Impact of Small Scale Irrigation Pumps

Water Abastraction onRiver System the

Case of Woliso Woreda in South West
Shoa Zone of Oromia

By
Yohannes Geleta

Assignment Submitted to Dr. Belay Simane and Dr. Feyera Senbeta

College of Development Studies, Center for Environment and
Development Studies, PhD program in Doctor of Philosophy in
Development Studies (Environment and Development)

April 2019
Contents
1 Introduction..............................................................................................................................3

1.1 Problem Description.........................................................................................................7

1.2 Methods and Materials......................................................................................................8

2 Results and Discussion............................................................................................................9

2.1 Description of the Study Area...........................................................................................9

2.2 Features of Gravity system Irrigation in the study area..................................................10

2.2.1 Irrigation Area status...............................................................................................12

2.2.2 Irrigation Water governance....................................................................................12

2.3 Small Pump Irrigation in the Woliso Woreda.................................................................13

2.3.1 Small pump Irrigation Expansion............................................................................13

2.3.2 Benefits Small Pump Irrigation...............................................................................15

2.3.3 Ill Impacts................................................................................................................16

3 Conclusion and Recommendation.........................................................................................19

1
Table 1 Pump Irrigation Potential in Selected Countries................................................................6
Table 2 Irrigation Potential in the woreda Vs Irrigated area.........................................................11
Table 3 Irrigation Water governance.............................................................................................13
Table 4 Total Registered Number of Pumps In the Woreda.........................................................15
Table 6 Woliso Woreda Rivers Water Resource, Irrigation demand and Impact........................18
Table 7 Small Pump Irrigation demands in Woliso Woreda.........................................................18
Table 5 Summary of Impact Small Pump Irrigation.....................................................................19

Figure 1 Woliso Wereda Location and Altitude..............................................................................9

Figure 2 Woliso Wered Irrigation location Map...........................................................................11
Figure 3 defragmented and pump irrigation expansion................................................................17

2
1 Introduction
Corresponding to its contribution to improved agriculture and economy, imprudent small pump
water abstraction for irrigation is a threat for river system. Water abstraction for irrigation from
rivers in general, and pump abstraction in particular, significantly impact river system unless
appropriate water abstraction, for irrigation, policy and management are in place. Unmanaged
small pump water abstraction played a critical role in minimizing or drying up of small rivers,
water table fall, and triggering water related social conflicts and pollution in incremental way.
This has been witnessed world wise and here in Ethiopia.

Irrigation development can be classified based on the water abstraction system as gravity and lift
(pump) irrigation, based on the distribution and application technology as drip, sprinkler, furrow,
and boarder and flooding. The size of the irrigation area also determines the scale of the
irrigation, especially in Ethiopia. Accordingly, less than 200 ha small, 200-3000ha medium and
greater than 3000 ha as large-scale irrigation.

Although irrigation development needs huge infrastructure investment in the form of storage
and conveyance structures, there are evidences that farmers could harvest irrigation water with
application of different water lifting (WL) technologies like manual pumps, motorized and solar
pumps. These technologies only require households having access to shallow wells or perennial
streams (rivers) which may not require huge and costly infrastructure investments perse ( Fitsum
Hagos and, Gebrehaweria Gebregziabher,” 2016). Small Irrigation pumps have enabled
smallholders to diversify their farming systems, mitigate the impacts of rainfall variability, and
grow high-value crops for urban and international markets[ CITATION Des15 \l 1033 ].
Beneficiaries of Irrigation are 1.965times more likely Improved living standard than their
counterpart. This also implies Irrigation of small holder farmer have positive impact on their
living standards (Temesgen Furi and Getachew Bashargo, 2015). Farmers in Ethiopia also started
to enjoy the blessing face of Small pump irrigation, farmers using [pump] irrigation recognize its
benefits, emphasizing that they have been able to shift from producing only rainy season crops to
production in both the rainy and dry seasons (Dessalegn & Merrey, 2015b).

3
The exponential growth of small pump irrigation, besides its increase in productivity and
contribution in improving the farmer’s livelihood, started generating disruption of low flow,
commotion of water balance, disorder of local level water governance in the river system, and
polluting small rivers. The mushrooming of small pump irrigation here and there commenced a
conflict among the same water irrigation users who were working as an association. These
challenges were faced world wise, when pump irrigations were booming, for example in Asia.
Studies across the world indicated the negative impact of small pump water abstraction besides
its economic benefit for irrigation.

Pumping of groundwater by farmers in China and India is causing water tables to drop of 3
meters (m) per year in some areas (Molle, Shah, & Barker, 2003). The study conducted on
‘Revitalization of Asian Irrigation: To sustainably meet tomorrow’s food needs’ Pumping of
groundwater by farmers in China and India is causing water tables to drop 3 meters (m) per year
in some areas (International Water Management Institute, 2009). Regarding the social conflict;
the study conducted by Randolph Barker and François Molle (2004), ‘Evolution of Irrigation in
South and Southeast Asia’ pointed out, traditional rights to water and longstanding rules for
water sharing have been affected by the irruption of outsiders pumping or diverting water
directly from the same sources (Barker & Molle, 2004). The gradual commitment of water (or
closure) in river basins results in less water available for dilution and flushing of pollutants
(Barker & Molle, 2004) besides upstream locations often affected downstream biodiversity
(International Water Management Institute, 2009). The World Wildlife Fund’s (WWF) Living
Planet Index generalized it as the decline for freshwater species the cause of irrigation expansion.

The world wise experience, especially the Asian pump irrigation experience is also happening
here in Ethiopia. A study that involved a participatory approach to hydro meteorological
monitoring (Zemadim, Mccartney, Langan, & Sharma, 2014) conducted in Ethiopia, in Amhara
region, indicated water shortage due to pump as a social grievance. According to this study ‘the
communities [Mizawa Goera area communities] complain of water shortages in the dry season,
attributed to upstream pumping of water. Stated that the pumping of water for irrigation
reportedly resulted in one of the main tributaries of the Mizewa River going dry in the dry
season.’ This study revealed the increasing impacts of problems related to uncoordinated
individualistic motor pump use based on rivers. Another study conducted by Dessalegn & Merry

4
(2015) also asserted the same challenge. According to their study, they emphasized the effect of
increased competition from pump users in the upstream areas that are included in a different
kebele (sub district) “The upstream users located in a different sub-district started using motor
pumps after us. But, now, the number of motor pump users has increased there and the water has
decreased here. Therefore, we stopped cultivating onions due to fear of crop failure.” (Dessalegn
& Merrey, 2015a). This study also wants to prove these findings in Woliso Wereda of Oromia
Regional State.

Ethiopia is pushing irrigation development expansion aggressively for the past ten years with the
blessing and curse face of Pump irrigation. The GTP II document describes, ‘…an estimated
2.34 million hectares of land is developed through small scale irrigations schemes during the
plan period’[ CITATION Fed16 \l 1033 ] in addition the document stated 4.1million ha Small
Scale Irrigation (SSI) planned for GTP II period. Part of the developed and the planned
irrigations are believed to be small pump irrigations. 2007-2010 was the fanciful period for small
pump irrigation in Ethiopia. Before this era traditional and small modern irrigation development
was on the center of the stage. The Agricultural Development led Industrialization (ADLI) gave
emphasize on irrigation development by all possible means. There is a tendency to associate
irrigated agriculture in the developing world with canals, dams, tanks, and reservoirs. By
contrast, largely hidden from attention, a worldwide explosion has occurred in the use of wells
and pumps for irrigation and domestic and industrial use (Barker & Molle, 2004).This rationality
opened a door for importing and distributing in hundred thousands of small pump to Ethiopia. .
The total number of pumps imported and distributed are not known clearly, however some
studies come up with some numbers; ‘about 800,000’ (Namara, Gebregziabher, Giordano, & De
Fraiture, 2013), (Gebremedhin & Asfaw, 2015), According to Gebregziabher(2012) 697,352
pumps were imported between 2004 to 2010 and according to the National Smallholder
Irrigation and Drainage Strategy 1.2 million (ATA, 2016) motor pumps were imported to
Ethiopia. According to FAO Ethiopia Country highlight report, Ethiopian import on irrigation
pump has grown by 15% in 2016 from the 2006, which amounted to 10 Million USD. In addition
this report asserts as 30% of irrigation farmers in Rift valley moved from hand pump to mortised
pump use. Regional governments, NGOs, individual supplies and public enterprises had
imported and distributed a huge amount of small pumps. According to the data collected from

5
Oromia Regional State Bureau of Agriculture (BOA) (2019), the region has imported and
distributed 19,338 pumps between 2001- 2002. According to this source there are more than
65,000 small pumps in the region. Small Irrigation pumps are now, to a large degree have spread
to where there is (assumed) plenty of shallow well resources and small rivers like East Harerge,
Rift valley areas and Bacho plane.

Table 1 Pump Irrigation Potential in Selected Countries

Potential Beneficiaries (min-max) Potential application area (min-max)

Rural people % of total rural % of Total
Country ('000) population Area ('000) Agricultural Land
Burkina
Faso 2,800 - 3,350 24-29 445 -540 6.3 - 7.6
Ghana 4,400 - 5,500 30-38 880 -1,100 11.4 -14
Ethiopia 9,000 - 18,500 13-27 1,400 - 2,850 4.5 - 9
Tanzania 4,000 - 6,000 12.5-18.5 625 - 925 2 -2.9
Zambia 710 - 2,900 8.9-36 120 - 490 1.6 - 6.8
West
Bengal 15,200 - 23,700 26.6-41.5 2,700 - 4,200 41 - 64.5
Source :(Dessalegn & Merrey, 2015a)

Irrigation is not only a technical matter, it has also a social dimension. According to Dessalgne
(2015) quoting from Mollinga (2003) and Veldwisch et al. (2009) pump irrigation is a socio-
technical system. ‘The social dimension of irrigations of irrigation are as important as the
technical dimensions’ (Dessalegn,2014). The social dimension is in irrigation is addressed by the
local institutions who are responsible for governing the water source and the water allocation,
time and duration. Institutions are defined as “the rules of the game in society”(Dessalegn &
Merrey, 2015a). The local irrigation governing institutions are called Irrigation Water User
Institutions (IWUA). IWUAs are established based on federal or Regional government IWUA
establishment proclamations and regulations. IWUAs are responsible to employ various bylaws
and agreements for sustainable irrigation water abstraction and allocation.

Pump irrigations are challenging IWUAs governing capacity of water sources like river and
streams and water allocations. Evidences are indicating that small pump irrigations are becoming
the trigger of water conflict and a competent enemy of the ecosystem health where there is water
scarcity. These are witnessed in studies conducted elsewhere in Ethiopia; studies conducted by

6
Dessalgne (2015) indicated that, the rapid expansion of pump irrigation is leading to increasing
competition and conflict over limited water resources. According to another study pump
irrigation is creating wrong perception; ‘They perceive pumps as liberating them from the
‘social’ limitations of traditional communal irrigation’ [ CITATION Des15 \l 1033 ]. Due to this
pump users are abusing the technological advantage they gained by the pump water abstraction
when compared to the gravity irrigation users. Downstream and adjacent water users are
complaining on pump water abstraction, small rivers are drying, flora and fauna who were
dependent on river systems suffering. This is widely going on.

In the course of this predicament, there is a defined policy and legal framework at national and
regional level that can direct the small pump irrigation water abstraction from rivers to
sustainable small pump irrigation development. This triggers, the need for fundamental
transformation of Small River Water Resource Management that can address irrigation pump
use. The current trend in Small pump irrigation expansion is focusing on technology distribution
and the value chain of the supply of pumps. According to Dessalegn & Merrey (2015) ‘There is
a tendency to think that pump irrigation based on shallow aquifers or small rivers and streams
does not require giving attention to collective action as done in community-managed irrigation
schemes’. This paper aims to bring the issue to front for the academic family to contribute for
sustainable small pump irrigation policy and legal framework.

1.1 Problem Description

An expansion of irrigation and improving water use are inevitable interdependent variables that
should get due consideration in reducing the impact of irrigation water use on other services.
Irrigation expansion demands more water whereas improving irrigation water use alleviate water
use conflicts and gives room for additional water function. Small pump irrigation, as one of the
irrigation water abstraction method, is showing an assertive increase in Ethiopian small scale
irrigation sector for full or supplemental irrigation. The pump numbers are growing, however
‘the social and institutional context and framework for governing pump irrigation has been
largely ignored’[ CITATION Des15 \l 1033 ]. This is leading to growing competition for scarce
water supplies, conflicts among farmers, and mining of small rivers, streams and aquifers.
Besides, expansion of Small Pump water abstraction from rivers is generating an ill impact on
existing irrigation typologies, like modern and traditional gravity systems. In addition, it’s

7
negative impact is encircling, water scarcity at downstream irrigation user, freezing of modern
irrigations, irrigation land reduction and fragmentation, and denouncing of local water
governance system like Irrigation Water Users Association (IWUA). Small pump Irrigations are
frustrating the traditional water governance. Communities benefiting from river system for
irrigation in form of association, livestock, the flora and fauna are suffering the illegal and
unmanaged water abstraction of small irrigation pumps. Understanding the growth of small
pump irrigation, unless it is supported with irrigation users group action and coordination with
gravity irrigation water abstractor at upstream and downstream, it will be a blessing in disguise.
However, establishing the coordination and management mechanism where there is no policy
and legal support is the challenge on small river beneficiaries.
Small Pump Irrigation expansion is not significant in the case study area when compared to other
areas in the region like Harmaya woreda and Rift valley areas. Even the number of pump
irrigation in Woliso woreda is considerably small compared to Ilu woreda in the same zone.
However, the small pump irrigation impact on rivers system governance is coming into the
center stage. Grievance by upstream and downstream traditional irrigation users on the water
availability in the river system and the use right claim of the pump users is a hot issue. Lesson
learned from this study area can save us from similar loss happened in Harmaya Lake and not to
be repeated on other water resources
The paper is designed to show the observed impact of Small irrigation pump water abstraction on
the river system taking Woliso Woreda as a case study and compare with other studies conducted
elsewhere in Ethiopia and worldwide findings, specially Fogra area of Amhara Region, Ethiopia.

1.2 Methods and Materials

The study is based on dominantly on qualitative data collected from S/W/Shoa zone and Woliso
Wereda irrigation offices experts, discussion with key informant farmers of Ejersa and Rebu
irrigation farmers, DA and neighboring woreda – Ilu woreda - irrigation farmers. Besides,
Primary data were collected by direct observation at three schemes, Ejersa, Rebu and Tejji River.
Secondary data were collected from Oromia region, zone and Woreda irrigation offices,
inventory data, documents, literatures and articles. FGD and informal interview with male and
female farmers who were found on their plot during field visit, floating water measurement, area
delineation using GPS were tools and instruments engaged in data collection.

8
The data collected were analyzed dominantly in qualitative method and simple descriptive
statistics due to data limitation. The findings were compared with the study made by Dessalegn
& Merrey, (2015) in Ethiopia, Amhara Region at Fogera. Results are presented in table, bulletin
words, graphs, and maps.

2 Results and Discussion

2.1 Description of the Study Area
According to some studies Ethiopia has irrigated only less than 10% of the 3.7 to 4.3 Mha of
potential irrigable land (Evans, Giordano, & Clayton, 2012). Out of this about 700,000 ha is
considered to be in Oromia Region (OIDA, 2019). South West Shoa zone in general, Woliso
Woreda in particular are known for good land and water potential for irrigation. Woliso woreda
encompasses 751.3km2 and it has four big river system; Rebu, Ejersa, Qela and Dedebia (Ref.
Fig 2).

Figure 1 Woliso Wereda Location and Altitude

The irrigation land coverage in the zone is 12,116 ha with different irrigation typology and
technology, Woliso woreda shares 3108 ha that is 26% from the zone coverage.
Modern and traditional diversion schemes and pump irrigations are common in S/W/Shoa zone
and Woliso district. These modern and traditional schemes are governed by Water Associations
Established at scheme level and Irrigation Federations that functions at river level. In the past

9
five to seven years, small pump irrigations users are growing due to government push and
technology availability.

S/W/ Shoa Zone Irrigation in Typlogy in area (ha) Woliso Wereda Irrigation Coverage in Typology - (ha)

261; 8%

363; 12%
537; 4%
2015; 17%

9564; 79%
2484;
80%

Graph 1 South West Shoa Irrigation Coverage by Typology Graph 2 Woliso Woreda Irrigation Coverage by Typology

S/W/Shoa zone and Woliso woreda have large gravity areas compared to pump irrigation,
however the expansion of gravity irrigation in the name of equity at upstream and downstream
lead the previous irrigation landholding in specific area to decrease and increase in new villages
in the woreda in the same river system.

2.2 Features of Gravity system Irrigation in the study area

Gravity irrigation is an artificial application of water to crops benefiting from the topographical
advantage of the diversion point without acquiring any water lifting machine. Gravity irrigations
have less operation cost compared to pump irrigation. According to MOWIE ( 2015),the total
irrigation coverage in Ethiopia is nearly two million ha which is less than one percent compared
to the twenty one million ha potential area. This same study identified 7.7 million ha in Oromia
regional state. S/W/Shoa zone has ----- ha land as irrigation potential while 8668 ha is found in
Woliso Woreda.

10
 Figure 2 Woliso Wered Irrigation location Map

Table 2 Irrigation Potential in the woreda Vs Irrigated area

Schemes on Irrigable Area under

the water area irrigation per the
Rivers resource (No) (ha) available water
Rebuu 23 1868 276
Ejersa 22 1501 198.5
Lege Qela 19 1467 127.3
Burqallee/
Springs 41 1467 521.8
Walgaa 20 2365 328.9
Sum 125 8668 1452.5

2.2.1 Irrigation Area status

According to the analysis made based on the secondary data collected from the woreda and
regional bureau, the number of irrigation schemes found in Woliso Woreda has decreased from
112 in 2005 to 125 in 2010, while the area irrigated increased from 5123 ha to 8877 ha. This

11
indicates 11.6 % increase in number and 48 % in area. This is resulted water stress in the
schemes. This pushed the water allocation for each farmer to decrease in amount and time and
the interval to increase. The land size under irrigation is now reduced 1000 m 2 (0.1 ha) per
household because of water scarcity and expansion at upstream and downstream.

Desallegn and Tariku are the key informant who are a member of Boyee I irrigation that
abstracts water from Ejersa river. According to Dessalgen, ‘this irrigation was started around
1968 Et.C by their forefathers,’ he continued his narration ‘I am doing irrigation for more than
fifteen years, however recently the government has expanded irrigation at upstream and
downstream along the river and this resulted critical water shortage. When we start to complain
to the government, the response we get from the government is discouraging; “water is like air
free and equal to all, so the upstream and downstream users have a right to use. You should
decrease your irrigation area.” This made some of us to be discouraged.” Tariku, who was also
the part of the key informant conquered with Dessallegn reflection. He said ‘Irrigation is a means
of existence for me and my family, but the government without considering the water balance
encouraged upstream and downstream users to start irrigation that made my life miserable due to
shortage of water’.

The field observation made witnessed the farmers complain as true. Boyee irrigation users were
irrigating from 0.5ha -1ha per household, however currently each household is irrigating 0.1 ha.
This also resulted the irrigation to be fragmented.

2.2.2 Irrigation Water governance

The gravity irrigation schemes of the woreda are governed by irrigation water user association or
cooperatives (IWUA/C). The IWUA/C govern the traditional and modern irrigation scheme with
bylaws. They have a bylaw for water allocation, maintenance, penalties for disciplinary actions.
All traditional and modern irrigation users are mandated to be the member of the Water User
Associations.

Table 3 Irrigation Water governance

Water No of Modern Traditional

Sources IWUA/C Irrigation Irrigation
Rebu River 25 1 24
EJersa River 22 1 23
Qala River 21   21

12
 Springs 25 2 23
Walga River 11 5 6
Dedebiya
River 9   9
Sum 113 9 106

The water shortage occurred in the each irrigation scheme made the water users to establish
Irrigation water users federation in the river catchment. The water users federation mandated to
allocate water for each water user association and the water user association to individual
farmers. Accordingly, the duration of water allocated to each IWUA is decreased which in turn
the amount of water allocated for each farmer is decreased and also the interval is increased.

2.3 Small Pump Irrigation in the Woliso Woreda

Pump (lift) irrigation is one of the irrigation type named based on the abstraction technology.
Pump water abstraction can be large, medium or small based on the size of the land and the
capacity of the pump. Small pump irrigations considered with 1000-1500 li/min discharge, 2-4
inch suction and delivery pump and up to 32 m delivery head are available in the woreda..

2.3.1 Small pump Irrigation Expansion

The government of Ethiopia as a food security strategy and raw material source for the
agroindustry sector encourages irrigation expansion and improvement. The irrigation
development expansion strategy directly or indirectly pushes farmers to use small pumps for
water abstraction. In the past fifteen years, pump irrigation has been promoted belligerently all
over Ethiopia. There is no certain data that shows the quantity of pump in the country and the
coverage of pump irrigation. However, some arbitrary data are found here and there; According
to the National Small Holder Irrigation and Drainage strategy more than 1.2 million pumps were
imported from 2005-2013[ CITATION Eth16 \l 1033 ] . Namara, et al ( 2013) indicated an
import of 800,000 motor pumps between these periods, FAO (2012) depicted were 10 Million
USD import increase in pump. When we look at regional level data discrepancy and mismatch
are common. The Oromia Irrigation Development Authority, that was responsible for irrigation
development, states the availability of more than 65,000 small irrigation pumps in the region,
where as data collected from districts shows there are 39,000 pump only in Haramaya woreda of
East Harerge. The same data management problem exist at zone and woreda level. According to

13
S/W/Zone irrigation office, there are more than 500 (five hundred) small pumps in the zone, out
of this 87 (eighty seven) pumps are available in Woliso woreda.

No . Pumps Imported
250000

219916
200000

150000
140058
122690
100000
78680
67054 65334
50000

0 3620
2004 2005 2006 2007 2008 2009 2010

Graph 1 Imported Pump from 2004- 2010 - Source ((Gebregziabher, 2012)

Contrary to the government intention, Small pump irrigation is introduced by some farmers to
liberate themselves from the water stress and the water governance bondage. Irrigation users in
Woliso wereda, especially who were benefiting from irrigation for long time were not happy in
the expansion of irrigation in upstream and downstream. It has decreased their irrigation land,
decreased the amount of water they were getting from the irrigation system and also decreased
their income. According to a lady who participated in the FGD, ‘their family income is
significantly decreased since the irrigation expansion at upstream and downstream increased and
water shortage happened’. When farmers faced the water shortage form the irrigation system,
they started to think and exercise small fuel pumps to cop up with the challenge they faced. Step
by step, farmers started to procure irrigation pumps, with in short period the number of pumps
reached to eighty seven.

Table 4 Total Registered Number of Pumps In the Woreda

Type of of Pump
Total Area
(inch) Beneficiary (HH)
(#) (ha)
River 2 3 4 Male Female Total

14
 Rebu   24 8 32 51 310 50 360
Springs   21 5 26 72 250 42 292
Ejersa   5 2 7 21 70 14 84
Qalaa 1 3 1 5 30 60 12 72
Walega   3 4 7 24 38 9 47
Demekesh   9 1 10 33 100 12 112
Sum 1 65 21 87 231 828 139 967

2.3.2 Benefits Small Pump Irrigation

Any type of irrigation in general, small pump irrigation in particular reduced the dependency of
farmers from the uncertain rainfall pattern that surely lead to crop failure. Besides, irrigation as a
controlled water application enhances productivity and quality. Small pump Irrigations compared
to other type of irrigation, especially with surface gravity irrigation, has its own benefit.

According to the FGD discussion held in Woliso woreda, farmers explained that pump irrigation
gives an opportunity of irrigation for those who have no accesses from the gravity system due to
the elevation difference between the water source and command area, the volume of water
abstracted is larger than the gravity system and it saves irrigation time. The key informant from
Boyee II SSI, Obbo Tsegaye, said ‘Five to Six years ago, I was getting enough water from the
gravity irrigation system, however due to the expansion of irrigation at upstream and
downstream the water I am getting become small, the interval become one in twenty to thirty
daysand also the duration is reduced. To cope to this change, I bought Koshen Benzine pump and
start to irrigate during my turn. It delivers better water to may plot that I can irrigate my land in
short time’. Similarly, a lady informant depicted ‘When My husband was using motor pump, we
were free from common Labour work like canal cleaning, routine meeting, water turn in time
and amount, but now’ she continued, ‘we are not able to abstract water while the water is
flowing in front of our eye without the permission of the water user association and the woreda
irrigation office.’

In addition to the water abstraction and management, farmers who are and were using small
pump further describe the benefit of pump irrigation. According to the FGD and individuals
interviewed, Motor pumps can be shared and rented, and also it can be transported to home with
person or animal easily. In line to the social dimension and water governance, pump user farmers
think it freed them from Committee based water governance in allocation of time and amount

15
and different bylaw based penalties. After all, one farmer summarized the benefit of pump
irrigation in the following statements; ‘Except for market failure’ he said. ‘Pump irrigation freed
us from crop failure. When we were working with pump we were sure for good harvest, whereas
now, we are always in doubt what we are going to harvest’. In an interview conducted with one
farmer who is irrigating nearly 0.1 ha, he is irrigating different spices, cabbage, potato, carrot,
and other vegetables. According to this informant, he earned ETB 25,000.00 from this piece of
plot which can be projected to 100,000 ETB per ha.

In general the pump irrigators conceived pump irrigation as a savior from the local water
governance it were not banned by the woreda irrigation office. This is indicated by in the FGD.

2.3.3 Ill Impacts

Woliso Woreda Irrigation Office manager stated that ‘Small pump irrigation users ignore the
right of other water users in river system, they abstract water only to address their ambition
ignoring others who should benefit from the same river for irrigation and other purpose’. This is
confirmed by the downstream farmers of Rebu River, one of the river in Woliso Woreda, the
farmer said’ pump irrigations are not allowed in our river, but some farmers do illegally when
they are not watched. These farmers,’ he said, ‘they don’t worry about down streamers. They
deprive our water use right because of their locational and technology advantage’. This is
recently confirmed by the study made by Ethiopian Institute Agricultural research institute, The
finding stated that ‘ one of the reasons for water shortage has been that the farmers directly pump
irrigation water from rivers (“AGP II, 2016).

Figure 3 defragmented and pump irrigation expansion

16
 According to the woreda irrigation office, an increase of small pump irrigation commenced
challenging the existing modern and traditional irrigation water governance. Pump users started
to disobey irrigation water user associations, ignoring the demand and equitable share of the
downstream users and expanding their irrigation along the river course in rent and share
cropping. This initiated other farmers to follow their steps and endanger the river system and the
security of the river system users. In addition, traditional and modern gravity irrigation system
started to fail.

This is similar to the findings of Barker and Molle (2004), ‘Traditional rights to water and
longstanding rules for water sharing have been affected by the irruption of outsiders pumping or
diverting water directly from the same sources’ (Barker & Molle, 2004). This happening
because ownership and management of small pump is in the hands of individual farmers or small
groups of farmers sharing the same water source. Farmers who have acquired pumps may are
less willing to participate in irrigation associations or in the widely promoted participatory
irrigation schemes.

The impact of the pump irrigation will not remain only gravity users it will also extend to pump
irrigators. Whenever, each pump irrigator faces water shortage the solution they adopt is more
water extracting by increasing the pump time. Even though this is not witnessed in Wolliso
Wereda, other studies indicate this premise. Dessalegne in his study (2015), found that ‘In the
case of multiple farmers using their own pumps to extract water from a river, the incentive itself
is invisible: each farmer will respond to growing shortages by increasing his or her rate of
pumping, in a vicious cycle reminiscent of the ‘tragedy of the commons’ paradigm[ CITATION
Des15 \l 1033 ].

Table 5 Woliso Woreda Rivers Water Resource, Irrigation demand and Impact

Mont   Dec Jan Feb Mar Apr May

h
Rebu Available
Water per 1,605,252.41 1,555,200.00 1,511,404.14 1,591,488.00 1,631,287.7 1,666,924.14
month 4
Water
Potential 535.08 518.40 503.80 530.50 543.76 555.64
Actual area
under 585.00 585.00 585.00 585.00 585.00 585.00
Irrigation

17
 Water
Demand 1,755,000.00 1,755,000.00 1,755,000.00 1,755,000.00 1,755,000.0 1,755,000.00
0
Water
Balance (149,747.59) (199,800.00) (243,595.86) (163,512.00) (123,712.26) (88,075.86)
Walga Available
Water per 2,551,662.00 906,471.00 869,072.52 919,323.87 1,301,529.6 1,856,140.14
month 0
Water
Potential 850.55 302.16 289.69 306.44 433.84 618.71
Actual area
under 328.00 328.00 328.00 328.00 328.00 328.00
Irrigation
Water
Demand 984,000.00 984,000.00 984,000.00 984,000.00 984,000.00 984,000.00
Deamnd per
month 1,567,662.00 (77,529.00) (114,927.48) (64,676.13) 317,529.60 872,140.14
3
Considering an average 10, 0000 m /sec/ha water as full crop water requirement for full growth
all the rivers in the woreda are at deficit level. The existing pump water thirty percent water
capacity abstraction requires nearly two MCM water from the rivers which again burdens the
rivers, specially Rebu river.

Table 6 Small Pump Irrigation demands in Woliso Woreda

Total Number of
Pump water yield per Irrigation Area that can be
Pumps
River day (12 hrs) Irrigated (ha)
Rebu 32 0.75 0.00
Springs 26 606,528.00 60.65
Ejersa 7 163,296.00 16.33
Qalaa 5 116,640.00 11.66
Walega 7 163,296.00 16.33
Demekesh 10 233,280.00 23.33
Sum 87 2,029,536.00 202.95

The findings of the findings can be summarized as follows listed in the table xxx below.

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Table 7 Summary of Impact Small Pump Irrigation
Positive Impact ILL Impact

Less Initial investment compared to Challenge the local water governance like
gravity IWUA existence

Movable and easy for transportation Buffer area irrigation

Can be owned individually Flow reduction in the stream
Individual management Fragmented irrigation
3 C
Can irrigate higher elevation (irrigate Discourage long conveyance irrigation system o
areas greater than the diversion point users n
elevation c

Direct pumping to command area Pollution ( carbon emission and water l

pollution near pumping area) u

s
No/ less earthen conveyance – pipe High operation cost (fuel, oil, maintenance)
i
conveyance
o
Abstractions point can be changed Expands irrigation area out of the command
n
simply & easily that can reinforce water shortage
Can be rented or shared

and Recommendation
Water resources like shallow ground water and River systems are at crossroads. The need to
modernize and expand agriculture for food security is the priority and the direction of Ethiopian
government. Small pump irrigation expansion at upstream, downstream and along river course
without considering the water balance risking Rivers in many ways. Local water governances are
facing challenges by individual pump users, consolidate irrigated areas are fragmenting, water
loss is increasing due to conveyance caused by land fragmentation, increase in irrigation interval,
decrease in water amount and duration. In general, it discourages farmers far from the water
resource from irrigation or tends them to irrigate less water demanding crops or deficit irrigation.
It can be summarized as follows:

19
 • The River systems where small pump irrigations under exercise are at crossroads.

• The dry season flow in the rivers are decreasing, sometimes zero flow

• Irrigation expansion out of the defined area challenges the use policy

• Water abstraction equity issue should have a defined policy and direction

• Water Saving irrigation systems should be introduced in pump irrigation area

Further quantitative and detailed qualitative study is necessary to envisage the challenge for full
understanding of the impact

20
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