The main objective of this study is to assess the impact of small scale irrigation on socioeconomicrndevelopment of the society in Kemisse Zone, Dewa CheJJa Woreda. The studyrnemployed survey method and personal observation to collect socio-economic data. Farmingrnhousehold and key informant were interviewed to collect primCily data. In addition, relevantrnliterature and essential documents that was usejid for the study were reviewed. 777e analysisrnwhich was conducted amongst the same respondents before introduction of irrigation,rnallowed for the comparison in order to identifY the impact after introduction of irrigationrnproject. Also, the social and economic impact was assessed that used to assess the impact ofrnsmall scale irrigation in the study area. The result reveals thaI small scale irrigation have anrnimpact on social and economic well being of households. The skill of farmers afterrnintroduction of irrigation was beller than that of before introduction of irrigation such as,rnplowing, threshing, harvesting, use of agronomic practice. All the farm households arernworked in their farm on the daily basis, which is a big change as compared to beforernintroduction the schemes. Land use intensity and crop diversification was improved due tornirrigation. Land use intensity improved due to increases in acreage of main crop as well asrncultivating at both seasons. Crop diversification was also observed as a result of irrigatiol1rndevelopment in the study area. Almost the entire farm household increased producing multirnitem and market oriented types of crop two cycles per a year. The study finding highlights thatrnsmall-scale irrigation for food security enhancement, high yield obtained in irrigation andrnother benefit such as increased income, employment opportunity, crop diversification, landrnuse intensity, and the like are indication that small-scale irrigation can bring sustainablernagriculture and economic development in the study area. But issues related to small size ofrnfarm plot, input supply, market situation, reservoir capacity to enrich irrigation water for allrnuser groups, crop water requirement, ways of water distribution for users and infrastructurerncan ajji!ctthe sustainability of small-scale irrigation schemes.rnKey words: Small-scale irrigation, social and economic well being, croprndiversification, household income, employment opportunity, marketrnoriented crop pattern.