 Status and Potential of Spate Irrigation in EthiopiaFrank Steenbergen, Abraham Haile (), Taye Alemehayu, Tena Alamirew and Yohannes Geleta Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), 2011, vol. 25, issue 7, 1899-1913 Abstract: This article discusses spate irrigation in Ethiopia and aims to take stock of the current status of spate irrigation development. It summarizes experiences so far and formulates a number of recommendations on the development of this upcoming resource management system. It argues that raised weirs are useful mainly in areas where a large head for spate flow diversion is required, but that traditional earthen structures with conical stone/gabion reinforcements are cost-effective and technically adequate for floodwater distribution and management. It contends that the practical successes of sediment settling ponds (gravel traps) are at best mixed. Even where a small basin is justified, it can only ever trap a small proportion of the incoming sediment load. It is better to allow large floods with excessive sediment load (>100,000 ppm) to by-pass upstream intakes to be diverted lower down the system, and provide additional livelihood opportunities in downstream areas in the form of rangeland and agro-forestry development. This is particularly useful in the lowlands of Ethiopia with large pastoral community where spate irrigation is yet to make in-roads. The article further explains that water rights in spate are different from the sharing and allocation of perennial flows—they are dynamic and respond to a situation that differs from year to year as well as within a year and that a certain degree of inequity among users is inevitable. Keeping the command area compact can ensure two or more irrigation turns and this can highly increase productivity as crops are no longer in the ‘stress zone’. To transform spate irrigation in Ethiopia from subsistence to a business-oriented production system, the article proposes the promotion of cash crops including pulses and oil seeds as well as encouraging investors to go for bio-fuel development and agro-forestry in the lowland areas where huge potential exist. To avoid vehement conflicts that may arise among the settled agricultural and pastoral communities due to the implementation of the business-oriented production system, the traditional rights of the pastoral communities must be respected and their rangeland and water resources be safeguarded. For maximum yield, soil moisture conservation measures such as pre-irrigation land preparation, deep ploughing and mulching are essential as is the conjunctive use of spate flow and groundwater. Last, but most important, the article emphasizes that farmers need to be placed at the heart of any spate irrigation development programme as primary beneficiaries, managers and operators as well as part of the decision making institution. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2011 Keywords: Spate irrigation; Ethiopia; Soil moisture conservation; Water rights; Traditional and improved structures; Tillage practices (search for similar items in EconPapers) Downloads: (external link) Related works: Export reference: BibTeX RIS (EndNote, ProCite, RefMan) HTML/Text Persistent link: https://EconPapers.repec.org/RePEc:spr:waterr:v:25:y:2011:i:7:p:1899-1913 Ordering information: This journal article can be ordered from DOI: 10.1007/s11269-011-9780-7 Access Statistics for this article Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA) is currently edited by G. Tsakiris More articles in Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA) from Springer, European Water Resources Association (EWRA) |
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