Farmers’ Perceptions about Irrigation Roles in Climate Change Adaptation and Determinants of the Choices to WUE-Improving Practices in Southern Ethiopia

Abstract

Irrigation enhances resilience to the negative impacts of climate change through sustainable food production and environmental health. However, water is a scarce resource that needs efficient utilization. This study explored (1) farmers’ perceptions about the roles of irrigation in climate change adaptation and (2) determinants of the choices to selected WUE-improving soil and water management practices in southern Ethiopia. A multistage sampling technique was used to survey 373 households. The results indicated that the majority of surveyed households were male-headed: 90.6%, above 40 years old: 56.8%, and uneducated: 73.5%. They perceived that irrigation improved their net income (INCOM): 88%, acted as insurance against decreased rainfall (IADR): 44.8%, and insurance against increased temperature (IAIT): 70%; though the water was not available in all dry seasons: 55%. The choice to tightly close water-diversion points after use is significantly positively ( p < .05) affected by education level (EDUC) and perceptions about irrigation water as IADR and IAIT. However, the farmers’ perceptions about INCOM significantly negatively affected their choice to not irrigate at peak sunshine hours. The choice of mulching is significantly positively affected by the perception of INCOM and IAIT. Similarly, the choice of using compost is significantly positively affected by EDUC and their perceptions of IADR and IAIT, and significantly negatively affected by INCOM. The choice of not practicing conventional tillage is strongly negatively affected by the farmers’ perceptions about equitable water distribution (EWD) and INCOM. Therefore, it can be concluded that the farmers’ understanding of the roles of irrigation in climate change adaptation is good but their understanding of WUE-improving practices is poor due to poor water distribution systems and low education levels. So, improving water distribution systems and farmers’ awareness about WUE-improving practices are suggested to the study area and other countries under related conditions.

Exploring Farmers’ Perception and Constraints on the Adoption of Small‐Scale Irrigation in Hulet Eju Enesie District, North‐Western Ethiopia

“…The survey result also indicates that almost all irrigation-user farmers perceive the role of SSI as insurance against drought; similarly, a slight number of nonuser respondents positively perceive the role of irrigation as a response to drought (Table 3). This result is in line with the study by Kamwamba-Mtethiwa et al [49] and Chinasho et al [50] that point out the significant contribution of irrigation as an adaptation to the climate changerelated problems. These results imply the significant role of SSI on responding the impact of climate change and on improving overall farm productivity to supply sufficient food demand for the growing population.…”

Impact of Climate Change Adaptation Strategies on Food Security of Farm Households in Rural Dire Dawa Administration, Ethiopia

“…Marital status (Being married), plays a significant role in adaptation, as it promotes pool of resources and/or due to their responsibility to feed their families as argued by Asare-Nuamah and Amungwa (2021). Irrigation access has a significant positive impact on adaptation as it enhances resilience to the negative impacts of climate change through sustainable food production and environmental health (Chinasho et al, 2022). Credit access enhances adaptation as it involves capital outlays, mostly constrained in supply in developing countries (Ojo and Baiyegunhi, 2020).…”

Determinants of Small-Scale Irrigation Use for Poverty Reduction: The Case of Offa Woreda, Wolaita Zone, Southern Ethiopia

“…As a result, households that participated in FTC training or farm demos are expected to put their knowledge to use to boost farm production. As a result, homes would be better able to use irrigation [73,74]. Training had a positive effect on modest irrigation use at a level of likelihood less than 10%.…”