The Role of Gender in Small-Scale Irrigation Management Practices: The Case of Smallholder Irrigated Vegetable Production in Ziway Lake Watershed

Abstract

Irrigation management practices involve strategies and techniques designed to optimize water resource use for agricultural purposes. In the smallholder irrigated vegetable producing areas of the Ziway Lake Watershed, understanding the role of gender in irrigation management is essential for development of sustainable and equitable agricultural development. Gender significantly influences various aspects of agricultural systems, including decision-making, resource access, and irrigation practices. However, research on the role of gender in small-scale irrigation management across Ethiopia remains limited. This study examines the role of gender in irrigation management practices among smallholder farmers in the Ziway Lake Watershed. The research aimed to assess and characterize the performance of irrigation management organizations, evaluate gender roles in irrigation practices, and conduct a gender-based performance analysis of small-scale irrigated farms. Data were collected from both primary and secondary sources through a field study conducted from February to September 2024. A total of 313 smallholder vegetable producers participated in the study, with data gathered through questionnaires, focus group discussions with water user association representatives, and key informant interviews with local authorities and development agents. Detailed case studies were conducted on two male-managed and two female-managed farms. Data analysis was performed using SPSS (version 27) and Excel. The findings revealed that irrigation management in the study area is governed by water users associations. Significant gender disparities were observed in responsibilities, resource access, and decision-making processes between male and female farmers. Productivity assessments showed that male-managed cabbage farms produced 232.9 quintals per hectare, while female-managed cabbage farms yielded 252.6 quintals per hectare. For onion crops, male managed farms achieved a yield of 220 quintals per hectare compared to 130 quintals per hectare for female-mana