determinants of farmers’ use of small-scale irrigation practice in the achewa area, gambella, southwestern ethiopia

Small-scale irrigation (ssi) has emerged as a vital strategy for enhancing food security, increasing agricultural productivity, and building resilience to climate change. this study examined the determinants of ssi use among farmers in the achewa area, gambella, southwestern ethiopia. a cross-sectional research design was employed, using a two-stage stratified random sampling approach to select 294 household heads (192 irrigation users and 102 non-users). data collection involved household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. binary logistic regression analysis identified several significant factors affecting the adoption of small-scale irrigation (ssi). notably, male-headed households were 12.85 times more likely to adopt ssi than female-headed households, underscoring a marked gender disparity in adoption patterns. access to credit increased the likelihood of use by 2.98 times, while access to training raised it by 4.64 times. larger livestock holdings (measured in tropical livestock units) were associated with a 1.60 times higher probability of ssi use. additionally, households with higher education levels and larger family sizes were more likely to be ssi users, with education and family size positively influencing adoption. these findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to promote equitable access to training and financial resources, particularly for female-headed households. policies should prioritize empowering marginalized groups, such as female-headed households and older farmers, to enhance the adoption of small-scale irrigation (ssi). by addressing the barriers they face, these policies can expand ssi use, improve agricultural productivity, and uplift rural livelihoods in the region. small-scale irrigation (ssi) has emerged as a vital strategy for enhancing food security, increasing agricultural productivity, and building resilience to climate change. this study examined the determinants of ssi use among farmers in the achewa area, gambella, southwestern ethiopia. a cross-sectional research design was employed, using a two-stage stratified random sampling approach to select 294 household heads (192 irrigation users and 102 non-users). data collection involved household surveys, focus group discussions, and key informant interviews. binary logistic regression analysis identified several significant factors affecting the adoption of small-scale irrigation (ssi). notably, male-headed households were 12.85 times more likely to adopt ssi than female-headed households, underscoring a marked gender disparity in adoption patterns. access to credit increased the likelihood of use by 2.98 times, while access to training raised it by 4.64 times. larger livestock holdings (measured in tropical livestock units) were associated with a 1.60 times higher probability of ssi use. additionally, households with higher education levels and larger family sizes were more likely to be ssi users, with education and family size positively influencing adoption. these findings emphasize the importance of targeted interventions to promote equitable access to training and financial resources, particularly for female-headed households. policies should prioritize empowering marginalized groups, such as female-headed households and older farmers, to enhance the adoption of small-scale irrigation (ssi). by addressing the barriers they face, these policies can expand ssi use, improve agricultural productivity, and uplift rural livelihoods in the region.