DETERMINANTS OF SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION UTILIZATON IN SILTE ZONE, IN CASE OF SILTI DISTRICT

ABSTRACT<br> In Many countries including Ethiopia widespread poverty, food insecurity, low farm productivity and degraded natural resources are key problems ,the use of irrigation water in agricultural systems is very important. this study aimed to assess the determinants of utilization of small-scale irrigation by smallholder farmers in Silti District, Silte zone of Central Ethiopia region. A two-stage sampling technique was applied to select sample rural Kebele administrations and households. The study was based on the data obtained from 195 sample households from three rural Kebele of the woreda through cross-sectional survey during the 2024 production year .Collected quantitative data were analyzed by using descriptive statistics, inferential statistics and econometric models. the Logit model was used to identify factors that influence the utilization of small-scale irrigation farming. The result of the model showed that Education status (EDU) , Household size (HS) ,access to extension service(EXTS) ,Credit Access (ACCR) ,access to market information (MRKTINFO) and total land holding (LS), positively significant at 5% probability level. While, Farm distance (FDIS), and market distance,(MDIS), determined small-scale irrigation utilization negatively significant at 5% probability level.<br> The finding of the study suggests that the government and stakeholders should emphasize strengthening the existing extension service and access to credit, creating nearest marketplace and increasing and promoting informal education, increasing farmers’ land size and household size, provision of information about agricultural technologies and construction of small scale irrigation canals to improve small scale irrigation utilization in the study area.