Small-Scale Irrigation Boosts Incomes and Food Security in Ethiopian Lowlands

Addis Ababa – The Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands has reported that Small-Scale Irrigation (SSI) initiatives in Ethiopia are making a positive impact on the livelihoods and earnings of pastoralists and semi-pastoralists.

According to the Ethiopia News Agency,, these SSI schemes are primarily self-driven by smallholder farmers and are playing a crucial role in ensuring food security in areas that are often affected by recurrent and severe droughts. The Ministry also noted that, compared to large-scale irrigation projects, SSI can more quickly contribute to meeting national development goals.

Ethiopia has significant potential for expanding SSI and has made considerable investments in this area in recent years, the Ministry stated. During the last fiscal year, the Ministry of Irrigation and Lowlands, in cooperation with both federal and regional governments, distributed a total of 54,515 water pumps, thereby facilitating the broader adoption of irrigation technologies.