Adaptation Of Integrated Irrigation System To Mitigate Climate Change With Respect To Gender-Sensitive

Abstract

Water shortages due to climate change are becoming a global concern. Hence, improved irrigation technology resulted in water saving and reduce workload of women by ensuring investment returns. This study aims at investigating the effects of the adoption of drip irrigation combined with hand-dug wells on crop water productivity and crop yield of smallholder farmers and their perception of the scheme over two cropping seasons at Haramaya districts, Ethiopia. It was observed that the integrated irrigation system is an efficient and cost-effective method to improve crop productivity. Consequently, the drip irrigation system with water supply from hand-dug wells is recommended as a flexible system that can accommodate a variety of farm sizes and particularly suitable for adaption by smallholders. Nearly 40% of the farmers were women that contributed for the easy adoption of the technologies. Therefore, capacity building needs to be prioritized for interventions that aim to enhance food self-sufficiency and improved livelihood of smallholder’s farmers mentioned in such a devastated environmental climate dynamic.