small scale and micro irrigation support project...

Small Scale and Micro Irrigation Support Project (SMIS) – Amhara Region Office

The project is jointly funded by the Kingdom of the Netherlands and the Government of Canada

Bahir Dar, Dr. Abdu Building 2nd floor, near Alwaq Hotel | P.O.Box 2293 Tel 251 9 1872 0416 | smis-ethiopia.org | [email protected]

SMALL SCALE AND MICRO IRRIGATION SUPPORT PROJECT (SMIS)

Validation workshop report

On

Farmers irrigated agriculture support services and technology suppliers for

SSI and MI schemes

SMIS output/Act #:1440/3330

Venue: Enjibara

Date:24 January, 2017

http://picresize.co/

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Small Scale and Micro Irrigation Support Project (SMIS) – Amhara Region Office Bahir Dar, Dr. Abdu Building 2nd floor, near Alwaq Hotel | P.O.Box 2293 | Tel 251 9 1872 0416 | smis-ethiopia.org | [email protected]

Table of Contents 1 Introduction .............................................................................................................................. 3

2 Opening ceremony .................................................................................................................... 3

3 Conduct the workshop ............................................................................................................... 4

3.1 Workshop objectives .......................................................................................................... 4

3.2 workshop venue and date .................................................................................................. 5

3.3 Workshop Participants ....................................................................................................... 5

4 Presentation of the Draft Assessment Report ............................................................................ 5

5 Group work ............................................................................................................................... 6

5.1 Group Work findings/comments ........................................................................................ 7

5.1.1 Group1. Irrigated agriculture ...................................................................................... 7

5.1.2 Group2. Trade industry and market development ...................................................... 7

5.1.3 Group3. Cooperative promotion ................................................................................. 8

6 General Comments and suggestions from the workshop presentations ..................................... 9

7 A Way forward........................................................................................................................... 9

Annex1. Workshop programs ............................................................................................................ 9

Annex2. list of workshop participants .............................................................................................. 10


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Workshop report

1 Introduction

Farmers irrigated agriculture support services like extension, research, credit, marketing, improved

technologies (improved seeds, fertilizers, machineries, improved farming practices, etc.) and

improved technology supply institutions/organizations like agriculture offices, research institute /

centres, cooperative promotion offices, trade- industry and market development offices, etc. are

established at all levels. However, the irrigated agriculture support services given to farmers is not in

a position to change the traditional irrigated agriculture into modern irrigated agriculture. Irrigated

agriculture crop production and productivity remains very low. An assessment study survey was

conducted at SMIS project pilot woredas SSI and MI scheme to know the current status of irrigated

agriculture support services, technologies and technology supplier institutions and to identify gaps. As

a result, a validation workshop on assessment findings was carried out based on the report prepared

by SMIS in cooperation with ARARI on December 2016.

The report critically assessed farmers’ irrigated agriculture current status in relation to production,

input supply, support service delivery, output marketing, credit, etc. The assessment study was

conducted in small scale and micro irrigation project areas in Jabitehenan, Guagusa, Dera and Dembia

woredas in West Gojjam, Awi, South Gondar and North Gondar zones, respectively of the Amhara

region.

The validation workshop was designed to receive feedbacks, to discuss and strengthen the findings

and to reach on common understanding for further implementation as a result the current irrigated

agriculture support services and technologies would be improved.

2 Opening ceremony

The opening ceremony of assessment of farmers irrigated agriculture support services and technology

suppliers’ validation workshop was chaired by Mr. Melaku Tefera, Amhara SMIS project irrigation

Extension Expert. Mr. Getachew Engdayehu, BoA, Natural Resources process owner welcomed

participants for their presence and thanked them for leaving their office, assigned and other related

activities to come and attend this very important workshop. He told participants that irrigated

agriculture is important to overcome food unsecured farmers of the region and contribute for high

productivity per unit area through a season of food crops to supplement the food supply of farmers

living at a subsistence level.

As far as the use of improved inputs for irrigated crop production is concerned, Mr. Getachew

informed the participants that the use of improved irrigation technologies has a vital role for irrigation

production and productivity.


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Mr. Mamaru Tsidku, the Amhara SMIS project regional team leader then provided an overview of the

SMIS project and its formulation. He also provided background information for the working area of

the project that emphasis on planning, coordination and supervision of activities related to

development of SSI, micro irrigation and irrigated agriculture. He further advocated SMIS projects

three components, namely: SSI capacity development (component 1), capacity development of

Agricultural Technical Vocational Education and Training Colleges (component 2) and promotion of

Micro Irrigation (component 3).

Introducing ASMIS project by Regional project team leader at workshop opening ceremony

3 Conduct the workshop

The workshop was participatory in nature and conducted in both English and Amharic languages for

clarity and better understanding of the issues. Workshop activities comprised both presentations

and group work sessions.

3.1 Workshop objectives

The objectives of the assessment findings validation workshop were to:

receive feedback and suggestions from workshop participants’

recognize the assessment findings by the stakeholders as experts,

Identify and recommend future interventions/activities that can be implemented by

irrigated agriculture support service providers,

Identify major stakeholders and their involvement in irrigated agriculture development

activities.


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3.2 workshop venue and date

The workshop was conducted at Awi zone of Ingibara town on 24 January 2017.

3.3 Workshop Participants

The workshop participants comprised stakeholders from the bureau of agriculture (3), zone

agriculture (9), woreda agriculture (7), cooperatives (4), trade industry and market development (4),

Amhara agricultural research institute (1), SNV-Horti LIFE project (1) and Jemma Agortech plc. (1). A

total of 30 participants attended the validation workshop. See annex2 for the list of participants.

Participants at farmers irrigated agriculture support service and technology suppliers’ assessment validation workshop

4 Presentation of the Draft Assessment Report

Farmers irrigated agriculture support services and technology supply institution assessment findings

was presented by Mr. Yalew Zewdie, Amhara SMIS project irrigation agronomist. Information on

irrigated agriculture support services, technologies, technology supplier institutions and their gaps

were presented for participants.


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Farmers irrigated agriculture support services and technology assessment finding presentation.

5 Group work

Following presentations, there was a group interactive work comprising three irrigated agriculture

support service providers.

Irrigated agriculture offices

Cooperative promotion offices

Trade industry and market development offices

The three working groups were tasked to:

1. Review and identify areas of agreement with the information presented,

2. Comment on the assessment findings,

3. Identify any important information the group thinks may not have been considered,

4. Identify areas of disagreement with the information presented.


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Group discussion after presentation of the findings

5.1 Group Work findings/comments

5.1.1 Group1. Irrigated agriculture

The following comments are forwarded from irrigated agriculture groups.

The sample size of respondents is to small,

Farmers irrigated crops productivity seems to be high as compared to research findings. If

farmers obtained such amount of productivity without the use of improved technologies,

the importance of using improved technologies are under question mark, so try to adjust/

investigate the productivity of selected irrigated crops.

Did you compare training participant farmers with that of farmers’ development groups in

knowledge and skill transfer capacities?

The report said that WUA are not existed at all surveyed schemes, if so remove WUA from

table 15.

problems identified at Woreda agriculture offices should be arranged on their level of

importance. Example:

1. lack of stakeholder coordination,

2. poor market information and linkage,

3. poor input supply and distribution system,

4. poor water management and administration.

5.1.2 Group2. Trade industry and market development

The following comments are forwarded from trade industry and market development groups:

There are missing data like fertilizer rate

Not focusing on root causes; focuses on process as a result the recommendations are

light


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The Recommendation needs enrichment,

The team do not consult regional stake holders,

The assessment study finding lacks:

Market calendar vs production calendar data should be considered; there are

price differences during fasting time and surplus production time.

Variation of price during harvesting and non-harvesting time

The Influence of middle men(brokers)

Some information need validation:

Shortage of geo membrane

Market availability for different inputs for irrigation like fertilizer marketing

system for irrigated crop production,

Conflict among upper and lower catchment water users

Recommendations to be included:

Responsibility of each sector

Information dissemination methods should be indicated

Follow AMT

Media system which is reachable for rural people like mini media, radio

Contractual market system like for beer barley

Promotion for purchasers

Cluster information system for enough supply

Strong market institutions by cooperatives and trade industry and market

development

Market linkage should start from input selection to post harvest to have quality

and competitive market

Technical gaps:

Curing during marketing more important than watering onion to increase weight

during marketing

Value addition promotion for irrigated crops

Linkage among producers, cooperatives and huge consumers like universities, hospitals,

military camps, prison institutions

Credit systems that can promote irrigation, such as cooperative bank should be available

5.1.3 Group3. Cooperative promotion

The following additional problems are forwarded from cooperative groups:

Lack of professional leaders of cooperatives,

Cooperatives are corrupted institutions (no auditing),

Not guided by cooperative principles,

Lack of input supply (improved seeds, technologies, chemicals for disease and pest control),

Lack of purchasing quality irrigated produces,

Unappropriated management of warehouses

Lack of clear responsibility to establish IWUA,


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6 General Comments and suggestions from the workshop presentations

The following is a brief summary of comments suggested from the workshop participants:

Executive summary should be added,

If possible, Other experiences of farmers irrigated agriculture support services and

technology supplies should be incorporated,

In the process of marketing, the problem of illegal brokers should be given high emphasis

in this document,

Let us try to implement study findings at the region,

7 A Way forward

Finalize the report based on the review comments and suggestions and produce draft final

document,

Review the draft document with bureau of agriculture concerned process heads for

additional feedback,

Organize short meeting to BoA (bureau head and deputy heads) to get their views and

bureau endorsement for recommendation actions and implementation.

Produce the final document and distribute to the partner bureaus.

Annex1. Workshop programs

Date Time Content/Topics presenter Facilitator/coordinator

24/01/2017 8:30- 9:00AM Registration

24/01/2017 9:00-9:05 Welcome /opening speech

Ato Getachew Engdayehu

Ato Melaku Tefera

24/01/2017 9:05-9:30 AM Introduction about SMIS project

Ato Mamaru Tsidku Ato Melaku Tefera

24/01/2017 9:30-10:30AM Farmers irrigated agriculture support service Assessment results

Yalew Zewdie Melaku Tefera

24/01/2017 10:30-11:00AM

Healthy break/Buna Break

24/01/2017 11:00AM-12:30PM

Group discussion. Participants Melaku Tefera/Yalew

24/01/2017 12:30-14:00PM

Lunch break

24/01/2017 14:00-14:45PM

Group presentation Participants Yalew and Melaku

24/01/2017 14:45-15:15PM

General discussion and conclusion

Ato Getachew Engdayehu


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Annex2. list of workshop participants

S.# Participant Name Gender From

Region/Woreda/Zone Bureau

Org. Position

1 Berhanie Feseha M Dembia Trade and Industry office

Markating coordinator

2 Desalegn Tadele M Dembia WOA Planning expert

3 Nigatu Lema M Bahir Dar BOA Procurement analyst

4 Abebe Getahun M Bahir Dar

Trade, industry and markating development Markating research

5 Sintayehu Miskir M Bahir Dar BOA

Horticulture process owner

6 Asmare Adame M Bure

Trade and Industry office Office coordinator

7 Desta Etefa M Bahir Dar SNV-Horti LIFE

Cluster coordinator

8 Fasil Tadesse M Gondar ZDA

Irrigation Agronomist

9 Leul Abera M Gondar ZDA

Irrigation and horticultural coordinator

10 Getachew Engidayehu M Bahir Dar

BOA Deputy head/delegate

11 Amezework Simachew F Bure

Cooperative Office head

12 Addisu Abeselu M Guagusa Shikudade WOA Input supply and

distribution

13 Bizualem Yitayeh M Fenoteselam Cooperative

Office head

14 Alimaw Alamineh M Fenoteselam WOA

Office head

15 Daniel Tilahun M Bahir Dar ARARI

Researcher

16 Alemtsehay Worku F Injibara

ZDA

Water harvesting and Irrigation construction supervision

17 Mihret Kassahun M Injibara ZDA Vegetable and fruit

process owner

18 Solomon Anteneh M Injibara ZDA

Agricultural input and distriubtion

19 Yetwale Getaneh M Injibara ZDA

Deputy head

20 Meseret Workie M Injibara Cooperative union/Admass Vice manager

21 Nardos Tameru M Debre Tabor ZDA

Irrigation Agronomist

22 Yilekal Taddelle M Fenoteselam WOA

Crop coordinator

23 Dereje Woldegerima M Guagusa Shikudade WOA

Office head


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S.# Participant Name Gender From

Region/Woreda/Zone Bureau

Org. Position

24 Chalachew Zeleke M Bure WOA

Deputy office head

25 Yismaw Nurelegn M Fenoteselam ZDA

Soil and water conservation

26 Mulat Siraj M Dera WOA

AGP coordinator

27 Eneye Assefa F Debre Tabor ZDA

Irrigation coordinator

28 Amsaw Kassaw M Dera Trade and Industry office

Market development process owner

29 Berhanie Feseha M Guagusa Shikudade

Cooperative

promotiion

office Office head

30 Desalegn Tadele M Bahir Dar

Jemma

Agortech General Manager


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