Browsing by Author "Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele"

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A Comparative Analysis of the Technical Efficiency of Rain-fed and Smallholder Irrigation in Ethiopia
(2011) Makombe, Godswill; Namara, Regassa; Hagos, Fitsum; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Ayana, Mekonnen; Bossio, Deborah
"Agriculture is the most significant contributor to Ethiopia's economy. Most of the agricultural production is under rainfed conditions and thus extremely sensitive to rainfall variability. Irrigation development, including smallholder irrigation, is used by the Ethiopian Government to attempt to mitigate the effects of rainfall variability. In this study, we look at smallholder irrigation - modern and traditional irrigation systems."
Evaluation of Current and Future Water Resources Development in the Lake Tana Basin, Ethiopia
(2010) McCartney, Matthew; Alemayehu, Tadesse; Shiferaw, Abeyu; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele
"Lake Tana is valuable for many people, including the communities who live around the lakeshore, those living on islands and close to the Blue Nile River, which flows from it. The area has been identified as a region for irrigation and hydropower development, which are vital for food security and economic growth in Ethiopia. This report presents findings from an integrated multidisciplinary study that was conducted to investigate the implications of this development. The study found that existing water resources development, for hydropower generation, has modified flows downstream of the lake, reduced water levels of the lake and significantly decreased flow over the Tis Issat Waterfall. Interviews with stakeholders indicate that the changes have benefited some people but have adversely affected others. Future development will exacerbate pressure on the lake."
Experiences and Opportunities for Promoting Small-Scale/Micro Irrigation and Rainwater Harvesting for Food Security in Ethiopia
(2005) Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Merrey, Douglas J.; Kamara, Abdul; Van Koppen, Barbara; Penning de Vries, F.W.T.; Boelee, Eline
"This paper reports on government institutions involved in the development and promotion of smallholder water and land management interventions, especially small-scale irrigation, microirrigation and water harvesting, for improving the livelihoods and food security of millions of poor rural people."
Importance of Irrigated Agriculture to the Ethiopian Economy: Capturing the Direct Net Benefits of Irrigation
(2010) Hagos, Fitsum; Makombe, Gosdwill; Namara, Regassa E.; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele
"This study is an attempt to quantify the actual and expected contribution of irrigation to the Ethiopian economy for 2005/06 and 2009/10 cropping seasons using adjusted net gross margin analysis. After obtaining adjusted gross margin values for rain-fed and irrigation systems under different typologies, irrigation’s contribution was calculated to be about 5.7 and 2.5 percent to agricultural and overall GDP during the 2005/06 cropping season. By the year 2009/2010, irrigation’s contribution to agricultural and overall GDP is estimated to grow to about 9 and 3.7 percent, respectively. After relaxing some of the underlying assumptions, the future contribution of irrigation to agricultural GDP will rise to about 12 percent while the contribution to overall GDP will be about 4 percent. Recommendations for enhancing irrigation’s contribution and policy implications for cost recovery and sustainability of irrigation investment are drawn."
Institutional Settings and Livelihood Strategies in the Blue Nile Basin: Implications for Upstream/Downstream Linkages
(2008) Haileslassie, Amare; Hagos, Fitsum; Mapedza, Everisto; Sadoff, Claudia; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Gebreselassie, Solomon; Peden, Don
"Through rapid assessment of existing literature and review of policy and other official documents, the report synthesizes the existing knowledge and gaps on policies and institutions and identifies key research issues that need in-depth study. The report provides an overview of the range of key livelihoods and production systems in the Blue Nile Basin (BNB) and highlights their relative dependence on, and vulnerability to, water resources and water-related ecosystem services. It also makes an inventory of current water and land related policies and institutions in the BNB, their organizational arrangements, dynamics and linkages and key policy premises. It highlights the major problems in institutional arrangements and policy gaps and makes suggestions for an in-depth Policy and Institutional Studies to be done as part of the Upstream-Downstream Research project."
Irrigation Practices in Ethiopia: Characteristics of Selected Irrigation Schemes
(2007) Girma, Michael M.; Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele
"This report is prepared based on a collaborative research project titled 'Impact of Irrigation on Poverty and Environment'. The overall project focuses on understanding the crucial role that water, in conjunction with other factors, needs to play to reduce poverty and food insecurity, while maintaining an environmental balance. The research promotes irrigation development that will enhance positive impacts such as poverty alleviation and minimize negative impacts such as environmental degradation. In this report, documentation and information for 12 irrigation systems totaling about 22 sites/schemes have been identified. The common characteristics of these schemes have been provided in this report, with a view of having comprehensive information on the selected case study sites based on rapid appraisal, secondary data and site visits."
A Review of Hydrology, Sediment and Water Resource Use in the Blue Nile Basin
(2008) Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; McCartney, Matthew; Steenhuis, Tammo S.; Ahmed, Abdalla A.
"This working paper has been prepared as one of the outputs of the 'Improved water and land management in the Ethiopian Highlands and its impact on downstream stakeholders dependent on the Blue Nile' project, supported by the CGIAR Challenge Program on Water and Food (CPWF). It provides a comprehensive literature review; identifies types, sources and provides geo-referencing of data in the basin; compiles information of hydrology, sediment, and water resources and its uses. It also provides a review of applicable models for watershed and water allocation simulation, research methods, past studies and published material related to the Blue Nile. Extensive reference material and previous studies are compiled."
Water Resources and Irrigation Development in Ethiopia
(2007) Awulachew, Seleshi Bekele; Yilma, Aster Denekew; Loulseged, Makonnen; Loiskandl, Willibald; Ayana, Mekonnen; Alamirew, Tena
"This working paper provides results of a broad assessment of water resources and a database of irrigation development and potential in Ethiopia. The country is blessed with ample water resources in central, western and south western parts, while most of northeastern and eastern parts of the country are relatively dry. Hence, despite abundance in some parts of the country, there is high water-scarcity due to lack of water control infrastructure. Given the amount of water available, it is evident that the promotion of water development technologies, especially irrigation, can provide an opportunity to improve productivity of land and labor and increase production volumes. To utilize the advantages of irrigation development, Ethiopia is increasingly investing in this sector. However, there is no clear information and database available. This paper responds to the information requirement on the database of water resources, its potential, extent of irrigation development, and status."