PERFORMANCE EVALUATION OF THE BILATE AND FURFURO IRRIGATION SCHEMES IN SILTI ZONE, SOUTHERN ETHIOPIA

Abstract

This study attempts to evaluate the performance of the Bilate and Furfuro irrigation schemes in Silti Zone, Southern Ethiopia using internal and external performance indicators. To achieve the aim the primary and secondary data were gathered. Two schemes were evaluated by their own merits using internal performance indicators and a comparison was also made using external performance indicators. For field data measurements three farmers’ fields were selected at the head, middle, and tail-end of each scheme. The results of analyses revealed that average field application, water storage and overall irrigation efficiencies were 55.9 & 58%, 53 & 46.5% and 28 & 32% for Bilate and Furfuro schemes respectively. This implied that the two schemes were performing inefficiently and inadequately, but, water distributed uniformly. The results obtained for conveyance efficiencies implied that most canal sections had unreasonable losses of water in two schemes. The results of external indicators show that, RWS, RIS, WDC, OPUIA, OPUCA, OPUIS, OPUWC, SIA and IR were 0.68 & 0.79, 0.61 & 0.77, 0.66 & 0.53, 4140.4 & 1781.5 $/ha, 4510.3 & 1968.5 $/ha, 0.94 & 0.28 $/m3 , 0.99 & 0.39 $/m3 , 1.05 & 1.02, 1.11 & 1.09 for Bilate and Furfuro schemes respectively. This revealed that the applied water was not satisfied the crop water demand, but their irrigated lands were expanded for two irrigation schemes. Furfuro scheme was better than Bilate in terms of relative water supply and relative irrigation supply, but their results obtained were below acceptable values. However, Bilate scheme had significantly better land and water productivity than Furfuro scheme due to used high value crops, better agricultural inputs and removal of grass cover and sedimentation from canal systems. Hence, Bilate irrigation scheme was better performing than Furfuro scheme. Therefore, adopt the best practices learned from Bilate irrigation scheme for the Furfuro scheme. Moreover, properly maintain malfunctioned infrastructures, create WUAs and agricultural experts, and create awareness for farmers and WUAs on irrigation water management in two schemes.