Determinants of Small Scale Irrigation Utilization by Smallholder Farmers: The Case of Misrak Azernet Berbere Woreda, Southern Ethiopia

: In countries like Ethiopia where wide spread poverty, food insecurity, low farm productivity and degraded natural resources are key problems, the need to use irrigation water in agricultural system is very crucial. The purpose of this study was to identify the determinants of utilization of small scale irrigation by smallholder farmers in Misrak Azernet Berbere woreda of Southern Ethiopia. A two stage sampling technique was applied to select sample rural Kebele administrations and households. The study was based on the data obtained from 177 sample households from two rural Kebele of the woreda through cross-sectional survey during 2017 production year. The study used both descriptive statistics and econometric model to analyze the data. Tobit model was used for identifying factors that influence utilization and intensity of utilization of small scale irrigation. The result of the model showed that sex of household head, age of household head, education level of household head, total annual income, access to information and access to extension services had significantly and positively influenced utilization and intensity of utilization of small scale irrigation while distance from residence to water source had significantly and negatively influenced utilization and intensity of utilization of small scale irrigation. The finding of the study suggests that the government and stakeholders should give emphasis to strengthening the existing extension service, strengthening the provision of formal and informal education, increasing farmers’ income, promoting and empowering females, provision of information about agricultural technologies and construction of small scale irrigation canals to improve small scale irrigation utilization in the study area.