The purpose of this review is to compile the previous, current, and upcoming trends of water management and irrigation program development to raise crop production and ensure smallholder food security in Ethiopia. Integrated water management and irrigation development have been suggested to be a fundamental crucial part in decreasing food scarcity and alleviating poverty. Several organizations of irrigation schemes in Ethiopia have very weak institutional set up with limited financial and technical capacities and poor performance. Also, the existing performance of agricultural water development is not meaningfully contributing to the national economy of the country comparing to rain-fed farming.

Keywords : Climate change; Food security; Integrated management; Water resource; Soil conservation; Dryland farming; Irrigation scheme.