SWHISA PROJECT

IRRIGATED AGRICULTURE RESEARCH AND EXTENSION GROUP

Selamyihun K. (IME) & Melaku T. (IXE)

• Task in the project Implement irrigation water management

intervention

• Key Activities

Develop Irrigation Research Infrastructure and Research Programs under Adet and Sirinka ARCs;

Conduct PTD on farm research Conduct PTD on farm demonstration

• Until now activities have been implemented

SWHISA constructed HHWH schemes (31) across the six project woredas

SWHISA selected pilot irrigation schemes (7) across the six project woredas

Development of Kobo and Koga sub c

HHWH structure in EB

PTD on farm research & demonstration at Zozamba K, EB

Tomato

Onion

Pepper

PTD wheat irrigation demonstration at Selgi, WI

PTD irrigated potato demonstration at Azuari, Goncha

• Lessons Learned

• Poor participation of PIs and local communities in annual action plan preparation and implementation,

• HH structures and command plots around homesteads have been successfully operated than those located away due to HH family reach and crop plot isolation problems

For optimum water distribution and application plot topography for FDS use should be flat to gentle flat

Manure and compost application should be an integral part of crop production to cope with poor soil conditions prevailing in most HHWH schemes

• DAP and Urea fertilizers should be applied with all DAP at the time of transplanting and Urea in split (half at transplanting and half at mid season)

• Nursery management should include all appropriate standard nursery practices (seedbed preparation, fertilizer application, thinning, pest control, hardening and optimum time of transplanting)

• Due to occurrence of high pest infestation at field; pest monitoring and control are critical aspects during dry season cropping

• Poor HHs perception on FDS water application rate require frequent technical support and supervision to adhere to planned irrigation schedules and other water management practice

• Farmers participation and cost sharing are important for technology development, transfer and adoption

• Options for low cost lining materials should be explored to overcome high cost associated with cement structures

•FDS technology benefited HHs from dry season vegetable production. Lack of supply of package components and maintenance problems at present have a potential to limit the adoption and sustainability of the system

water lifting devices-triddle pump (clogging of cylinder and breakage) fittings and get valves (breakage and lack of replacements) elevated platforms-tankers (algae growth inside) clogging of lateral emitters (solids and chemicals)

• Farmers’ field days are good for convincing FFGs , should be organized regularly at least at each growing stages (planting, mid season and harvesting) and involving neighboring farmers and woreda officials

• Lack of senior researchers, physical distance, need for regular support and logistic problems remain challenge to undertake on farm research and demonstration at six dispersed woredas

• TDT is a platform for development and test of technology to farmers. At present TDT is hardly capable to support PTD activities at project woredas due to high staff turnover, vacancies and woreda priorities

Challenges

• Absence of strategic irrigation research in the region

• Poor participation and ownership at HH, Woreda and Region

• Poor water availability at plot level due to high maintenance and upgrading needs of modern and traditional schemes

• Weak TDT and FFGs capacity to implement PTD trials

• Lack of senior natural resource researchers at centers

Opportunities

• Participatory introduction of technologies by SWHISA and PIs have remarkably changed the attitude and convinced farmers and extension staff on the use of HHWH technology pave ways for wide area scaling up.

• HHWH schemes planned, constructed and operated and have significantly contributed to food security. Use of low cost lining materials have a potential to improve rural living standards than irrigation schemes associated with numerous challenges

• Due to the implementation of PTD trials over the last two years development of production guideline was possible for use by PIs and HH farmers

• Implementation of BPR at region/woreda is considered a significant contribution to increased efficiency with most aspects of irrigation and drainage development activities under IADP in BoARD

• Presence of rural credit fund to support HH structures investment

•Implementation strategy

Based on earlier implementation experiences and lessons the group suggests the following implementation strategy during the 5th year period;

• Following this, organize (1-2 days) planning session to consolidate AWP at project woredas. This enables to avoid information discontinuity, identify who contributes what and accountable during the implementation.

Participants include (woreda admintrators , OoARD head and process owners, TDT and DAs).

• With TDT, kebele DA, WUA and HH farmers prepare joint dry season action plan with clear duties and responsibilities and commitments. This may empower and build community ownership and sustainability

• Due to limited capacity of centers, disperse location of woredas, high technical and social problems of most schemes and need for increased mentoring by SWHISA and partners clustering of pilot irrigation schemes into similar edaphic, climatic and social production environment would enhances the quality of on farm R and D results.

The proposed schemes include (Gurmbaba and Menti at Kolla, Azuari, Tigdare, Selgi at Dega and Koga at W/d)

• To effect valid demonstrations and results, basic skills on vegetable demonstration and FDS O & M should directly transfer to HHs and participating family with enhanced support and

mentoring by SHWISA and partners • HH in the 2nd and 3rd year of demonstration will

cover full cost of inputs as they are convinced and benefited from the vegetable production during the preceding year/s

• Optimum cropping pattern that satisfy the diverse production environment with low external input through HH nursery establishment will be introduced with the intent to improve ownership and sustainability

• Provision of low cost pesticide sprayers with FDS components would enable the HH to control and reduce damages due to pest infestations during the dry season

• Using production guideline manual produced/ disseminated and demonstration results technology package manuals based on local experiences would be prepared and disseminated to PIs and HHs (using local language)

• Improve researchers and PIs capacity through participatory irrigation research planning, implementation and report writing.

Thank You