How Small-Scale Farmers Understand Rain Water Harvesting Technology? Evidence from Northern Ethiopia

Abstract

The study examined farmers’ perceptions and adoption of rain water harvesting technology in Raya-Alamata district of Ethiopia. Four kebeles were purposively selected from the 13 homogeneous kebeles (small administrative unit). During the survey, primary data were collected through a semistructured questionnaire distributed to 270 systematically selected sample respondents and through interview with key informants, development agents, and local administrators. Secondary data were retrieved from district agriculture office, books, and published scientific materials. Descriptive statistics, simple narration, and a probit regression model were used to analyze the data. The results showed that the farmers perceived rain water harvesting as a motivational way of creating sense of belongingness. They think that it increases crop production, increases forest regeneration, and encourages forage production. The probit regression models revealed that determinants of farmers’ adoption of rainwater harvesting technology were significantly and positively affected by education, farm size, and off-farm income. The effect of distance to the farmland and farmers training center (FTC) was also significant but negative. Men farmers had higher level of adoption compared to their counterparts. Productive and reproductive roles constrain women household farmers from using the technologies. Based on the finding, the policy implications were as follows: dissemination of information related to rain water harvesting technology should be imperative through formal and informal education. Alternative sources of water need also be promoted. More importantly, female-headed households need to be encouraged to be community leaders to foster the adoption of rain water harvesting technology.

Determinants of the Adoption of Charco Dam Rainwater Harvesting Technology by Pastoralists in Semi-Arid Areas of Monduli District in Tanzania

“…This suggests that pastoralist's households who participated in off-farm income generating activities were more likely to adopt charco dams due to generated excess income than those who practised only livestockkeeping. This study is in line with Mengistu (2021) found that the adoption of rainwater harvesting technology in Ethiopia was significantly influenced by the household head's off-farm income.…”

Exploring the Major Climate-smart Agricultural Practices for Dry Season Crop Production in Salinity Affected Fallow Land in the Coastal Areas of Bangladesh

“…Harvested rainwater is considered as a climatesmart irrigation technology for sustainable crop production in water-scarce and salinity prone areas [15][16][17][18][19]. Islam et al [20] found profitable horticultural production in hilly areas of Khagrachari district of Bangladesh using harvested rainwater.…”