ORDA is carrying out encouraging and progressive small scale irrigation schemes in the region

By Esubalew

Ethiopia, a country where abundant rivers, lakes and springs originated, is endowed with abundant water resources. However, the supply of safe and clean water and small scale irrigation schemes are still insufficient and below the standards.

According to evidences, Ethiopia has a potential of 3.7 - 4.3 million hectares of irrigable land of which it’s still only from 7-10 % of the land is used. In the same token, Amhara region can have a potential of 700 thousand hectares of land from which only 90 thousand or 12% is being used for irrigation. Irrigated agriculture is a priority of the agricultural transformation and food security strategy of the Ethiopian Government. Increased availability of irrigation and less dependency on rainfed agriculture is taken as a means to increase food production and self-sufficiency of the rapidly increasing population of the country. In line with the development policy, ORDA in collaboration with the regional government are promoting irrigation development schemes so as to increase and stabilize food production in the country. 

For the last three decades, ORDA accomplished 4,951 clean & safe water supplies which benefited 2,296, 740 people and built small irrigation schemes that can potentially harvest 17,608 hectares of land which benefited 88,042 farmers over 80 districts of Amhara region.

Executive Director of ORDA, Dr. Amlaku Asres claimed ORDA is extensively carrying out irrigation schemes to boost productivity & ensure food security in the region. Dr. Amlaku added the organization has registered remarkable results in the construction of irrigation schemes in the region. The supply of new and light water technologies and extension of technical supports can undoubtedly improve farmers’ production and livelihood, he said.

Water Resource Development Program Director at ORDA, Ato Gugsa Meshesha, in his presentation stated in 2014 the program intensively completed small scale irrigation schemes in two months with fair financial operating cost. According to his justifications, this great achievement in WRDP is recorded due to capacity building trainings offered, work evaluation frequent field level and office level support, attitudinal changes, stakeholders’ awareness creation and commitment of officers were to mention a few.

Questions and suggestions were raised among the staff and a thorough discussion was made with regard to the accomplishments of WRDP. It’s also believed that those comments will be considered in the next phase of construction of irrigation schemes and supply of clean and safe water.

Ato Dejenie Minliku, Programs and Deputy Director of ORDA, on his part ensured that the Organization insists farmers to use better agricultural technologies and practices apart from building irrigation works.