Evaluation of Smart Irrigation as Sustainable Solution to Climate Change-

Induced Droughts and Water Insecurity (The Case of Drought Affected Bale
and East Bale Zones)

Background: Climate change and climate variability causing the rainfall and river water having
major repercussions on availability even as natural flow to downstream region. A warming climate
system is now an indisputable fact. An effective response to climate change should include both
mitigation and adaptation. Water is essential to human survival and social development. But the
shortage of water resources is a worldwide problem (Xiaoxia Zou, et.al. 2015), which in horn of
Africa has been exacerbated by climate change. Although availability if perennial river flow, and
potential of smart irrigation for agriculture, Bale were severely hit by drought in the belg seasons
of 1985, 1992 1997, 1998, 1999, 2003, 2005, 2008, 2009, and 2012 as meteorological data analysis
result (Masih et al., 2014, Negussie Belay, 1999). The availability of Perennial River, spring and
ground water in study area (BoFED, 2015) to build sustainable drip irrigation and climate smart
irrigation with low cost investment, will be one of the future solution, to feed million community,
build prosperity drought prone area of Bale zone. With premises of available solution, the
assessment and evaluation of building Drip irrigation output will contribute in areas with rare
spring, low flow river water, and groundwater, will be one of solution for food insecurity, and
severe drought. The proposed study to solve this critical problem have multiple outcome to the
community. It can help to improve crop yields and quality, and it can reduce the risk of crop
damage from pests and disease, low water consumption. As study reports, from comparison of the
different types of irrigation techniques revealed that the drip irrigations methods were more
effective and efficient than the surface irrigation methods for low cost implementation, improving
land productivity, effective and low water consumption,(Mohammad Albaji a, Mona Golabi etal).
So that the main objective of this research proposal will be to Study and evaluate climate smart
irrigation, i.e. drip irrigation a sustainable solution to climate change-induced droughts and water
insecurity in Bale and East Bale zone drought affected area. The assumption take into past 20
year’s drought affected districts of bale zone and East bale zone.

Specific objective

1. To identify the climate change induced-drought affected sites in the study area.
2. To survey and investigate potential for small scale Smart irrigation in these sites and
prioritize the sites for smart agriculture implementation.
3. To assess hydrologic, hydraulic, and Water quality parameter for prioritized the sites Smart
irrigation
4. To Develop Engineering Specification, Bill of Quantitates and Economic cost benefit
analysis of four hundreds meter square farm Smart irrigations
5. Smart irrigation of four hundreds meter square farm project of prioritized the sites
MATERIAL AND METHOD
Description of the Study area: The study area of this proposed research include Bale zone and
East bale zone climate change induced drought affected community. East Bale and Bale zone
drought affected districts were found lowland of Bale and east Bale zone of Oromia Regional
State, Ethiopia. As report from (Belay, 1999, BoeFED, 2015) the East Bale and Bale zone climate
change induced-drought affected districts are Sawena, Laga-hidha, Madda Walabu, Dalloomena,
Rayitu, East, Goro districts and Ginnir (https://addisstandard.com/drought-hits
(https://www.ethiopia-insight.com/2022/11/23/). The country’s geographic location and
topography substantially influence rainfall patterns. Annual rainfall amounts vary from 409
millimeters (mm) in the relatively flat coastal regions to 1228mm in the elevated interior region.
There is a distinct rainfall climatic season; a wet season of six months from June to December,
during which 70 % of total annual rainfall is received and a dry season from January to May/June.

Methodology
Mann–Kendall rainfall trend analysis to detect droughts sites. Mann–Kendall (Mann, 1945;
Kendall, 1975) statistical method was applied to annual and seasonal distribution of rainfall and
temperature to detect any possible trends in the data over the study period. This is a non-parametric
statistical test well suited to measure trend in data over time (Karpouzos et al., 2010). Positive (+)
values indicate an increase over time while, negative (-) values indicate decrease. Spatial and
temporal variability of rainfall and temperature over the study area were characterised using a
set of indices developed by STARDEX project (Stardex, 2002). The STARDEX indices focus on
extreme events, such as the maximum number of consecutive dry days. The long-term
homogeneity of the European Climate Assessment data set was examined by (Wijngaard et al.,
2003). STARDEX version 3.3.0 was arrayed to compute 52 indices for quantifying changes in
extreme weather events over the study period.
The analysis of gridded satellite data: (1983–2014) of the three districts have shown that
growing season (spring and summer) rainfall had declined for the years under consideration

Methodology and materials for specific objective #2

Field data collection and survey: To survey and investigate area suitability for small scale water
saving smart irrigation in these sites and prioritize the sites for implementation. The first step in
the assessment of drip system is to make the resource inventory and operating conditions of the
area and collect basic information for assessment and evaluation. These include

Topographic map of the area at a standard scale that shows all physical features including the
locations of the water sources, existing infrastructures, drainage outlets, marshy areas, existing
irrigation schemes, settlements, land holdings (private/ cooperatives), other
Climatic data such as temperature, humidity, wind speed, daily sunshine hours and rainfall are
required to decide the evapotranspiration demand in the area.
Water source (location, quantity, quality, period of availability). The available head, maximum
available flow rate at the supply points and supply hours have to be defined. The quality of water
shall be suitable for irrigation.
Soil type and its characteristics’ such as infiltration rate and water holding capacity.
Methodology for proposed specific objective 3
Hydrologic and hydraulic design parameter Estimation method: This method will apply to
assess hydrologic and hydraulic parameter like river discharge, surface runoff and water
distribution uniformity to prioritized sites in evaluation and implementation of water saving smart
irrigation. This will combines water resource availability predictions for climate change. The study
also review how different uses of water may lead to conflict and how an integrated response is
needed to ensure that water is managed and allocated in an equitable manner in the future with
smart irrigation and without smart irrigation availability.
The hydraulic design parameter Estimation method: The hydraulic design parameter like
distribution uniformity (emission uniformity) of water and operating pressure are major parameters
that will be assessed. Efficiency of Smart irrigation (ie drip irrigation) system depends on
application uniformity which can be evaluated by direct measurement of hydraulic pressure
of slope in area.
The detail design of drip system that suits small land holdings requires: This method will
applies smart irrigation of 400 square meter of farm in selected sites i.e. that proposed specific
objective two in above title. One of detail detain layout of this smart irrigation will be
determination of length of pipes, determination of capacity of pipe lines and system capacity
Sizing of pipes and determination of pump capacity.
Expected outcome: The main output of this proposed research as general are smart irrigation as
sustainable and resilient solution to climate change induced drought and water Droughts and Water
Insecurity affected community area of Bale and West bale zone. This output climate change
induced-drought affected sites will be identified. Potential for small scale Smart irrigation (ie drip
irrigation) in these sites and prioritize the sites for Smart irrigation (ie drip irrigation)
implementation will be surveyed and investigated.
Hydrologic, hydraulic, and Water quality parameter for prioritized the sites of smart Irrigation will
be assessed and evaluated in area with climate change induced drought and water insecurity.
Engineering Specification, Bill of Quantitates and Economic cost benefit analysis of four hundreds
meter square farm smart irrigations will be evaluated and Developed in area of prioritized and
selected sited.
(V) Ethical Consideration: The researchers sought the necessary authorization from relevant authorities
in Government and Madda Walabu University and ensured respondents adequately understood the research
they were participating in. The researchers will careful not to mix views or policies of his organization on
the findings. All material references will be acknowledged. Formal letters will written to all concerned
authorities and permission will secured at all levels
Refereence
UNOCHA, Ethiopia: Drought Update No. 1, January 2022

The Horn of Africa is experiencing the most severe drought in recent history, following four consecutive
failed rainy seasons in parts of Ethiopia, Kenya and Somalia, a climatic event not seen in at least 40 years.
Mohammad Albaji a, Mona Golabi a, Saeed Boroomand Nasab a, Farzad Nazari Zadeh. Investigation of
surface, sprinkler and Smart irrigation (ie drip irrigation) methods based on the parametric evaluation
approach in Jaizan Plain. Journal of the Saudi Society of Agricultural Sciences
Negussie Belay, UNDP-EUE, UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA - AFRICAN STUDIES CENTER,
Arsi and Bale Zones of Oromiya: Increasing Vulnerability to Food Shortages, Report of a Rapid
Exploratory Assessment, Conducted 11-27 October, 1999