Abstract:
The main objective of this research is to identify the roles and challenges of community based
small scale irrigation in achieving households income and food security in the Derma River
catchment in North Gondar Zone, DembiaWereda.The study employed survey method and
personal observation. Irrigator and non-irrigator household heads and key informants were
interviewed focus group discussions were also employed to collect primary data. In addition
relevant literature and important documents that are useful for the study were reviewed. The
result of the study revealed that community based small scale irrigation plays a vital role on
achieving households’ income and food security. Crop diversification was observed due to
irrigation development in the study area. The study finding highlights that small scale
irrigation for food security improvement and other benefits such as increased income, asset
building and the like are indications that small scale irrigation bring sustainable agriculture
and economic importance in the study area. Problems faced by farmers were analyzed by
weighting index PCI. The result indicate market problem, high cost of agricultural inputs and
crop disease as critical problems.The study also declared that there are challenges that
hinder the development of small scale irrigation practices in the study area like poor
institutional support in the scheme, non-functionality of the organized water utilization
association committee, high cost of fuel for water pump and chemicals. To improve the
performance of small scale irrigation scheme on households’ income and food security;
institutional support, input supply, market services or linkage, training of farmers and the
water utilization association committee including development agents, continuous supervision
and monitoring of the irrigation scheme activities is important.
