Abstract

Adem Kedir, Fekadu Beyene and GirmaTeshome

The study analyzed the impact of small-scale irrigation on household food security. Multi- stage random sampling technique was used to select sample households. Data was collected from two groups (from 80 households’ participants in irrigation and from 80 households’ non participants in irrigation). Data was analyzed using descriptive and econometric techniques. Logit and Propensity score matching probability model was used to analyzed the data. The result of the model indicated that, participation in small-scale irrigation was positively influenced by education status of household head, distance from local market and frequency of extension contact and negatively influenced by livestock holding, irrigation water source, dependency ratio and non-farm income. The result of average treatment effect showed that, daily calorie intake of households participants in irrigation increased approximately by 28 percent than non participant irrigation households. Participation in small-scale irrigation increased the calorie intake by 908.29 kilo calorie per adult equivalent per day or increased by 28.52% over those households non participant in irrigation. These showed that the intervention in small scale irrigation was positive and there is a statically significant mean difference between the participants and non participants. The result revealed that, development of small scale irrigation for pastoral and agro pastorals households can make a significant contribution towards increased food security. Therefore, the study recommends that, continuous investment in small scale irrigation system should be encouraged to promote small scale irrigation development in similar lowland areas of Ethiopia to ensure pastoral and agro pastorals household food security.