbaminch 6.03 37.6 37.6 River 800 NA 600 NA

5 Kedoboga 6.95 38.52 River 230 200 460 210

38.52

6 Upper 6.8 38.1 38.1 River 1200 NA 2200 NA

Bilate

7 Wajifo 6.5 37.766 River 300 300 1200 NA

37.766

Table 2. Some Small scale irrigation schemes in SNNP regional state

S Name Latitude Longitude Water Planned Actual Panned Actual

No of sourse command commaned beneficires beneficiaries
scheme area Ha area Ha

1 Bissare 6.65 37.96 River 164 NA 600 600

2 Balle 6.9 37.674 River 100 100 400 NA

3 Soke 7.172 37.59 River NA 100 400 100

4 Menisa 6.82 37.53 River 200 200 800 142

5 Megera 7.064 37.53 River 110 NA NA 200

6 eballa 7.28 37.58 River 120 85 200 NA

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