College of Dryland Agriculture and Natural Resources Management
Permanent URI for this communityhttps://repository.mu.edu.et/handle/123456789/13
Browse
1 results
Search Results
Item The Role of Traditional Flood-based Farming on Household Income and Water Management in Raya Azebo Woreda District, Southern Tigray, Ethiopia(Mekelle University, 2025-02-17) Abeba Berwo BarakiTraditional flood-based farming is an important agricultural activity in Raya Azebo woreda, southern Tigray, Ethiopia. Many farming households at Tsigea and Genetie tabias, located in the downstream of Guguf catchment, rely on agriculture for their livelihood. The need, therefore, arises to assess flood farming and its water management aspects, its contribution to household income and livelihoods as well as the factors that influence it. Hence, this study investigates the role of traditional flood-based farming on household income and water management in Raya Azebo. The study objectives were to assess water use and management, household income and implications to livelihoods, and the socio-economic factors that influence flood-based farming. Data were collected from a survey of 362 households proportionately and randomly selected from Tsigea and Genetie tabias. Key informant interviews, focus group discussions, document analysis and direct observations were also used to provide additional data and information on conditions in the study area. The research work examines water management, yield, income, community participation, food consumption status of households and factors impacting flood-based farming practices. Descriptive statistics and content analysis of qualitative interviews were used for data analysis. The main results indicate that for 78.7% of flood farming households water scarcity was a challenge; sorghum yield by users was significantly higher than non-users (34.7 against 16.4 quintals per hectare, p < 0.01); 72.1% reported high community participation on O&M; water use was found to be 51.5% of the available water; users got significantly higher crop income compared to non-users (ETB 184,147 against ETB 90,719 per hectare for sorghum, p<0.01); food consumption was significantly higher for households practicing flood farming than non-users (37.1 against 23.7, p <0.01), suggesting improved food security. On influencing factors for flood-farming practices, cost effectiveness and easiness to manage are positive influencers while scarcity of flood water, over-flooding of water, erosion of top soil, and salinity negatively influenced sorghum yield. The study emphasizes the need for improved water management and infrastructure support to ensure sustainability of floodbased farming, underscoring its crucial role in improving income and livelihoods in the region.