Exploring Socioeconomic and Institutional Drivers of Small‐Scale Irrigation Adoption and Intensity: Evidence in North Wollo, Ethiopia

Irrigation is widely recognized as a critical intervention for improving agricultural productivity, nutrition security, and climate resilience in rural Ethiopia. However, its adoption among farmers remains low. This study examines the institutional and socioeconomic factors influencing the adoption and intensity of small‐scale irrigation use in North Wollo Zone, Ethiopia. Employing a cross‐sectional research design, data were obtained from a systematically selected sample of 385 households through face‐to‐face interviews conducted using a pretested and validated survey instrument. In order to account for self‐selection bias inherent in small‐scale irrigation adoption, the Heckman sample selection model is employed to analyze both the adoption decision and its intensity of use. The descriptive results indicate that river diversion is the dominant irrigation technology across all districts, and gender is associated with differences in irrigation technology adoption. In addition, irrigation governance problems and weak land tenure security undermine irrigation expansion and utilization. The findings demonstrate that the education level of household head, training participation, off‐/nonfarm income, irrigation governance, and participation of households in irrigation maintenance are positively associated with both small‐scale irrigation adoption and its intensity of adoption. In addition, sex of household heads, extension contact, credit amount, and access to climate information are positively associated with small‐scale irrigation adoption, while labor availability is a significant determinant of the intensity of irrigation adoption. However, plot distance to irrigation water source and district market are negatively associated with irrigation adoption and its intensity of use. The findings suggest that the local government and development partners should continue to improve the socioeconomic constraints, market linkages, irrigation technologies, technical skills, and irrigation information, as well as address water and irrigation infrastructure challenges to promote farmers’ adoption of small‐scale irrigation. In addition, there is a need for gender‑sensitive policies and interventions that address structural and institutional constraints faced by female household heads to adopt irrigation technologies.