African Media Ethics and Regulation (Media/Philosophy/Social) | 15 September 2004
Solar-Powered Irrigation Systems and Crop Yields in Ethiopian Small Farmer Groups: A Five-Year Review
Y, a, r, e, d, M, e, n, g, i, s, t, u, ,, G, a, b, e, r, D, e, b, e, l, a, ,, Z, e, l, a, l, e, m, H, a, i, l, e, w, a, a, ,, B, e, k, e, r, i, e, N, e, g, a, s, h
Abstract
Solar-powered irrigation systems have been introduced to enhance agricultural productivity in Ethiopia's small farmer groups, particularly in the Eastern Highlands where water scarcity is a significant challenge. A comprehensive search strategy was employed, including databases such as PubMed, Scopus, and Google Scholar. Studies were included if they met specific criteria related to solar-powered irrigation systems and their effects on crop yield in Ethiopia. The review identified a trend towards increased yields with the adoption of these systems, particularly among groups using them for more than three years (72% showed improvement). Solar-powered irrigation systems have shown promise in enhancing crop yields, especially when used consistently over multiple seasons. Further research should focus on long-term yield stability and the economic sustainability of these systems under various climatic conditions. Farmers' training programmes could also be improved to maximise system efficiency. Model estimation used $\hat{\theta}=argmin<em>{\theta}\sum</em>i\ell(y<em>i,f</em>\theta(x<em>i))+\lambda\lVert\theta\rVert</em>2^2$, with performance evaluated using out-of-sample error.