Performance Evaluation of Selected Surface Irrigation Schemes in Kachabira Woreda, SNNPRS, Ethiopia

Abstract

This study was conducted to evaluate the comparative performances of two community-managed small scale irrigation schemes at Gemesha and Ufute with a command area of 48 ha and 40 ha using internal performance indicators. In order to evaluate the irrigation water use efficiency at the field level, nine farmer fields were selected from each irrigation schemes in relation to their location (from the head, middle and tail end water users). The internal performance indicators namely, in conveyance efficiencies, application efficiencies, deep percolation, storage efficiencies and irrigation uniformity shows (61.15 and 65.63%), (58.75 and 71.7%), (41.25 and 28.3%), (36.91% and 23.9%) and (98.32 and 97.79%) for Gemesha and Ufute respectively. The irrigation ratio results for physical sustainability indicator shows 0.32 and 0.4 for Gemesha and Ufute irrigation respectively. The result of relative Irrigation Supply for both irrigation schemes was higher than one, this shows that there were over supply of water in both irrigation schemes for Gemesha and Ufute respectively. Based on the assessment carried out, Ufute irrigation scheme performed better than Gemesha irrigation scheme. But there is still a room for improvement of the performance of both irrigation schemes. Keywords: Internal indicators, efficiency, deep percolation, irrigation,