Evaluation of Adoption and Effectiveness of Diesel Engine Operated Water Pump for Irrigation: A Case of Kewet and Tarmaber District, North Shewa Zone

Abstract

Irrigation Has Played A Crucial Role In Ethiopia's Agriculture And Food Security. Water Pumps Are An Essential Component Of The Irrigation System As They Ensure Efficient Distribution Of Water To Crops, Especially During Dry Seasons. These Pumps Are Responsible For Lifting Water From Rivers Or Wells And Delivering It To Farmlands. There Are Different Types Of Water Pumps Used In Ethiopia, But The Performance And Adoption Status Of Most Pumps Remain Unknown. The Objective Of This Study Was To Evaluate Of The Adoption And Effectiveness Of Diesel Engine Operated Water Pumps For Irrigation In The Kewet And Tarmaber Districts, North Shewa Zone. A Total Of 420 Respondents Were Selected From 20 Kebeles In The Two Targeted Districts Using A Cross-Sectional Survey Methodology And A Standardized Questionnaire. The Acceptance And Effectiveness Of Diesel Engine-Operated Water Pumps Were Assessed Using Regression, One-Way Anova, And Descriptive Statistics. The Results Of This Study Suggest That A Number Of Factors, Including Training, Lack Of Operating Experience, And The Availability Of Spare Parts And Maintenance Services, Impacted The Uptake And Efficiency Of Water Pumps Powered By Diesel Engines. The Assessment Of The Water Pump's Adoption Was Influenced By A Number Of Criteria, Including The Land Size, Rental Service Availability, Education Level, And Water Pump Cost. Whereas Pump Flow Rate, Pressure Capability, Fuel Consumption, And Maintenance Requirements Of Water Pumps Were Factors That Affected The Effectiveness Of Diesel Engine-Operated Water Pumps. Participants With Primary Education Or Higher Were More Than 42 Times Likely To Adopt Water Pumps Compared To Illiterates. Similarly, Participants With Adult Education Were More Than Twice As Likely To Adopt Water Pumps. Those With A Land Size Of Greater Than One Hectare Was Were 6 Or More Times More Likely To Adopt Water Pump Than Those Who Had Less Than 0.5 Hectare Of Land. Respondents Who Received Training On Water Pumps Were 17 Or More Times More Likely To Adopt Diesel Engine-Operated Water Pumps Than Those Who Did Not Received Training. Participants Who Used Diesel Engine-Operated Water Pump Through Rental Service Were 3 OrMore Times More Likely To Adopt Water Pump Compared To Non-Users. The Study Also Found That As The Head Level Increased From 2.2245m To 23.4m, Both Pump Efficiency And Total System Efficiency Decreased Linearly, With A Highly Significant Effect (P =0.000 And R2 = 0.9).Evaluating The Effectiveness Of Diesel Engine-Operated Water Pumps Involved Assessing Their Performance And Efficiency. The Effectiveness Of Water Pump Testing Was Determined Based On Head Levels And Pump Power Of 4.476 Kw, And This Result Showed A Comparison Of The Actual Performance With Manufacturer Specifications In Terms Of Efficiency Of 78.48% And 80%, Respectively, Due To Maintenance Requirements And Fuel Consumption. Diesel Water Pumping Systems And Solar Pv Systems Were Compared Economically Using Life Cycle Cost Analysis And Investment Analysis For Both Systems. The Result Showed That Using Solar Pv Water Pumping Systems Is More Economical For Small-Scale Farmers Compared To Diesel Pumping Systems. Diesel Engine-Operated Water Pumps Are An Ideal Technology That Facilitates Modern Irrigation SystemsTherefore, Further Studies Will Be Conducted To Improve The Performance, Efficiency, And Adoption Of Water Pumps In The Region And At The National Level.