ASSESSMENT OF PERFORMANCE OF SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION PRACTICES IN DEBRE BERHAN AROUND BERESSA RIVER, ETHIOPIA

Abstract

The development of irrigation scheme is hopped to increase agricultural production, establish
basis for industrial expansion, create employment opportunities, aid in control of floods and
sediments, enhance the preservation of fish, wild life and bring about a transition from the
traditional subsistence agricultural practices to a more commercial enterprise. In North shoa zone
near Beressa River there are small irrigation practices. Hence, understanding, assessing and
observing is carried out on the areas irrigation practiced and not practiced. The main objective of
this study was to evaluate the performance of small scale irrigation practices in Debre Berhan
around Berressa River. In this study both primary and secondary data from different sources
were gathered and analyzed. The data that I have collected was systematically organized and
analyzed using descriptive Statistics. The data analysis was carried out using percentage and
frequency distribution. Low maintenance of canals with sedimentation, growing of weeds in
canals, presence of plastics in canals result low efficiency of canals resulting low performance of
irrigation practices. One of the critical things which had a negative impact on irrigation
performance was the users use the same irrigation interval for each type of crop and growth
stage. Rotational water delivery system was adopted by most irrigation users. Irrigation users
who were near to the main canal use demand delivery system as a result the crops could get a
required amount of water at the right time.