Factors Affecting Participation of Farm Households in Small Scale Irrigation in Hidabu Abote District of Ethiopia

Abstract

The study was carried out to examine factors affecting participation of farm households in small-scale irrigation in the Hidabu Abote District of Ethiopia. A three (3) stage sampling technique was used to draw 212 sample households  from three (3) kebeles of the study area. The kebeles were selected using simple random sampling technique and farmers living in the kebeles were first grouped into two (2) strata namely, irrigation farmers and non-irrigation farmers of which the study households were then randomly selected. The necessary data was collected through household surveys, field observations, focus group discussions and key informant interviews. Data was analyzed using both descriptive and econometrics statistics. Binary logistic regression was used to determine factors affecting the decision of households to participate in small-scale irrigation. The binary logit result revealed that education of household head, family size, off farm, credit and training positively affect households’ participation in small-scale irrigation. In contrast, farmland distance to water source of the household head negatively affects the decision to participation. The research recommended that giving training, experience sharing, providing credit access for female household heads, developing ponds, spring and water harvesting are very important for smallholder farmers in the study area.