Smallholder farmers' participation in small-scale irrigation system: Insight from Lume district, Ethiopia

Irrigation systems play a crucial role in ensuring food security and mitigating the impacts of drought and water scarcity. Numerous farmers do not possess the technical expertise required for efficient irrigation management. Therefore, this study examined the determinants that affect participation in small-scale irrigation in the Lume District of Ethiopia. Random sampling techniques were used to select four kebeles from a total of thirteen kebeles that have access to small-scale irrigation in the district. Data was gathered from a sample of 176 randomly selected farm households. The households in these kebeles were divided into two groups: the irrigation users and non-users. The overall sample consisted of 121 irrigation users and 55 non-users, accounting for 68.75 % and 31.25 % of the total sample, respectively. A binary logistic regression model was utilized to pinpoint the factors influencing participation in these irrigation systems. The results revealed that key factors such as the age of the household head, the family size of the household head, land ownership, proximity to irrigation sources, and access to credit significantly influence engagement in small-scale irrigation. The study suggests that policymakers and stakeholders should enhance credit accessibility and improve the distance to irrigation sites to encourage more significant participation in small-scale irrigation systems.