CHALLENGES AND OPPORTUNITIES OF MALE-HEADED AND FEMALE-HEADED HOUSEHOLDS IN IRRIGATION UTILIZATION IN THE CASE OF ALAMATA DISTRICT, TIGRAY REGIONAL STATE, ETHIOPIA

*Workie Sahlu Anbaw and Moges Girmay Phogella

ABSTRACT

The main driver of Ethiopia's economy is rain-fed agriculture. It is expected that this sector will support the entire economy and alter its composition. Still, millions of people frequently go without food as a result of the nation's severe drought. Small-scale irrigation strategies are a valuable tool for lowering vulnerability and raising output. It is imperative to take into account the impact of gender on irrigation farming in small-scale schemes. This study looked into the opportunities and problems associated with small-scale irrigation practices for MHH and FHH households. Using a multistage sampling procedure, two of the eight Kebelles in the district that use irrigation were chosen, and 130 sample households were chosen, 80 of which were headed by men and 50 by women, based on the proportion of the Kebelles population that uses irrigation in the chosen Kebelles. The findings indicate that households headed by men and women experience similar challenges in the areas of technology and the market, including low credit availability, insufficient labor, and training gaps. Lastly, the study recommends that government and non-governmental organizations should give special consideration to enhancing the involvement of households headed by women and men in irrigation agriculture.

Keywords:

FHH, MHH Challenges, and Irrigation.

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