Abstracts & Summeries (In English)

Economic Impact Assessment of Adopting Onion Irrigation

Schedule Technology in Wadi Hadhramout
Abdullah S. Alwan

Khalil M. Alsharjabi

Regional Agricultural Research Station, Seiyun

Technology Dissemination Department, Dhamar

The Agricultural Research and Extension Authority (AREA)

Keywords: Adoption, Economics, Farm Technologies, Impact, Irrigation schedule, Hadhramout,
Onion, Yemen.

The Study was conducted to identify adoption level and assess impact of Onion
irrigation scheduling technology (OIST) on production, yield, resources, and cost among
farmers of Wadi Hadhramout districts. Survey method was applied using a questionnaire.
Data was collected through interviews from randomly selected respondents (62 farmers).
Other official secondary data was also used. Data was analyzed utilizing suitable statistics
(frequencies, percentages, ANOVA and regression). Majority of respondents (68%)
confirmed their knowledge, and 40% acknowledged adoption of OIST. Significant
differences were observed in added irrigation water quantities. No significant differences
observed in yield/ha average. Adopters realized higher overall revenue average of onion
per/ha (388 thousand Yemeni Rial "YR"), and higher net revenues (402 thousands YR)
compared to non-adopters. Significant difference was observed in net revenues realized by
adopters and non-adopters at 1% level. Proportion of changing costs and output reached
7.9 and 9,7 thousands YR for adopters and non-adopters respectively, confirming OIST
profitability increase. Profitability of expending a single YR reached 3.4 and 2.8 YR for
adopters and non-adopters. Adopters achieved higher yield per unit of irrigation water (m 3)
compared to non-adopters (5.7 kg/m3 and 3.16 kg/m3 respectively). Adoption of OIST
increased onion yield per hectare at rate of 6.5 ton (valued at 287 thousands YR); saved
labor (11.3 working days), and water resources (4143 m3). Many important savings and
revenues could be realized with expanded OIST use at Hadhramout province and country
levels. The study proposed improvement measures for future OIST diffusion and adoption.

Issue (27), June 2013