Mekonnen B Wakeyo and Naoya Fujimoto
Accepted Abstracts: Hydrol Current Res
Moisture stress weakens the use of modern inputs such as fertilizer and this undermines yields. In a growing population, low yields often cause food shortage. Investing in irrigation could mitigate moisture stress though it is expensive for smallholder farmers. Spate irrigation, a sudden flood diverting, could be cheaper to invest than other irrigation technologies. This study investigates factors deriving the choice of spate irrigation, compares the crop-choice in spate irrigation with other irrigation methods and measure yields in Ethiopia. For the investigation of the technology choice, a probit model is estimated using data collected from Ethiopia in 2005. Analysis of secondary data is used to look into crop-choice and yields. The findings show (1) farmers with more irrigation capital, family-labour and expectation of lower operation and maintenance costs tend to choose spate irrigation. In addition, among others, high aridity, long-period rainfall-shortage being in low and mid agroecology increases the probability to choose spate irrigation. 2) Market is not a factor driving choice. 3) Users of spate irrigation grow cereals and pulses than farmers using other irrigation methods which could enhance food security. 4) Spate irrigation increases grain supplies by increasing yields. The findings suggest that encouraging irrigation capital creating opportunities and introducing low-cost operating and maintenance methods, meteorological service and considering agro-ecological and regional diversities could increase the probability to use and flood modernize spate irrigation and help users decide crop choice effectively. With these measures, farmers in marginalized and remote areas using spate irrigation could improve their livelihood.
Hydrology: Current Research received 2843 citations as per Google Scholar report
Spanish 
Chinese 
Russian 
German 
French 
Japanese 
Portuguese 
Hindi 