A review of government policy on irrigation schemes in Ethiopia

This paper reviews the scope, objectives, and implementation of the previous Ethiopian Government’s policies on agriculture, with special consideration given to the policy elements of the Irrigation policy subsector. The country started using traditional irrigation techniques for an extended period, but this did not result in major changes in farming households or national income contributions. This is because the policy implementation still faces several obstacles and challenges that prevent it from producing the desired results, including lack of electrification, inadequate infrastructure development, lack of private investment and financial resources, political unrest, and economic constraints. In the meantime, the Ethiopian government prioritized the development of irrigated wheat to achieve food self-sufficiency and minimize food imports from other countries. To attain food self-sufficiency and decrease the need for foreign food aid, this document, therefore, sends a message to all stakeholders: it is their obligation to invest in agriculture and correctly implement the country's irrigation strategy.