Analysis of water–energy–crop nexus indicators in irrigated sugarcane of Awash Basin, Ethiopia

Pressures on limited resources of water and energy in agriculture forced researchers to look for alternative approaches towards the solutions integrating the resources. Since the development of the water–energy–food (WEF) nexus concept, several methods including indicator approaches have been developed and are in use to analyze their linkages. The aims of the study have been to determine and compare the performances of sugarcane producing irrigation schemes and technologies in Awash Basin of Ethiopia. Water applied, input energy used and productivity of eleven irrigation schemes found in Wonji, Metehara and Kessem sugar factories have been used and the performances of each scheme were evaluated. Based on statistical analyses, irrigation schemes were grouped into gravity surface, pump surface and pump sprinklers. After normalizing the original data through min–max, performance scores were determined based on equal weight and entropy methods. Categorical assessments revealed that gravity surface schemes had the highest total input energy use and energy productivity scores while pump sprinkler schemes were better on the water applied, relative irrigation supply and water productivity indicators. However, regarding composite performance indicators or WEF nexus indices, pump surface schemes scored the highest followed by gravity surface schemes while sprinklers were the least. The study proved the emphasis of the sugar factories of the basin for crop productivity with the expenses of energy and water utilizations. Hence, improvements in water management of gravity surface schemes and energy utilization of sprinkler schemes were recommended as key solutions for balanced resource use as well as the overall sustainability of the sector.