THE ROLE AND CHALLENGES OF COMMUNITY BASED SMALLSCALE IRRIGATION IN THE DERMA RIVER CATCHEMENT, DEMBIA WEREDA, NORTH GONDAR, ETHIOPIA.

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.