Federal democratic republic of ethiopia ministry of agriculture
Sub-component 3.2: Integrated Crop and Water Management (ICWM)
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- 1.1.20Formation of Irrigation Water Users Associations
- 1.1.21Introduction of Improved Irrigated Agriculture Management
- 1.1.22Human Resources Capacity Development
Sub-component 3.2: Integrated Crop and Water Management (ICWM)Improving agricultural water management is critical for better agricultural productivity as water is the critical input for agricultural development. Though smallholders are knowledgeable about the importance of irrigated agriculture, they may lack the skills to effectively manage the resources for the productivity of their crops. Irrigation management practices followed in the country are inefficient. Crops are mainly irrigated by flooding entire fields, which reduces water use efficiency to below 30 percent. The water conveyance channels from source to the farms are mostly unlined causing seepage losses of up to 40-50 percent. There could also be occasional incidences of conflicts in the water use among the water users. For optimum results, soft components such as irrigated agriculture technical advisory services (improved agronomic practices and on-farm irrigation water management including training, demonstration, monitoring and evaluation, etc), input-output marketing, post-harvest technologies/techniques and credit services will need to be put as central component. However, in many irrigated areas, the agricultural extension service is grossly inadequate, both in staffing (numbers and skills) and technology delivery. In the country, there is an acute shortage of senior irrigated agriculture extension staff with specialist knowledge of water-soil-plant relationships and of water application techniques at field level. The training of farmers in agronomic practices and on-farm irrigation water management is especially neglected. Farmers are especially limited in knowledge on the water management aspect of irrigation—for example, how and when to water crops and how much water to use. Most SSI systems have problems in on-farm irrigation water management, practicing agronomic practices, accessing modern inputs such as improved seeds, agro chemicals, fertilizers, mechanization and in marketing their produce. Their production is erratic, while their produce is of low quality and they generally lack access to viable markets. Water usage in the systems is wasteful due to lack of awareness, knowledge, skill, and accountability by individual farmers since they do not have adequate advisory service and do not pay for water; if any it is in bulk as a group paying same amounts regardless of the amount of water used by an individual. As irrigation development aims at agricultural production, the engineering works should fit for this purpose. The objective is not the conveyance of water but the irrigation of crops. Thus, the engineering approaches used should be considered as part of a broader system (irrigated crop production) for which the designed scheme will be constructed to serve. Hence, understanding the fact that an improved and expanded irrigation system will be a key transformative input for agricultural growth, by enhancing irrigation water control and management, the AGP II is expected to facilitate complementary investment in improved seeds, modern inputs and agronomic practices, and market related investments which, together, will raise irrigated crop yields, cropping intensity and farm incomes. Therefore, improved control over the delivery of water to farmers should be supported by a strengthening in the provision of other complementary inputs and above all in the provision of technical training which will enable farmers to make more productive use of the water delivered. In addition to physical (hardware) rehabilitation, improvement and/or modernization, improved performance of small scale systems is highly dependent on the capacity of irrigators to operate and manage the scheme (software) well, their business skills and ability to organize and govern themselves. Therefore, there is an urgent need for irrigated agriculture specialists to be expanded and for the development of training courses in which the principles and techniques of water management are taught in simplified form to the junior kebele irrigation extension staffs that provide the main point of contact with farmers. Trainings to farmers will be provided in such topics as input supply, crop variety and seed selection, soil preparation and fertility management, and on-farm water management. Other specific training programs may be conducted in crop husbandry (including pest and disease management), seed production and multiplication, and marketing. AGP II will also enhance the capacities of relevant institutions and Irrigation Water User Associations (IWUAs) in agricultural water management in conjunction with water infrastructure development for agriculture. Therefore, the program envisaged to introduce appropriate irrigated agriculture advisory/extension activities in each SSI subprogram area based on the needs of the farmers and the potential for crop diversification towards higher value crops. Irrigated agriculture advisory service support will be provided to improve farmers' knowledge and skill in irrigation water management, and access to inputs and markets, and enhanced production skills, in order to help farmers achieve their targets in cropping intensity and yields. In the country, with few notable exceptions – which illustrate the potential for synergistic growth – irrigation systems so far have not improved productivity and crop diversification towards the higher-value crops. However, due to improved reliability of water supplied during the main rainy season through supplementary irrigation and the introduction of an incremental second season crop, the on-farm agricultural development measures under irrigation is expected to result in increased crop yields and cropping intensities. For that reason, the sub-component is devised to enhance the effective utilization of the irrigation system infrastructure development provided through the SSI Infrastructure Development sub-components with agricultural production activities. It would address the issue of insufficient integration between agriculture and irrigation water infrastructure development and management interventions in order to derive full benefits from investments in irrigation. So, the objective of the sub-component is to increase irrigated agriculture crop production, productivity per unit use of land and water, and profitability by improving agronomic practices, on-farm irrigation water management, promoting post-harvest technologies/techniques, promoting agro-processing and improving market access for smallholder farmers who use small-scale irrigation systems. Therefore, the main objective of this subcomponent is to improve irrigated agriculture water management to enhance productivity. Integrated crop and water management will be implemented by the farmers themselves. To have the farmers adopt the new technology and to achieve their participation in operations and maintenance of the irrigation system, an intensive process of training and support need to be implemented over the period of the program. Overall, the sub-component will seek to provide a package of appropriate agronomic and water management practices and investment support as appropriate. The major activities to be financed under this sub-component include: formation of irrigation water users associations; introduction of improved irrigated agriculture management (integrated crop and water management) and human resources capacity development. At national level, the Natural Resources Sector will coordinate and oversight the overall planning and implementation processes of the component activities. The subcomponent will be mainly implemented by regional BOA, BOWR/IDA and their respective woreda offices. 1.1.20Formation of Irrigation Water Users AssociationsThe sharing of irrigation water supply infrastructure, such as reservoirs, weirs and canals, but also equipment such as pumps and pipelines, is often inevitable for a program to be practical and feasible. Such sharing requires that the group of farmers is organized to manage and maintain their infrastructure and equipment. A crucial element in the successful sharing of a water source is that the group of farmers be well organized and equipped (trained) to control, operate and maintain their infrastructure and manage their finances. Therefore, a clear institutional arrangement on irrigation is required to overcome problems related to irrigation water as a common property resource, to provide incentive to members, disincentive for free riding and shirking. In Ethiopia, irrigators usually group together into formal and informal organizations such as Irrigation Water Users Associations (IWUAs), Irrigation Water Users Cooperatives (IWUCs), Irrigation Water Users Committees (IWUCs) and irrigation farmer groups/self-help groups. These organizations are established at scheme level for operation and management, but some of them engage in development of micro- and household irrigation systems. Irrigation Water User Associations (IWUAs) are self-governed organizations of farmers who pool their financial, technical and human resources for the use and maintenance of a defined irrigation system. In the country, Irrigation Water Users Association Proclamation was enacted by Parliament in 2014. This is a major milestone towards improving the performance of the irrigation sector in the country and will unlock the process of establishing strong Irrigation Water User Associations in the irrigation programs. The AGP II will work to introduce the new proclamation to program regions and woredas, and reorient the IWUAs according to the new proclamation. The major challenge with IWUAs is their low capacity to undertake their mandates. The legal status of some of these organizations is also a problem as many of them are not registered. Thus, this intervention is of tremendous significance in improvement of irrigation service delivery through formation and strengthening of Irrigation Water User Associations (IWUAs), fostering and capacity building to enable their effective participation in the irrigation system management, and enhancing efficiency/productivity of water use on sustainable basis. During the current AGP (AGP I), strengthening and establishing activities of IWUAs have been helping much in (i) improving water use and management by reducing conflicts so that taking cases to resort on the kebele administrative tribunal has reduced much; (ii) introducing high value crops; (iii) improving use of fertilizer; (iv) improving fee collection for O&M; and (v) improving overall management by advising to employ permanent staffs in few of the IWUAs. On the basis of this fact, the AGP II has set targets to establish 400 new and strengthen 100 existing IWUAs for the SSI subprograms; and training of 3500 IWUA committee members either in leadership or irrigation water and crop management; In establishing the IWUAs, the AGP II will assist in (i) Formation and establishment of IWUAs; (ii) developing bye-laws; (iii) conducting general assembly and election of executive committee members; (iv) registration as legal entity; (v) training of committee members on leadership, conflict management, record keeping, financial management, etc; (vi) training of committee members on irrigation water scheduling (water allocation, water distribution, application methods); and (vii) training of members on irrigation water and irrigation crop management. Strengthening of IWUAs focuses mainly on supporting (i) financially and technically selected IWUAs to have improved storage, agro-processing and other market facilities; (ii) conducting general assembly meeting; (iii) re-establishment and re-organizing/restructuring including assisting in legalizing of the organizations/associations/cooperatives; (iv) re-orienting/improving the by-laws; (v) help the IWUA to frame rules and regulations in a participatory manner for water allocation and distribution; (vi) training of committee members on leadership, conflict management, record keeping, financial management, etc; (vii) training of committee members on irrigation water scheduling (water allocation, water distribution, application methods); (viii) awareness creation training to committee members about climate and environmental problems associated with irrigation; and (ix) training of members on irrigation water and irrigation crop management. To enhance women participation in this component, AGP II will empower women by: (i) Enhancing their skills in irrigated farming; (ii) targeting women tailored activities for women such as hand-dug wells, lift pump schemes, etc; (iv) encourage women to involve in decision making bodies such as IWUAs; (iv) Providing facilities for clean water as part of the subprogram in order to reduce the time and labour women spend collecting water. Overall AGP II will focus on the following major activities:
1.1.21Introduction of Improved Irrigated Agriculture ManagementAppropriate irrigated agriculture extension activities will be conducted in each functional SSI program area based on the needs of the IWUAs and the potential for crop diversification towards higher value crops. To achieve the on-farm irrigated crop development goals, irrigated agriculture management have to be strengthened. In AGP II it is envisaged to introduce a number of new on-farm irrigation water management and agronomic practices to diversity the cropping pattern and enhance productivity. This intervention will also provide support for community or group level investments in productive infrastructure (including access and water-use related) assets and equipment that will serve to enhance efficient water use, crop production/productivity and/or marketability of the produce, and thus strengthen the income of smallholder farmers. Illustrative examples for this intervention will include support for:
Thus, focus of this activity is improvement in agronomic practices, on-farm irrigation water use and management practices and this will be done through field level demonstrations for crop and on-farm water management, integrated crop management, IPM, etc. To realize this, under this intervention there will be a study on irrigated crop diversification and input use, which will have a number of implications on both crop productivity and irrigation water management. In general terms the demonstrations will focus on use of modern seeds and inputs, improved agronomic practices, improved storage and marketing facilities and improved on-farm irrigation water management practices in line with water availability. Demonstration of new technologies is expected to result in crop diversification and crop husbandry (fruits, and vegetables), improved irrigation practices and better on-farm irrigation water management to improve water use efficiencies and reduce environmental degradation. For this purpose, demonstration plots would be developed in various parts of the program area to complement the direct assistance and to promote new technologies. However, the content of the demonstrations will be location-specific and demand-driven. The irrigation performance assessment intervention would cover monitoring and Evaluation (M&E) of the SSI subprograms performances and impacts. M&E activities would provide continuous feedback on the programs performance and impact of its various components to the GOE and the financers, so that lessons could be documented and corrective actions could be undertaken in a timely manner. M&E activities would cover three set of activities: (a) monitoring of program implementation, checking and audit of program outputs and quality; (b) program performance and impact assessment; and (c) monitoring of environmental and social impact and mitigation plans etc. under this intervention, the envisaged activities are likely to cover, but not be limited to:
1.1.22Human Resources Capacity DevelopmentExperience has also shown that functional strengthening of the institutions involved in irrigated agriculture is essential for successful –irrigation water management and its sustainability. This requires adequate technical training, exposure visits to develop adequate knowledge base as part of routine business process. Training of trainers programs will be provided in such topics as input supply, crop variety and seed selection, soil preparation and fertility management, and on-farm water management. Other specific training programs may be conducted in crop husbandry (including pest and disease management), seed production and multiplication, and marketing. Fields of training to DAs provided under the Program will encompass on-farm irrigation water management practices and crop husbandry. This intervention will support:
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