Assessment of land suitability for irrigation in West Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia

Abstract The assessment of land suitability is the key to sustained agricultural output. Thus, the study aimed to assess the land suitability for irrigation development in the West Shewa zone, Oromia, Ethiopia. A GIS-based analytical hierarchy process was applied to evaluate a multi-criteria land suitability analysis. The key factors such as soil (depth, drainage, texture, pH, organic carbon, available water content, and salinity), slope, land use/cover, proximity to the river, proximity to the road, proximity to urban areas, and rainfall deficit were considered. These factors were reclassified, weighted, and then overlaid using the weighted overlay tool of ArcGIS software. The study classified the agricultural lands in the area from highly suitable to permanently unsuitable for irrigation to determine the suitability of the classes. The results showed that 10.27% (1419.87 km2) was highly suitable, 73.23% (10,128.97 km2) was moderately suitable, 16.34% (2259.95 km2) was marginally suitable, and 0.16% (22.16 km2) was not suitable. The area in all woredas was mainly moderately suitable for irrigation. However, Metarobi had the most highly suitable land, followed by Elfata with the most moderately suitable land, and Abuna Gindeberet with the most marginally suitable land. The results revealed huge potential for irrigation development in the West Shewa zone. As a result, it can serve as the basis for zonal-level planning and future irrigation development. Therefore, the study helps to improve the community’s lifestyle in the study area by increasing agricultural production.