Buchiksi irrigation scheme for a better food, nutrition and livelihood security

                  Buchiksi irrigation scheme

ORDA Ethiopia striving to develop small scale irrigation schemes to make farmers independent on seasonal rainfall for the production of crops.

ORDA Ethiopia has built a modern Buchikesi irrigation system in Banja Woreda of Awi zone with 8.4 million birr. This modern irrigation scheme a potential of irrigating more than 230 hectares of land and benefits 1 thousand 360 households.

One of the beneficiaries is Tadele Fenta, a farmer with 7 children in Askuna Abo Kebele. We found him harvesting his irrigated barley crop. He said farmers are delighted with the construction of Buchikesi irrigation system. Farmer Tadele remarked beneficiaries had tried to irrigate with it in the past, but with less production. Previously, they waste water, energy, and time for the traditional irrigation. However, problems are solved and they are irrigating a variety of crops. He expects to get an average of 10 quintals of barley, 8 quintals of potatoes and 8 quintals of onion in this season.

Small-scale irrigation development is crucial for smallholder farmers to enable them produce more than twice and secure food, nutrition and livelihood improvements.

Studies show that Ethiopia has more than 5.3 million hectares of arable land. However, according to the Ministry of Agriculture, the country is developing only two million or 38 percent of its irrigation potential. Alike other areas in the country, small scale irrigations are being developed in Amhara region to production and productivity. ORDA Ethiopia has been able to take the lead in implementing high quality and effective irrigation projects in a short period of time.

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