Does Wheat Production Through Irrigation Improve Smallholder Farmers′ Food Security? Evidence From Seka Chekorsa District, Ethiopia

The Seka Chekorsa District in Jimma Zone holds significant potential for irrigation, particularly for small-scale wheat production under irrigation farming system. Recently, the Ethiopian government has given irrigation facility construction a lot in order to boost Agricultural productivity and output. However, limited research has been conducted in the adoption of small-scale irrigation for wheat production and its impacts on household food security in the Seka Chekorsa District. The aim of this study was to examine the adoption of small-scale irrigation wheat production and its impacts on household food security in the Jimma Zone, Seka Chekorsa district. A cross-sectional study design was employed, integrating quantitative and qualitative data collected through survey, key informant interviews, and focus group discussions with 100 adopters and 153 nonadopters from February to April 2023. Secondary data were obtained from published and unpublished sources. The data were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistics, Logit models, and propensity score matching. A binary logit model analysis result showed education level, family size, credit use, frequency of extension contacts, and ownership of livestock significantly and positively influenced the adoption of irrigated wheat production. However, the distance of land plot from the water source negatively affected small-scale irrigation wheat production adoption. The propensity score matching results indicated that the adoption of irrigated wheat production raised the caloric intake of households by 518.86 kcal/AE/day compared with nonadopters. The qualitative findings indicated key constraints to small-scale irrigation wheat production, including lack of irrigation equipment, limited access to improved seeds, high input costs, water logging, bird attacks, and untimely rainfall. But, water and labor availability were noted as opportunities. The study also found that adopters of irrigated wheat production are more food secure than nonadopters. Therefore, raising awareness among nonadopters and promoting further research in this area is recommended.