Your search found 52 records
1 Alemehayu, T.; Demissie, A.; Langan, Simon; Evers, J. 2011. Irrigation practice and policy in the lowlands of the Horn of Africa. Final draft. [Background paper]. Contribution to FAO Expert Meeting, Nairobi, Kenya, 24 - 25 November 2011. 21p.
Irrigation practices ; Policy ; Lowland ; Drought ; Food security ; Irrigation programs ; Irrigation schemes ; Spate irrigation ; Groundwater irrigation ; Groundwater development ; River basins ; Drainage / Africa / Ethiopia / Kenya / Eritrea / Somalia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H044639)
(1.80 MB)
2 Lemenih, Mulugeta; Bossio, D.; Langan, Simon. 2012. Exploring ecosystem services contribution to social-ecological resilience in Ethiopian agricultural landscapes. [Presented at the Workshop on Rainfed Production under Growing Rain Variability: Closing the Yield Gap]. [Abstract only]. In Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Water and food security. Abstract volume, World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, 26-31 August 2012. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). pp.134-135.
Agricultural landscape ; Ecosystems ; Sociology ; Ecology ; River basins ; Living standards ; Poverty / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045048)
http://www.worldwaterweek.org/documents/Resources/Synthesis/Abstract-Volume-2012.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045048.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045048.pdf
(0.05 MB) (2.19MB)
3 Sharma, Bharat; Langan, Simon; Amede, Tilahun. 2012. Developing rainwater management strategies through integration of technologies, institutions and policies for Blue Nile Basin, Ethiopia. [Presented at the Workshop on Rainfed Production under Growing Rain Variability: Closing the Yield Gap]. [Abstract only]. In Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). Water and food security. Abstract volume, World Water Week in Stockholm, Sweden, 26-31 August 2012. Stockholm, Sweden: Stockholm International Water Institute (SIWI). pp.137-138.
Rainwater management ; Technology ; Institutions ; Policy ; River basins ; Ecosystems ; Crop production ; Livestock / Ethiopia / Blue Nile River Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045050)
http://www.worldwaterweek.org/documents/Resources/Synthesis/Abstract-Volume-2012.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045050.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H045050.pdf
(0.06 MB) (2.19MB)
4 Mekuria, Wolde; Getnet, Kindie; Noble, Andrew; Hoanh, Chu Thai; McCartney, Matthew; Langan, Simon. 2013. Economic valuation of organic and clay-based soil amendments in small-scale agriculture in Lao PDR. Field Crops Research, 149(1):379-389. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.fcr.2013.05.026]
Soil amendments ; Economic value ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Farming systems ; Crop yield ; Seasonality ; Maize ; Rain ; Sensitivity analysis ; Cost benefit analysis / Laos / Xaythany District / Veunkham / Naphok
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H045994)
(1.68 MB)
At a farm level, economic returns are the single most important attributes that drive farmers to adopt agricultural technologies. This study was carried out at the Naphok and Veunkham villages, Lao PDR,to evaluate the yield response of a maize mono-cropping system to soil amendments and analyze the economic return of such interventions. The amendments were rice husk biochar, bentonite clay, compost, clay-manure compost, and rice husk biochar compost, in isolation and in various combinations. Over a period of two cropping seasons (2011–2012),the enhancement of maize yield due to soil amendments ranged from0.77 to 3.79tha-1 at Naphok and from 1.21 to 5.14tha-1 at Veunkham, resulting in net revenues ranging from -794 to 841 and -331 to 1391 US$ha-1 , respectively. Soils amended with low-cost amendments such as compost, rice husk biochar, rice husk biochar compost, and clay-manure compost were economically viable within the first cropping season. In contrast, soils amended with higher-cost amendments such as bentonite clay requires up to five years to be economically viable. Such variations indicate that taking into account maize yield revenues only does not provide sufficient incentives to farmers to adopt higher-cost soil amendments conclude that there is a possibility to sustainably increase agricultural productivity and improve the income of smallholders using locally available low-cost soil amendments. Our findings provide important information for decision makers to promote the adoption of low-cost soil amendments, and,thereby,to contribute to productivity growth and food security through sustainable intensification.
5 Zemadim, Birhanu; McCartney, Matthew; Langan, Simon; Sharma, Bharat. 2013. A participatory approach for hydro-meteorological monitoring in the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopia. In UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. Conference on New Nile Perspectives Scientific Advances in the eastern Nile Basin, Khartoum, Sudan 6-8 May 2013. Advance copy of extended abstracts. Delft, Netherlands: UNESCO-IHE Institute for Water Education. pp.97-101.
River basins ; Hydrometeorology ; Monitoring ; Participatory approaches ; Watersheds ; Rain ; Soil moisture ; Stakeholders / Ethiopia / Blue Nile Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046104)
(0.21 MB)
6 Zemadim, B.; McCartney, Matthew; Langan, Simon; Sharma, Bharat. 2013. A participatory approach for hydrometeorological monitoring in the Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopia. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 32p. (IWMI Research Report 155) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.200]
Hydrometeorology ; Monitoring ; Participatory approaches ; Networks ; Meteorological stations ; River basins ; Watersheds ; Groundwater ; Water level ; Rainwater management ; Flooding ; Local communities ; Stakeholders ; Soil moisture / Ethiopia / Blue Nile River Basin / Dapo Watershed / Meja Watershed / Mizewa watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046390)
(1 MB)
Participatory research is increasingly recognized as being useful for conducting multiple activities in research for development projects. The co-learning environment created in participatory research helps to identify existing social and technological gaps, and develop possible solutions to improve the livelihoods of rural communities. This report describes a participatory approach used in the establishment and implementation of hydrometeorological monitoring networks in the Blue Nile River Basin of Ethiopia. The networks were established with the involvement of rural communities and other stakeholders to gain insights into the hydrological processes of the watersheds, in order to improve rainwater management strategies. Local people were involved in the day-to-day management and maintenance of the networks. The participatory approach proved beneficial for several reasons, not least, because it instilled trust and goodwill amongst the communities.
7 Mekuria, Wolde; Noble, Andrew; Hoanh, Chu Thai; McCartney, Matthew; Sengtaheuanghoung, O.; Sipaseuth, N.; Douangsavanh, Somphasith; Langan, Simon; Getnet, Kindie. 2014. The potential role of soil amendments in increasing agricultural productivity and improving the livelihood of smallholders in Lao PDR. Paper presented at the 15th National Agriculture and Forestry Research Institute Anniversary Symposium on Agriculture and Forestry Research for Development, Vientiane, Lao PDR, 8-10 April 2014. 15p.
Agricultural production ; Water productivity ; Soil amendments ; Smallholders ; Living standards ; Maize ; Nutrient uptake ; Biomass ; Economic aspects ; Case studies / Lao People's Democratic Republic
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046433)
The present study was undertaken in Lao PDR to investigate the impacts of organic and clay-based soil amendments on maize yield, total nutrient uptake and crop water productivity (CWP), and analyze the economic return of such interventions. Structured field experiments were established over two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) with maize as the test crop at the Veunkham and Naphok sites. Ten treatments were applied in a Randomized Complete Block Design with three replications. The treatments were control, rice husk biochar (applied at a rate of 10 t ha-1), bentonite clay (10 t ha-1), compost (4 t ha-1), clay-manure compost (10 t ha-1), rice husk biochar compost (10 t ha-1), and their combinations. All treatments were applied in 2011. CWP and the soil water balance of the various treatments were determined using the AquaCrop model. To determine the costs and benefits of soil amendments over the two cropping seasons a cost-based valuation method was applied. Significant (p < 0.05) treatment effects in maize grain yields, total nutrient uptake and CWP were observed. At Veunkham, differences in yield between the control and amended soils ranged from 0.9 to 3.3 t ha-1 in 2011 and from 0.2 to 1.3 t ha-1 in 2012, whereas differences at Naphok varied between 0.2 and 2.2 t ha-1 in 2011 and from 0.2 to 1.7 t ha-1 in 2012. Differences in CWP between the amended and control plots at Veunkham varied between 0.3 and 1.0 kg m-3 in 2011 and from 0.05 to 0.29 kg m-3 in 2012, whereas differences at Naphok varied between 0.1 and 0.6 kg m-3 in 2011 and from 0.1 to 0.4 kg m-3 in 2012. Differences between the control and amended soils in yield and the associated CWP can be attributed to the improvements in total N and P uptake, soil pH, exchangeable Ca++ and Mg++, and CEC following the application of soil amendments. At both sites, in most of the treatments, yields and CWP in 2012 were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than 2011. This difference can be attributed to late season drought. Over the two cropping seasons , the enhancement of maize yield due to soil amendments resulted in net revenues ranging from -794 to 841 and -331 to 1391 US$ ha-1 at Naphok and Veunkham, respectively. The study found that soils amended with low-cost amendments such as compost, rice husk biochar, rice husk biochar compost, and clay-manure compost were economically viable within the first cropping season. In contrast, soils amended with higher-cost amendments such as bentonite clay required up to 5 years to be economically viable. Such variations indicate that maize yield revenues alone are an insufficient incentive for farmers to adopt higher-cost soil amendments. The results of this study confirm that soil amendments can be effective in improving crop yield and the associated CWP. In addition, the income of smallholders can be improved using locally available low-cost soil amendments. These findings provide important information for decision makers wishing to improve agricultural productivity and food security through sustainable intensification.
8 Mekuria, Wolde; Noble, Andrew; Sengtaheuanghoung, O.; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Bossio, D.; Sipaseuth, N.; McCartney, Matthew; Langan, Simon. 2014. Organic and clay-based soil amendments increase maize yield, total nutrient uptake, and soil properties in Lao PDR. Agroecology and Sustainable Food Systems, 38:936-961. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/21683565.2014.917144]
Soil amendments ; Soil properties ; soil organic matter ; Maize ; Rice husks ; Clay ; Nutrients ; Food security ; Food production ; Agricultural production ; Smallholders ; Bentonite ; Composts ; Biomass ; Land degradation / Lao People's Democratic Republic / Veunkham / Naphok
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046584)
(0.29 MB)
In the Lao People’s Democratic Republic (PDR), increasing food security remains a challenge since smallholder agricultural systems, which are the main source of food production, are under serious threat due to poor soil fertility and climate variability. This study was undertaken in Lao PDR to investigate the impacts of organic and clay-based soil amendments on maize yield, total nutrient uptake, and soil properties. Structured field experiments were established over two consecutive years (2011 and 2012) with maize as the test crop at the Veunkham and Naphok sites. Ten treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were control, rice husk biochar (applied at a rate of 10 t ha-1), bentonite clay (10 t ha-1), compost (4 t ha-1), clay-manure compost (10 t ha-1), rice husk biochar compost (10 t ha-1), and their combinations. All treatments were applied in 2011. Significant (p < 0.05) treatment effects in maize grain yields, total nutrient uptake, and soil properties were observed. At Veunkham, differences between the control and amended soils in yield ranged from 0.9 to 3.3 t ha-1 in 2011 and from 0.2 to 1.3 t ha-1 in 2012, whereas differences at Naphok varied between 0.2 and 2.2 t ha-1 in 2011 and from 0.2 to 1.7 t ha-1 in 2012. At both sites, in most of the treatments, yields in 2012 were significantly (p < 0.05) lower than 2011; this was attributed to a late season drought. Differences between the control and amended soils in yield can be attributed to the improvements in total N and P uptake, soil pH, exchangeable Ca++ and Mg++, and cation-exchange capacity following the application of soil amendments. The results of this study confirm that the soil amendments under consideration can be effective in improving agricultural productivity, while improving key soil properties indicating that soil amendments could be an option for intensification of agricultural productivity.
9 Stein, C.; Barron, J.; Nigussie, L.; Gedif, B.; Amsalu, T.; Langan, Simon. 2014. Advancing the water-energy-food nexus: social networks and institutional interplay in the Blue Nile. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE) 24p. (WLE Research for Development (R4D) Learning Series 2) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.223]
Agriculture ; Water management ; Energy sources ; Energy management ; food security ; River basins ; Research ; corporate culture ; Social structure ; Natural resources management ; Ecosystems ; Environmental protection ; Land resources ; Stakeholders ; Sustainability / Ethiopia / Blue Nile / Tana subbasin / Beles subbasin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046623)
(2 MB)
10 Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria; Giordano, Meredith A.; Langan, Simon; Namara, Regassa E. 2014. Economic analysis of factors influencing adoption of motor pumps in Ethiopia. Journal of Development and Agricultural Economics, 6(12):490-500. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5897/JDAE2014.0576]
Economic analysis ; Irrigation methods ; Technology ; Pumps ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Food security ; Poverty ; Households ; Gender ; Farmer-led irrigation ; Agricultural production / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046743)
http://www.academicjournals.org/article/article1416240530_Gebregziabher%20et%20al.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H046743.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H046743.pdf
(0.37 MB)
The Ethiopian economy depends heavily on smallholder agriculture, and this sector directly affects the country’s economic development, food security and poverty alleviation efforts. The adoption of smallholder irrigation technologies as a means to tackle these challenges has become an important policy issue in the development agenda of the country. The lack of access to low-cost irrigation technologies is, however, one of the major bottlenecks to increase smallholder irrigation. This paper examines the factors influencing farmers’ decisions to adopt low-cost small motor pumps. The analysis is based on a survey of 800 farm households in four regions of Ethiopia. We use a combination of econometric techniques to find comparable households among adopter and non-adopter sample households. First, we employ a multivariate probit model to check whether a correlation exists between motor pumps and other water lifting technologies (that is, bucket, treadle and electric pumps). A non-parametric matching method is used to identify a counterfactual (control group) among the non-adopter sample households. Finally, a probit model is adopted to model the determinants of farmers’ motor pump adoption decisions. Our analysis reveals that gender; age; ownership of oxen; access to extension; access to surface and shallow ground water; social capital and regional differences captured by a regional dummy, all influence farmers’ decision of motor pump adoption.
11 Mekuria, Wolde; Langan, Simon; Noble, Andrew; Johnston, Robyn. 2014. Soil organic carbon and nutrient contents are not influenced by exclosures established in communal grazing land in Nile Basin, northern Ethiopia. In Rahman, A.; Ahmadi, R. (Eds.) International Institute of Chemical, Biological and Environmental Engineering (IICBEE) International Conference on Advances in Agricultural, Biological and Environmental Sciences (AABES), Dubai, UAE, 15-16 October 2014. Punjab, India: International Institute of Chemical, Biological & Environmental Engineering (IICBEE) pp.16-21. [doi: https://doi.org/10.15242/IICBE.C1014045]
Grazing lands ; Common lands ; Land degradation ; Soil properties ; Soil fertility ; Soil organic matter ; Carbon ; Ecosystem services ; Watersheds / Northern Ethiopia / Gomit Watershed / Nile Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046769)
(0.73 MB) (748 KB)
Land degradation through extensification of agriculture and overgrazing is an increasing problem across large expanses of the Ethiopian highlands that give rise to a loss in a range of ecosystem services. Ecological restoration through exclosure establishment has become increasingly important approach to reversing degraded ecosystems in Ethiopia and particularly in the Amhara regional state, northern Ethiopia. The present study was conducted in Nile basin, northern Ethiopia to investigate the changes in soil properties and nutrient contents following establishing exclosures on communal grazing lands. A space-for-time substitution approach to monitor changes in soil properties after conversion of communal grazing lands to exclosures with ages of establishment ranging from 1 to 7-years was used. In the 0- to 20- and 20- to 50-cm depths, significant (p < 0.05) differences in soil pH, exchangeable cations, cation exchange capacity, soil moisture content, and bulk density were observed among exclosures and between exclosures and communal grazing land. Communal grazing land displayed significantly higher soil total nitrogen, phosphorus and potassium compared to exclosures. However, differences between exclosures and grazing land in soil organic matter (SOM) content and soil organic carbon (SOC) stock were not significant (p > 0.05). The results demonstrated that exclosure age influenced SOM content and SOC stock. The lack of influence in soil nutrient and SOM contents as well as SOC stock after 7-year of exclosure establishment could be attributed to: (a) the favorable environment (e.g., better moisture content and soil pH) in exclosures, which results in increased SOM decomposition, and (b) better vegetation growth in exclosures, which consequently reduce soil nutrient content due to higher nutrient uptake by restored plants. Exclosures alone therefore cannot be regarded as a comprehensive short- or medium-term soil rehabilitation option.
12 Lemperiere, Philippe; Hagos, Fitsum; Lefore, Nicole; Haileslassie, Amare; Langan, Simon. 2014. Establishing and strengthening irrigation water users associations (IWUAs) in Ethiopia: a manual for trainers. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 76p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2014.232]
Irrigation systems ; Infrastructure ; Water user associations ; Training materials ; Local government ; Gender ; Management ; Committees ; Legal aspects ; Regulations ; Farmer participation ; Drainage systems ; Economic aspects ; Budgets ; Subsidies / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046826)
(866 KB)
13 Mekuria, Wolde; Langan, Simon; Johnston, Robyn; Belay, B.; Amare, D.; Gashaw, T.; Desta, G.; Noble, Andrew; Wale, A. 2015. Restoring aboveground carbon and biodiversity: a case study from the Nile Basin, Ethiopia. Forest Science and Technology, 11(2):86-96. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/21580103.2014.966862]
Aerial parts ; Carbon sequestration ; Biomass ; Organic fertilizers ; Biodiversity ; Nile basin ; Ecosystem services ; Environmental degradation ; Plants ; Species ; Watersheds ; Vegetation ; Land degradation ; Land management ; Grazing lands ; Households ; Local communities ; Crop production ; Erosion ; Government agencies ; Non governmental organizations ; Case studies / Ethiopia / Nile Basin / Gomit Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046886)
(0.43 MB)
In Ethiopia, exclosures in landscapes have become increasingly important to improving ecosystem services and reversing biodiversity losses. The present study was conducted in Gomit watershed, northern Ethiopia, to: (i) investigate the changes in vegetation composition, diversity and aboveground biomass and carbon following the establishment of exclosures; and (ii) analyse the economic returns of aboveground carbon sequestration and assess the perception of local communities on land degradation and exclosures. A space-for-time substitution approach was used to detect the changes in aboveground carbon, species composition, and diversity. Exclosures of 1-, 2-, 3-, 4-, 5-, and 7-years-old and a communal grazing land were selected. Household surveys, key informant interviews, and a financial analysis were used to assess the perception of local communities and the value of exclosure impacts, respectively. Significant (P = 0.049) differences in species diversity and considerable increases in aboveground carbon (ranged from 0.6 to 4.2 t C ha-1), CO2 storage (varied between 2.1 and 15.3 t CO2 ha-1), woody species composition, and richness (ranged from five to 28) were observed following the establishment of exclosures. Exclosures generated temporary certified emission reductions (tCER) of 3.4, 2.1, 7.5, 12.6, 12.5, and 15.3 Mg CO2 ha-1 after 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, and 7 years, respectively. The net present value (NPV) of the aboveground carbon sequestered in exclosures ranged from US$6.6 to US$37.0 per hectare and increased with exclosure duration. At a watershed level, 51.4 Mg C ha-1 can be sequestered, which represents 188.6 Mg CO2 ha-1, resulting in tCER of 139.4 Mg CO2 ha-1 and NPV of US$478.3 per hectare. This result would suggest that exclosures can potentially improve local communities’ livelihoods beyond rehabilitating degraded lands if carbon stored in exclosures is traded. Communities in the watershed demonstrated that exclosures are effective in restoring degraded lands and they are benefiting from increased fodder production and reduced impacts of soil erosion. However, the respondents are also concerned over the sustainability of exclosure land management, as further expansion of exclosures aggravates degradation of remaining communal grazing lands and causes fuel wood shortages. This suggests that the sustainability of exclosure land management can be attained only if these critical concerns are addressed by a joint effort among government agencies, nongovernmental organizations, and communities.
14 Merrey, D. J.; Langan, Simon. 2014. Review paper on ‘Garden Kits’ in Africa: lessons learned and the potential of improved water management. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 60p. (IWMI Working Paper 162) [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2015.202]
Water management ; Rainwater ; Water harvesting ; Domestic gardens ; Vegetable growing ; Guidelines ; Domestic water ; Households ; Wastewater ; Small scale farming ; Irrigation systems ; Drip irrigation ; Economic development ; Sustainability ; Food production ; Plant nutrition ; Gender ; Women / Africa / Africa South of Sahara
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046933)
(922 KB)
The purpose of this paper is to synthesize the available knowledge and lessons learned from past experiences in promoting kitchen or home gardens for food production, with a special emphasis on water management. The benefits of home gardens for better family nutrition, health status of children and mothers, and as an entry point for empowering women have been documented in some studies. However, there is very little specific evidence to confirm these benefits. The paper also reviews some of the water management practices and garden technologies used in home and market gardens. It recommends building on current home gardening practices, starting with diagnostic appraisals of actual gardening practices, and moving on to participatory action research focused on evaluating promising water management technologies and testing implementation of strategies that empower women.
15 Nicol, Alan; Langan, Simon; Victor, M.; Gonsalves, J. (Eds.) 2015. Water-smart agriculture in East Africa. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE); Kampala, Uganda: Global Water Initiative East Africa (GWI EA). 352p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2015.203]
Agriculture ; Water productivity ; Small scale farming ; Irrigation schemes ; Drip irrigation ; Vegetable growing ; Climate change ; Adaptation ; Food security ; Drought tolerance ; Crops ; Sorghum ; Rice ; Maize ; Livestock production ; Land management ; Watershed management ; Rain ; Water harvesting ; Water conservation ; Water use ; Water storage ; Groundwater ; Rehabilitation ; Soil conservation ; Participatory approaches ; Highlands ; Erosion ; Sustainable development ; Arid lands ; Catchment areas ; Wetlands ; Income ; Incentives ; Smallholders ; Dams ; Gender ; Natural resources management ; Learning ; Collective action ; Case studies / Africa / Tanzania / Ethiopia / Africa South of Sahara / Uganda / Horn of Africa / Manyoni / Singida / Agago / Otuke / Nile River Basin / Birr Watershed / Debre Mawi Watershed
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046950)
(8 MB)
16 Hagos, Fitsum; Erkossa, Teklu; Lefore, Nicole; Langan, Simon. 2014. Spate irrigation and poverty in Ethiopia. In Erkossa, Teklu; Hagos, Fitsum; Lefore, Nicole. (Eds.). 2014. Proceedings of the Workshop on Flood-based Farming for Food Security and Adaption to Climate Change in Ethiopia: Potential and Challenges, Adama, Ethiopia, 30-31 October 2013. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.43-52.
Irrigation schemes ; Spate irrigation ; Traditional farming ; Poverty ; Arid zones ; Households ; Income / Ethiopia / Africa / Oromia Region / Tigray Region
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H046926)
The study examined whether the use of spate irrigation in drought-prone areas of Ethiopia reduced poverty. Each of about 25 users of indigenous and modern spate irrigation schemes and an equal number of corresponding nonusers from the same peasant associations in Oromia and Tigray regional states were interviewed. The survey found that the poverty level of the spate irrigation users was significantly lower than that of the nonusers in terms incidence, depth and severity. Access to improved spate irrigation has led to reduced poverty, measured by all poverty indices, compared to traditional spate. Finally, the dominance test showed that the poverty comparison between users and nonusers was robust. From the study, it can be concluded that the use of spate irrigation in areas where access to other alternative water sources is limited, either by physical availability or by economic constraints, can significantly contribute to poverty reduction, and that modernizing the spate system strengthens the impact.
17 Hagos, Fitsum; Mulugeta, A.; Erkossa, Teklu; Lefore, Nicole; Langan, Simon. 2014. Diversion of flashy floods for agricultural use and its effect on nutrition in Ethiopia. In Erkossa, Teklu; Hagos, Fitsum; Lefore, Nicole. (Eds.). 2014. Proceedings of the Workshop on Flood-based Farming for Food Security and Adaption to Climate Change in Ethiopia: Potential and Challenges, Adama, Ethiopia, 30-31 October 2013. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). pp.53-66.
Flood irrigation ; Spate irrigation ; Agriculture ; Human nutrition ; Children ; Gender ; Body weight ; Height ; Households ; Malnutrition ; Food security / Ethiopia / Africa
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046927)
The study examined whether access to spate irrigation leads to better nutrition outcomes. The results showed that there is an overall improvement in the study sites compared to the 2011 DHS study. As far as households with access to spate irrigation are concerned, weight-for-height z-scores indicated that 8.2% of the children had prevalence of global acute malnutrition; 8.2% of them had moderate acute malnutrition. None of the children had severe acute malnutrition. The weight-for-age results indicated that 27.5, 17.6 and 9.8% of the children showed prevalence of underweight, moderate underweight and severe underweight, respectively. The height-for-age z-scores showed 56.5, 30.8 and 21.7% of the children had prevalence of stunting, moderate stunting and severe stunting, respectively. On the other hand, households without access to spate irrigation indicated that as far as the weight-for-height z-scores of children are concerned, there were no children (boys and girls) with prevalence of global acute malnutrition; weight for-age z-score showed that 13.6, 10.2 and 3.4% of the children had prevalence of underweight, moderate underweight and severe underweight, respectively. The height-for-age z-scores showed that 45.5, 25.5 and 20.0% of the children had prevalence of stunting, moderate stunting and severe stunting, respectively. The anthropometric measures, thus, showed the nutritional outcomes of users were worse-off than of nonusers of spate irrigation. This happens in the face of better income and consumption expenditures, mainly nonfood, for users compared to nonusers. This underlines the importance of nutrition education alongside efforts to improve access to irrigation. Moreover, multisectoral collaborations are needed between the health, agriculture, water, social protection, education, gender and other sectors to improve the nutrition outcome of children.
18 Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria; Rebelo, Lisa-Maria; Langan, Simon. 2016. Interdependence in rainwater management technologies: an analysis of rainwater management adoption in the Blue Nile Basin. Environment, Development and Sustainability, 18:(2)449-466. [doi: https://doi.org/ 10.1007/s10668-015-9656-8]
Rain water management ; Water harvesting ; Technology ; River basins ; Highlands ; Land degradation ; Erosion ; Agricultural production ; Food security ; Water conservation ; Soil conservation ; Farmers ; Households ; Watersheds / Ethiopia / Blue Nile Basin
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046954)
(0.56 MB)
In the Blue Nile Basin of Ethiopian highlands, rainfall distribution is extremely uneven both spatially and temporally. Drought frequently results in crop failure, while high rainfall intensities result in low infiltration and high runoff causing soil erosion and land degradation. These combined factors contribute to low agricultural productivity and high levels of food insecurity. Poor land management practices coupled with lack of effective rainwater management strategies aggravate the situation. Over the past two decades, however, the Government of Ethiopia has attempted to address many of these issues through a large-scale implementation of a number of soil and water conservation measures. Despite the success of interventions, uptake and adoption remains low. The conceptual framework of this study is based on the premise that farmers are more likely to adopt a combination of rainwater management technologies as adaptation mechanism against climate variability and agricultural production constraints. This contrasts the previous work that typically examined a single technology without considering the interdependence between technologies. Data used in this study come from household survey in seven watersheds in the Ethiopian Blue Nile Basin. A multivariate probit model was used to account for the potential correlation and interdependence of various components of rainwater management technologies. Our results suggest that rainwater management technologies are related with each other; hence, any effort to promote the adoption of rainwater management technologies has to consider such interdependence of technologies, or failure to do so may mask the reality that farmers face a set of choices in their adoption decisions.
19 Mekuria, Wolde; Noble, Andrew; McCartney, Matthew; Hoanh, Chu Thai; Douangsavanh, Somphasith; Langan, Simon. 2015. Soil management for raising crop water productivity in rainfed production systems in Lao PDR. Archives of Agronomy and Soil Science, 62(1):53-68. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/03650340.2015.1037297]
Soil management ; Soil amendments ; Soil organic matter ; Clay soils ; Crop production ; Water productivity ; Rainfed farming ; Climate change ; Evapotranspiration ; Land degradation ; Maize ; Biofuels ; Acidity / Lao People's Democratic Republic
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H046994)
(0.26 MB)
This study investigated the impacts of organic- and clay-based soil amendments, and their combinations on crop water productivity (CWP) using maize as a test crop. On-station field trials were established over two consecutive years at the Naphok and Veunkham sites in Laos. At each site, 10 treatments were applied in a randomized complete block design with three replications. The treatments were control, rice husk biochar (10 t ha-1), bentonite clay (10 t ha-1), compost (4 t ha-1), clay-manure compost (10 t ha-1), rice husk biochar compost (10 t ha-1), bentonite clay + biochar, bentoniteclay + compost, biochar + compost, and bentonite clay + biochar + compost. All treatments were applied in 2011. Significant (p < 0.05) treatment effects in CWP and growing period evapotranspiration were determined. At Naphok, differences between the amended and control plots in CWP varied between 0.1 and 0.6 kg m-3 in 2011 and from 0.1 to 0.4 kg m-3 in 2012, whereas differences at Veunkham varied between 0.3 and 1.0 kg m-3 in 2011 and from 0.05 to 0.29 kg m-3 in 2012. At both sites, CWP in 2012 was significantly lower than 2011. Our results illustrate that organic- and claybased soil amendments improve CWP, indicating that soil-based interventions could be suitable options for improving agricultural productivity.
20 Langan, Simon; Kebede, H.; Tadesse, Desalegne; Terefe, B. (Eds.) 2015. Proceedings of the Launching Workshop of the Agricultural Water Management Platform, Addis Ababa, Ethiopia, 15-16 January 2015. Colombo, Sri Lanka: International Water Management Institute (IWMI). 56p. [doi: https://doi.org/10.5337/2015.210]
Agriculture ; Water management ; Agricultural sector ; Agricultural development ; Watershed management ; Water conservation ; Soil conservation ; Government policy ; Research institutions ; Investment ; Incentives ; Climate change ; Sustainability ; Land management ; Land degradation ; Farmers ; Smallholder ; Small scale farming ; Irrigation water ; Irrigation schemes ; Crop production ; Households ; Capacity building ; Learning / Ethiopia
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: IWMI Record No: H047032)
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