Abstract:
The study was conducted at Amibara irrigation project area, within the Middle
Awash Valley of Ethiopia. This area was potential for irrigation development and
consisted of wide irrigated area in the country. It was dominated by two
exclusive production systems of the pastorals and irrigated crop farming. The
irrigation development brought environmental and socio economic impacts to
the area and people living in the area before the irrigation development. The
irrigation project in an area included different economic, social and
environmental variables that hold the attention of the study made in an area.
The study was conducted to assess the environmental and socio-economic
impacts as a result of the irrigation development. It used primary data, for
grounrwater and soil salinity analysis and secondary data from long term
records of surface flow and ground water level for the flood analysis, while
production data and land productivity were used for economic analysis .
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There were many positive impacts with regards to socio cultural social services
changes in the Afar community and improve livelihood of community, who get
employment. On the other side it has negative impact on the pastoral
production system through loss of natural pasture and change in the social
system (mobility, population density). Environmental degradation through
shallow groundwater table and soil salinization, deforestation, changes in flow
characteristics and inundation.
This study recommend improved irrigation system through double and
government intervention in assisting the pastoralists to practice irrigated crop
farming lead settled and secured life . Also recommend Gamma and Pearson
type 111 distribution for flood prediction at Melka Sadi gauging site to minimize acci dental flooding risk in the study area.
