COMPARATIVE ASSESSMENT OF WATER MANAGEMENT PRACTICES  IN SELECTED SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION SCHEMES: CASE STUDY OF  WOTER-02, ARARA AND HAJIFEJA SCHEMES IN EAST HARARGHE  ZONE
Creators: name: ABDI ABDULKADIR SEID
Publisher: name: National Academic Digital Repository of Ethiopia
Year: 2015

description: This  study  was  initiated  to  evaluate  the  performance  of  three  small-scale  irrigation  schemes  found  in 
Qersa  district, namely,  Arara, Woter-02 and Hajifaja schemes using selected performance  indices. The 
technical  evaluation  was  made  by  measuring  selected  performance  indicators  such  as  conveyance 
efficiency,  Application  efficiency,  sustainability  of  irrigated  command  area  ratio  and  comparative 
performance indicators such as water productivity and  land productivity. Moreover, water management 
practices and dependability of  the  irrigation interval  was also investigated through a questionnaire of  the 
sample  household  survey.  Overall  activities  in  primary  data  collected  included:  field  observation, 
interviewing  beneficiary  farmers,  soil  sample  taking  and  discharge  measurements  in  the  canals.  In 
addition to the primary data, secondary data such as meteorological data and agricultural production were 
collected from the secondary sources from zonal and Woreda irrigation development office and DA of PA 
and other respective offices. 
The  results  showed  that  the  main  canal  conveyance  efficiencies  of  the  three  schemes,  Arara  scheme, 
Hajifaja scheme and Woter-02 scheme, were 85%,  82.33% and  79.3%  respectively.  The maximum value 
of application  efficiency  was found  in  downstream field,  at  Hajifaja  scheme  70.79%  and the  minimum 
value was in the Woter 02 scheme at upstream field 41.04%. 
From analysis of water supply and demand following results were obtained. Relative Water supply is 1.1, 
1.4  and  1.8  at  Hajifaja,  Arara and  Woter-02 schemes  respectively, and  Relative  Irrigation Supply  is  1.1,
1.6 and 2.1 at Hajifaja, Arara and Woter-02 schemes respectively. The results indicate that released water
from diversion is more than the requirement; it can develop extra comma nd if managed properly.
The  production  output  results  include  agricultural  inputs.  Output  per  unit  irrigated  command  area  in 
Birr/ha was  190,386, 210,701 and 213,622  at Arara,  Hajifaja and Woter-02 scheme respectively.  Outputs 
per  unit  irrigation  water  supply  were  12,  15  and  25  Birr/M
3
at  Woter-02,  Arara  and  Hajifaja  scheme 
respectively.  Output per unit irrigated water delivered is 16, 17,  and 30  Birr/M
3 
for  Woter-02, Arara and 
Hajifaja  scheme  respectively.  Whereas  output  per  unit  water  supply  were  10,  11  and  17  Birr/M
3
at 
Woter-02, Arara  and Hajifaja scheme respectively.  The results  reveal  that hajifaja  scheme  is performing 
better  than  Arara  and  Woter-02.  Factors  that  affect  the  productivity  of  schemes  are  poor  water 
management,  farm  structures’  deterioration,  improper  irrigation  schedule  and  other  agricultural  input
utilization.  Improvement  measures  should  be  taken  in  terms  of  rehabilitation  of  the  schemes,  creating
farmers’ awareness for water management and input utilization and frequent maintenance of schemes.