Abstract:
Small-scale irrigation schemes are widely implemented in Ethiopia with the view to
enhance food production and poverty alleviation. To meet these objectives the
schemes need to be properly managed and operated. Comparative performance
assessment of small scale irrigation schemes plays a great role in identifying
performance gaps and alerti ng the management to improve system performance.
This study was therefore initiated to assess and compare the performances of the
two small-scale irrigation schemes (Hora and Jalale) found in Western Oromia.
For this purpose some of the IWMl's minimum set of indicators namely, output per
unit cropped area, output per unit command area, output per unit water
consumed, output per unit irrigation water consumed, gross return on investment,
and financial self sufficiency have been used. To quantify the indicators both
primary and secondary data have been used. The results of the output per
cropped area varied from 22571 to 40588 Birr/ha, and the output per unit
command area of the seasons varied from 4587 to 21640 Birr/ha for Hora
scheme. Whereas in the case of Jalale scheme output per cropped area varied
from 23553 to 24397Birr/ha and output per command area varied from 17503 to
18797 Birr/ha. The output per unit irrigation supply was 5.57 and 4.48 Birr/m3 in
Hora Jalale schemes respectively. The relative water supply (RWS) was 2.8 and
3.16 for Hora and Jalale respectively. The relative irrigation water supply (RIS)
was 2. 76 and 2.91 for Hora & Jalale respectively. These high values indicate that
irrigation water was not a constraint and higher amount of water was diverted to
both command area. However, in the long run such kinds of over-irrigation can
lead to undesirable environmental consequences like salinity, water logging and
degradation of soil fertility. Generally, Hora scheme was found to more productjve
than Jalale in terms of indicator considered. Trainings related to crop selection,
crop calendar, irrigation scheduling and on-farm water and land management
could contribute to the improvements of productivity and sustainable use of
resources.
