A Determinants of Small-Scale Irrigation Adoption and Its Impact on Household Income in North Shewa Zone of Oromia National Regional State, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study aimed to investigate factors affecting adoption of small scale irrigation and its impact on household income. It used cross-sectional data collected from 397 farmer households from three districts in North Shewa Zone of Oromia Regional State. Logistic and propensity score matching methods were employed to analyze the data. It was found that on average annual income of small scale irrigation adopters is greater than those of non-adopters by about 6,322 Birr and statistically highly significant. It was also found that farmers with higher number of agricultural labor forces were more likely to adopt small scale irrigation. On the other hand, older farmers, farmers without access to daily laborers, those lacking extension services, as well as married and widowed farmers, were less likely to adopt irrigation. Thus, government and non-government organization should support farmers to adopt small scale irrigation technology so that their income would be improved. The government should introduce affordable irrigation technologies which can be utilized by all farmers so that they can augment their scarce labor forces.  In addition, agricultural extension service delivery should be boosted through timely recruitment, periodic training of extension worker and provision of adequate logistics.