Current Practices and Challenges in Smallholder Irrigation Water Management: A WEFE Nexus-Based Assessment; The Case of the Meki Catchment
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International Water Management Institute
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As part of the CGIAR Policy Innovations Program of CGIAR, this study focuses on water management for smallholder irrigated agriculture in Ethiopia. Noting that Ethiopia’s promotion of multi-season food production for food security and livelihood improvements there is a need to assess the system from Water-Energy-Food-Environment perspective for optimized resources management. This study provides baseline analysis of the current irrigation practices, the use of surface and groundwater for a case study area in the Meki catchment of the Rift Valley Lakes Basin, Ethiopia. The study used literature review and field visits to conduct the assessment using WEFE nexus methods. The results indicate that that the catchment is already experiencing water management challenges and water use conflicts due to uncoordinated surface water withdrawals between upstream and downstream users. Some of the rivers dry up during peak irrigation seasons. Conversely, farmers believe that there are enough groundwater resources for irrigation and their major challenge is limited access to affordable energy to expand irrigation with groundwater sources. While this is an important factor for improved food production; there is a risk of unsustainable groundwater abstraction when access to energy improves in the future. Hence, this study provides recommendations on how to scale irrigation with sustainable use of water and alerts practitioners and policy makers to exercise caution as irrigation expands in the catchment and beyond in other parts of Ethiopia.
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small-scale irrigation, smallholders, water management, groundwater, energy consumption, food production, environmental factors, nexus approaches, irrigated farming