IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/eee/agiwat/v233y2020ics0378377419317809.html
   My bibliography  Save this article

Pathways how irrigation water affects crop revenue of smallholder farmers in northwest Ethiopia: A mixed approach

Author

Listed:
  • Zewdie, Markose Chekol
  • Van Passel, Steven
  • Moretti, Michele
  • Annys, Sofie
  • Tenessa, Daregot Berihun
  • Ayele, Zemen Ayalew
  • Tsegaye, Enyew Adgo
  • Cools, Jan
  • Minale, Amare Sewnet
  • Nyssen, Jan

Abstract

The relationship between irrigation water availability and crop revenue is multifaceted. However, most of the previous studies focused only on the direct effect of irrigation water on crop revenue or considered that the indirect effect passes only through the farmers’ improved farm inputs usage. Nevertheless, unlike previous studies, this study argues that a one-sided argument that irrigation water directly causes high crop revenue or indirectly affects crop revenue only via the farmers’ improved farm inputs usage is incomplete, as irrigation water not only directly contributes to crop revenue but also indirectly conduces to crop revenue via both the type of crops produced and the farmers’ improved farm inputs usage. Considering the previous studies’ limitations, this study investigates pathways how small-scale irrigation water affects crop revenue and identifies challenges of small-scale irrigation farming in Fogera district, Ethiopia. Results endorsed that irrigation water has both direct and indirect effects on crop revenue. The indirect effect is 67 percent of the total effect and it is mediated by both the type of crops produced and farmers’ improved farm inputs usage. The result also indicated that irrigation user farmers have a higher income, more livestock assets and resources and better food, housing, and cloths than the non-users. Moreover, challenges related to agricultural output and input market were identified as the most severe problem followed by crop disease. The findings of our study suggest that to utilize the benefits of irrigation water properly, it is crucial to encourage farmers to use more improved farm inputs and to shift from staple to cash crop production. Moreover, farmers are frequently exposed to cheating by illegal brokers in the output market, therefore it is also important to increase farmers’ accessibility to output and input markets, the quality of improved farm inputs, and the bargaining power of farmers with market information.

Suggested Citation

  • Zewdie, Markose Chekol & Van Passel, Steven & Moretti, Michele & Annys, Sofie & Tenessa, Daregot Berihun & Ayele, Zemen Ayalew & Tsegaye, Enyew Adgo & Cools, Jan & Minale, Amare Sewnet & Nyssen, Jan, 2020. "Pathways how irrigation water affects crop revenue of smallholder farmers in northwest Ethiopia: A mixed approach," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 233(C).
  • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:233:y:2020:i:c:s0378377419317809
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106101
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: http://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377419317809
    Download Restriction: Full text for ScienceDirect subscribers only

    File URL: https://libkey.io/10.1016/j.agwat.2020.106101?utm_source=ideas
    LibKey link: if access is restricted and if your library uses this service, LibKey will redirect you to where you can use your library subscription to access this item
    ---><---

    As the access to this document is restricted, you may want to search for a different version of it.

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Xie, Hua & You, Liangzhi & Takeshima, Hiroyuki, 2017. "Invest in small-scale irrigated agriculture: A national assessment on potential to expand small-scale irrigation in Nigeria," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 193(C), pages 251-264.
    2. Anne M. Cafer & J. Sanford Rikoon, 2018. "Adoption of new technologies by smallholder farmers: the contributions of extension, research institutes, cooperatives, and access to cash for improving tef production in Ethiopia," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 35(3), pages 685-699, September.
    3. Vongai G. Murugani & Joyce M. Thamaga-Chitja, 2018. "Livelihood assets and institutions for smallholder irrigation farmer market access in Limpopo, South Africa," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 34(2), pages 259-277, March.
    4. Zewdie, Markose Chekol & Van Passel, Steven & Cools, Jan & Tenessa, Daregot Berihun & Ayele, Zemen Ayalew & Tsegaye, Enyew Adgo & Minale, Amare Sewnet & Nyssen, Jan, 2019. "Direct and indirect effect of irrigation water availability on crop revenue in northwest Ethiopia: A structural equation model," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 220(C), pages 27-35.
    5. Langyintuo, Augustine S. & Mungoma, Catherine, 2008. "The effect of household wealth on the adoption of improved maize varieties in Zambia," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 33(6), pages 550-559, December.
    6. You, Liangzhi & Ringler, Claudia & Wood-Sichra, Ulrike & Robertson, Richard & Wood, Stanley & Zhu, Tingju & Nelson, Gerald & Guo, Zhe & Sun, Yan, 2011. "What is the irrigation potential for Africa? A combined biophysical and socioeconomic approach," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 36(6), pages 770-782.
    7. Makaiko G. Khonje & Julius Manda & Petros Mkandawire & Adane Hirpa Tufa & Arega D. Alene, 2018. "Adoption and welfare impacts of multiple agricultural technologies: evidence from eastern Zambia," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 49(5), pages 599-609, September.
    8. Mullally, Conner & Chakravarty, Shourish, 2018. "Are matching funds for smallholder irrigation money well spent?," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 76(C), pages 70-80.
    9. Amarasinghe, Upali & Samad, Madar & Anputhas, Markandu, 2005. "Spatial clustering of rural poverty and food insecurity in Sri Lanka," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 30(5-6), pages 493-509.
    10. Kassie, Menale & Shiferaw, Bekele & Muricho, Geoffrey, 2011. "Agricultural Technology, Crop Income, and Poverty Alleviation in Uganda," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 39(10), pages 1784-1795.
    11. Dereje Mengistie & Desale Kidane, 2016. "Assessment of the Impact of Small-Scale Irrigation on Household Livelihood Improvement at Gubalafto District, North Wollo, Ethiopia," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 6(3), pages 1-22, June.
    12. Bachewe, Fantu N. & Berhane, Guush & Minten, Bart & Taffesse, Alemayehu S., 2018. "Agricultural Transformation in Africa? Assessing the Evidence in Ethiopia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 105(C), pages 286-298.
    13. Kwangsoo Shin & Minkyung Choy & Chul Lee & Gunno Park, 2019. "Government R&D Subsidy and Additionality of Biotechnology Firms: The Case of the South Korean Biotechnology Industry," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(6), pages 1-22, March.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Citations

    Citations are extracted by the CitEc Project, subscribe to its RSS feed for this item.
    as


    Cited by:

    1. Markose Chekol Zewdie & Michele Moretti & Daregot Berihun Tenessa & Zemen Ayalew Ayele & Jan Nyssen & Enyew Adgo Tsegaye & Amare Sewnet Minale & Steven Van Passel, 2021. "Agricultural Technical Efficiency of Smallholder Farmers in Ethiopia: A Stochastic Frontier Approach," Land, MDPI, vol. 10(3), pages 1-17, March.
    2. Berhe, Gebremeskel Teklay & Baartman, Jantiene E.M. & Veldwisch, Gert Jan & Grum, Berhane & Ritsema, Coen J., 2022. "Irrigation development and management practices in Ethiopia: A systematic review on existing problems, sustainability issues and future directions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    3. Markose Chekol Zewdie & Michele Moretti & Daregot Berihun Tenessa & Steven Passel, 2024. "Farmers’ preferences and willingness to pay for improved irrigation water supply program: a discrete choice experiment," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 27277-27300, November.
    4. Urfels, Anton & Mausch, Kai & Harris, Dave & McDonald, Andrew J. & Kishore, Avinash & Balwinder-Singh, & van Halsema, Gerardo & Struik, Paul C. & Craufurd, Peter & Foster, Timothy & Singh, Vartika & K, 2023. "Farm size limits agriculture's poverty reduction potential in Eastern India even with irrigation-led intensification," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 207(C).
    5. Yemane Asmelash Gebremariam & Joost Dessein & Beneberu Assefa Wondimagegnhu & Mark Breusers & Lutgart Lenaerts & Enyew Adgo & Zemen Ayalew & Amare Sewenet Minale & Jan Nyssen, 2021. "Determinants of Farmers’ Level of Interaction with Agricultural Extension Agencies in Northwest Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(6), pages 1-24, March.
    6. Mekonen Ayana Gebul, 2021. "Trend, Status, and Challenges of Irrigation Development in Ethiopia—A Review," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 13(10), pages 1-16, May.

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Maren Radeny & Elizaphan J. O. Rao & Maurice Juma Ogada & John W. Recha & Dawit Solomon, 2022. "Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(6), pages 1511-1535, December.
    2. Martey, Edward & Etwire, Prince Maxwell & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2020. "Welfare impacts of climate-smart agriculture in Ghana: Does row planting and drought-tolerant maize varieties matter?," Land Use Policy, Elsevier, vol. 95(C).
    3. Arouna, Aminou & Fatognon, Irene Akoko & Saito, Kazuki & Futakuchi, Koichi, 2021. "Moving toward rice self-sufficiency in sub-Saharan Africa by 2030: Lessons learned from 10 years of the Coalition for African Rice Development," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 21(C).
    4. Markose Chekol Zewdie & Michele Moretti & Daregot Berihun Tenessa & Steven Passel, 2024. "Farmers’ preferences and willingness to pay for improved irrigation water supply program: a discrete choice experiment," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 26(11), pages 27277-27300, November.
    5. Raju Ghimire & Wen-Chi Huang, 2015. "Household wealth and adoption of improved maize varieties in Nepal: a double-hurdle approach," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 7(6), pages 1321-1335, December.
    6. Kostandini, Genti & La Rovere, Roberto & Abdoulaye, Tahirou, 2013. "Potential impacts of increasing average yields and reducing maize yield variability in Africa," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 43(C), pages 213-226.
    7. Bairagi, Subir & Bhandari, Humnath & Kumar Das, Subrata & Mohanty, Samarendu, 2021. "Flood-tolerant rice improves climate resilience, profitability, and household consumption in Bangladesh," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 105(C).
    8. Kihara, Job & Manda, Julius & Kimaro, Anthony & Swai, Elirehema & Mutungi, Christopher & Kinyua, Michael & Okori, Patrick & Fischer, Gundula & Kizito, Fred & Bekunda, Mateete, 2022. "Contributions of integrated soil fertility management (ISFM) to various sustainable intensification impact domains in Tanzania," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 203(C).
    9. Balasubramanya, Soumya & Kafle, Kashi, 2021. "Irrigation for reducing food insecurity: the case of Niger," 2021 Annual Meeting, August 1-3, Austin, Texas 313901, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.
    10. Ogada, Maurice Juma & Rao, Elizaphan J.O. & Radeny, Maren & Recha, John W. & Solomon, Dawit, 2020. "Climate-smart agriculture, household income and asset accumulation among smallholder farmers in the Nyando basin of Kenya," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 18(C).
    11. Gideon Danso-Abbeam & Lloyd J. S. Baiyegunhi & Mark D. Laing & Hussein Shimelis, 2022. "Productivity and Welfare Impacts of Dual-Purpose Sweetpotato Varieties’ Adoption Among Smallholder Farmers in Rwanda," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 1097-1117, April.
    12. Khonje, Makaiko & Mkandawire, Petros & Manda, Julius & Alene, Arega, 2015. "Analysis of adoption and impacts of improved cassava varieties," 2015 Conference, August 9-14, 2015, Milan, Italy 211842, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    13. Nsabimana, Aimable & Adom, Philip Kofi, 2024. "Heterogeneous effects from integrated farm innovations on welfare in Rwanda," World Development Perspectives, Elsevier, vol. 33(C).
    14. Annys, Sofie & Van Passel, Steven & Dessein, Joost & Adgo, Enyew & Nyssen, Jan, 2020. "From fast-track implementation to livelihood deterioration: The dam-based Ribb Irrigation and Drainage Project in Northwest Ethiopia," Agricultural Systems, Elsevier, vol. 184(C).
    15. Chamberlin, Jordan & Jayne, T.S., 2013. "Unpacking the Meaning of ‘Market Access’: Evidence from Rural Kenya," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 41(C), pages 245-264.
    16. Christopher Mutungi & Julius Manda & Shiferaw Feleke & Adebayo Abass & Mateete Bekunda & Irmgard Hoschle-Zeledon & Gundula Fischer, 2023. "Adoption and impacts of improved post-harvest technologies on food security and welfare of maize-farming households in Tanzania: a comparative assessment," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 15(4), pages 1007-1023, August.
    17. Jourdain C. Lokossou & Hippolyte D. Affognon & Alphonse Singbo & Michel B. Vabi & Ayoni Ogunbayo & Paul Tanzubil & Alcade C. Segnon & Geoffrey Muricho & Haile Desmae & Hakeem Ajeigbe, 2022. "Welfare impacts of improved groundnut varieties adoption and food security implications in the semi-arid areas of West Africa," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(3), pages 709-728, June.
    18. Khonje, Makaiko & Manda, Julius & Alene, Arega D. & Kassie, Menale, 2015. "Analysis of Adoption and Impacts of Improved Maize Varieties in Eastern Zambia," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 66(C), pages 695-706.
    19. Raymond van Der Wijngaart & John Helming & Claire Jacobs & Pedro Andres Garzon Delvaux & Steven Hoek & Sergio Gomez y Paloma, 2019. "Irrigation and irrigated agriculture potential in the Sahel: The case of the Niger river basin: Prospective review of the potential and constraints in a changing climate," JRC Research Reports JRC108657, Joint Research Centre.
    20. Murray, Anthony G & Mills, Bradford F, 2014. "Estimating the Resiliency of Zambian Smallholder Farmers: Evidence from a Three-Wave Panel," 2014 Annual Meeting, July 27-29, 2014, Minneapolis, Minnesota 170234, Agricultural and Applied Economics Association.

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:233:y:2020:i:c:s0378377419317809. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: Catherine Liu (email available below). General contact details of provider: http://www.elsevier.com/locate/agwat .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.