Tshayu et al. (2025) Optimal land identification for surface irrigation in lower and middle Awash sub-basin, Ethiopia: a multi-criteria decision analysis

Identification

• Journal: Arabian Journal of Geosciences
• Year: 2025
• Date: 2025-09-10
• Authors: Mulat Amare Tshayu, Teshome Betru Tadesse, Dame Yadeta, Setiye Abebaw Tefera, Kindu Setalem Meshesha, Mohammed Habib Afkea
• DOI: 10.1007/s12517-025-12324-z

Research Groups

• Department of Natural Resource Management, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia
• Department of Soil Resource and Watershed Management, Werabe University, Werabe, Ethiopia
• Department of Geography and Environmental Studies, Samara University, Samara, Ethiopia

Short Summary

This study utilized Geographic Information Systems (GIS) and Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) to identify optimal land for surface irrigation in the Lower and Middle Awash sub-basin, Ethiopia, revealing that 83.3% of the area is highly or moderately suitable, despite only 0.96% currently being irrigated.

Objective

• To identify physically suitable areas for establishing new surface irrigation sites in the lower and middle Awash sub-basin, Ethiopia, using GIS-based Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA) techniques.

Study Configuration

• Spatial Scale: Lower and Middle Awash sub-basin, Ethiopia, covering approximately 2,047,380 hectares (20,473.8 square kilometers). The area lies between 9°00′00'' and 11°00′00'' N latitude and 40°00′00'' and 41°00′00'' E longitude.
• Temporal Scale: Data for land use/land cover was from 2021 (European Space Agency data). The analysis and findings reflect conditions around this period.

Methodology and Data

• Models used: Geographic Information Systems (GIS), Multi-Criteria Decision Analysis (MCDA), Analytical Hierarchy Process (AHP), Weighted Overlay tool in ArcGIS (ArcMap 10.8), Reclassify tool.
• Data sources:
  • Slope: Derived from Digital Elevation Model (DEM).
  • Soil texture, soil depth, soil salinity, soil pH: International Soil Reference and Information Centre (ISRIC).
  • Land Use/Land Cover (LU/LC): European Space Agency (ESA) data (2021).
  • Proximity to Awash River: Derived from river network data.
  • United States Geological Survey (USGS) for foundational data (acknowledged).

Main Results

• Approximately 6.4% (132,816.8 hectares or 1,328.168 square kilometers) of the study area is classified as highly suitable for surface irrigation.
• About 78.2% (1,622,248 hectares or 16,222.48 square kilometers) is moderately suitable for surface irrigation.
• Roughly 5.3% (110,407.3 hectares or 1,104.073 square kilometers) is marginally suitable for surface irrigation.
• The remaining 10.1% (208,716.2 hectares or 2,087.162 square kilometers) is deemed not suitable for surface irrigation.
• In total, approximately 83.3% of the area (sum of highly and moderately suitable) holds significant potential for surface irrigation development.
• Currently, only about 0.96% (19,962.22 hectares or 199.6222 square kilometers) of the study area is under surface irrigation, primarily within the highly and moderately suitable zones.

Contributions

• Identifies a substantial untapped potential for surface irrigation (approximately 83.3% of the area) in the Lower and Middle Awash sub-basin, a region prone to drought and food insecurity.
• Incorporates soil salinity as a critical determinant factor, which is highly relevant for the arid/semi-arid study area and often overlooked in similar regional studies.
• Provides a valuable scientific foundation for policymakers, governmental and non-governmental organizations, and other stakeholders to plan and implement sustainable irrigation projects.
• Contributes to enhancing agricultural productivity, improving local livelihoods, and mitigating the impacts of drought and poverty in the Afar region.

Funding

No funds, grants, or other support was received for this research.

Citation

@article{Tshayu2025Optimal,
  author = {Tshayu, Mulat Amare and Tadesse, Teshome Betru and Yadeta, Dame and Tefera, Setiye Abebaw and Meshesha, Kindu Setalem and Afkea, Mohammed Habib},
  title = {Optimal land identification for surface irrigation in lower and middle Awash sub-basin, Ethiopia: a multi-criteria decision analysis},
  journal = {Arabian Journal of Geosciences},
  year = {2025},
  doi = {10.1007/s12517-025-12324-z},
  url = {https://doi.org/10.1007/s12517-025-12324-z}
}