Abstract:
In many Irrigation Schemes, there is a difference between design assumption and
operational reality. Investigating the current performance of water delivery schedules and
operational realities are useful to find out and evaluate the major indicators based on design
assumptions; and find out ways to mitigate the under performances of the scheme. This
study was initiated to evaluate the performance of Aswa-Guder irrigation scheme using
performance indicators such as conveyance efficiency, application efficiency, Storage
efficiency, water delivery performance, maintenance indicators, water productivity and
assessment of institutional perception. To achieve the research objectives, all required data
were collected through structured questionnaires for household surveys, focus group
discussions, key informant interviews, field measurements and literature reviews. The
collected data were analyzed using empirical equations and statistical analysis in
percentage basis. The results showed that the average conveyance efficiencies were
obtained as 82.74%, and 71.80% in Main and Secondary canals respectively. The irrigation
application efficiency results on three sample plots at Head, middle and tail reaches of the
command area were found to be 48.23%, 54.53% and 68.75% respectively. The average
storage efficiency of the fields was 64.73%. Based on the water delivery indicator analysis,
the main canal water transport efficiency was found to be only 43.3% of its design. The
irrigated agricultural performance; vis the outputs per unit command area and output per
unit harvested area were found as $2,839.85 per ha and $3,042.7 per ha respectively. Water
productivity indicators such as, Output per unit irrigation water supplied and Output per
unit irrigation water delivered values of $0.34 per m
3
and $1.1 per m
3
in the scheme
respectively. Based on the assessment of farmer’s perception about the performance of the
irrigation scheme, the respondents believe that major problems that make the scheme to be
inefficient was water shortage caused by water theft or unauthorized canal breaching in the
scheme. All these showed that the scheme is performing below the intended level.
Therefore, proper institutional setup, creating awareness for the users and upgrading needs
to be in place and water user association should be empowered in order for it to discharge
its responsibility and to achieve good performance of the scheme.
Keywords: Aswa-Guder, Irrigation, Performance, Indicator, Efficiency