Geographic Information System based suitability analysis for potentials and challenges of small-scale irrigation in Lake Tana sub-basin, Ethiopia

ABSTRACT

In assessing the challenges and opportunities of small-scale irrigation in a watershed, comprehensive assessment of all governing factors are important to get optimized, reliable and timely information on the area. This study was conducted in Abagerima watershed, Lake Tana sub-basin, Ethiopia. The aim of the study was to assess the level of suitability and potential of the watershed for small-scale irrigation using an integrated approach by Remote Sensing (RS), Geographic Information System (GIS), land and socio-economic survey. Land assessment was performed based on the Food and Agricultural Organization land evaluation techniques employing multi-criteria decision rule technique that integrates major determinant factors to practice irrigation at the smallholder level. Determinant factors including, slope, land use, soil type, water availability and accessibility were considered. For each factor, raster based spatial data were produced. The relative landscape suitability of the watershed was characterized as highly suitable, moderately suitable, marginally suitable and unsuitable. A cumulative suitability rank was determined using ArcGIS 10.2 software. Finally, a suitability map was produced. The result shows that about 20% of the watershed could be used for irrigation. However, only 2% of the watershed was irrigated during this research was conducted. This implies that about 18% of the watershed that could potentially be irrigated was not yet exploited and need to be further developed. The major challenges that hinder irrigation development in the watershed were land degradation, land fragmentation and lack of appropriate technology for water resource utilization and exploitation. Hence, it has to be recommended that water utilization efficiency should be improved through the creation of awareness, particularly on the introduction and use of better water conveyance and application technologies.

KEYWORDS:

• Small-scale irrigation
• water
• suitability
• multi-criteria analysis
• Geographic Information System
• watershed
• Abagerima
• Ethiopia

Acknowledgements

This study would never be completed without the contribution of many people to whom we would like to express our gratitude. The administrative kebele's development agents, district agricultural officials, local youths, in each of the sampling sites were indispensable for the successful completion of the field work. We would like also to acknowledge people who contributed their knowledge and time in data collection and other reliable supports. SA has made substantial contributions in conception design, acquisition of data, interpretation of results and leading the overall activities of the research. He has given also the final approval of the version to be published. BK contributed in designing, data collection and analysis of this research. All authors read and approved the final manuscript. AM and AH also participated in shaping, designing and editing the manuscript.

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Data availability statement

The dataset supporting the conclusions of this article is included within the article.

Additional information

Funding

This work was funded by Bahir Dar University and LIVES project.