small-scale irrigation is a means of increasing production, improving food nutrition and achieving resilient food security. These irrigation technologies empower smallholder farmers to increase productivity and better cope with changing environmental and economic conditions. In case, this study was initiated with the aim of identifying the factors influencing the adoption of these practices, examining their impact on food security and assessing farmers' perceptions towards small-scale irrigation practices in North Mecha Woreda. The data were collected from 319 households (124 participants and 195 non-participants), selected using simple random sampling method. And the data were collected through interviews, focus group discussions (FGD), and key informant interviews (KII). A total of ten individuals participated in both the FGD and KII. For data analysis, both descriptive and inferential statistics as well as econometric models, including Endogenous Switching Regression and Binary Probit models, were employed. Simple descriptive statistics, such as mean, percentage, standard deviation, and frequency, were used to summarize the data. The t-test was applied to compare mean differences in continuous variables, while the chi-square test was used to assess the associations between categorical variables. Binary probit models were used to identify the determinants of small-scale irrigation participation, while the Endogenous Switching Regression model was employed to analyze the impact of small-scale irrigation practices on household food security. The binary probit regression results revealed that land size, access to credit, availability of water, total livestock units, and awareness of small-scale irrigation positively influenced farmers' decisions to participate in small-scale irrigation. In contrast, the age of the household head and the dependency ratio had a negative impact on participation. The results from the endogenous switching regression model indicate that participation in small-scale irrigation increased the household dietary diversity score by 0.5737 and the household food consumption score by 3.60695, both of which were higher than those of non-participants. Therefore, interventions aimed at addressing the identified factors are crucial for maximizing the benefits of small-scale irrigation and promoting sustainable agricultural development.