IDEAS home Printed from https://ideas.repec.org/a/gam/jsusta/v16y2024i9p3580-d1382134.html

Socioeconomic Determinants of Poverty Reduction among Irrigating Farmers in Mberengwa District, Zimbabwe

Author

Listed:
  • Norman Mupaso

    (Department of Agricultural Economics and Development, Midlands State University, Gweru P.O. Box 9055, Zimbabwe)

  • Godswill Makombe

    (Gordon Institute of Business Science, University of Pretoria, Lynnwood Rd, Hatfield, Pretoria 0002, South Africa)

  • Raymond Mugandani

    (Department of Lands and Water Resources Management, Midlands State University, Gweru P.O. Box 9055, Zimbabwe)

  • Paramu L. Mafongoya

    (School of Agriculture, Earth and Environmental Sciences, University of KwaZulu-Natal, Pietermaritzburg 3201, South Africa)

Abstract

Sustainable Development Goal 1 aims to end extreme poverty everywhere by the year 2030. Smallholder irrigation development is arguably a vital strategy to reduce rural poverty. The authors assessed the socioeconomic determinants of poverty reduction in Mberengwa district, Zimbabwe. Data were collected from 444 randomly selected households. Data were analyzed using SPSS version 27 and Microsoft Excel 2019 software packages. Chi-square tests, t -tests, and Foster–Greer–Thorbecke (FGT) poverty index and binary logistic regression model tests were performed. The chi-square test results show an association between access to irrigation and farmer’s level of education ( p < 0.01). The t -test results show significant differences between irrigators and non-irrigators for household size ( p < 0.01), household labor ( p < 0.05), and rainfed plot size ( p < 0.05). FGT indices show that the poverty incidence, depth, and severity were lesser for irrigators than non-irrigators. The binary logistic regression model results show that age, household size, access to irrigation and household income significantly influence household poverty status. In conclusion, access to irrigation reduces poverty in rural areas. However, access to irrigation is not a panacea for poverty reduction in rural areas. Smallholder irrigation development policies should consider socioeconomic determinants of poverty reduction to properly target and tailor interventions, and increase the relevance and effectiveness of poverty reduction efforts.

Suggested Citation

  • Norman Mupaso & Godswill Makombe & Raymond Mugandani & Paramu L. Mafongoya, 2024. "Socioeconomic Determinants of Poverty Reduction among Irrigating Farmers in Mberengwa District, Zimbabwe," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 16(9), pages 1-14, April.
    • Handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3580-:d:1382134
    as

    Download full text from publisher

    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3580/pdf
    Download Restriction: no
    File URL: https://www.mdpi.com/2071-1050/16/9/3580/
    Download Restriction: no
    ---><---

    References listed on IDEAS

    as
    1. Mutambara, Solomon & Darkoh, Michael B.K. & Atlhopheng, Julius R., 2016. "A comparative review of water management sustainability challenges in smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa and Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 63-72.
    2. Elizabeth Bryan & Claudia Ringler & Ruth Meinzen-Dick, 2023. "Gender, Resilience, and Food Systems," Palgrave Studies in Agricultural Economics and Food Policy, in: Christophe Béné & Stephen Devereux (ed.), Resilience and Food Security in a Food Systems Context, chapter 0, pages 239-280, Palgrave Macmillan.
    3. Kirimi, Lilian & Gitau, Raphael & Olunga, Millicent, 2013. "Household Food Security And Commercialization Among Smallholder Farmers In Kenya," 2013 Fourth International Conference, September 22-25, 2013, Hammamet, Tunisia 161445, African Association of Agricultural Economists (AAAE).
    4. Huang, Qiuqiong & Rozelle, Scott & Lohmar, Bryan & Huang, Jikun & Wang, Jinxia, 2006. "Irrigation, agricultural performance and poverty reduction in China," Food Policy, Elsevier, vol. 31(1), pages 30-52, February.
    5. Burney, Jennifer A. & Naylor, Rosamond L., 2012. "Smallholder Irrigation as a Poverty Alleviation Tool in Sub-Saharan Africa," World Development, Elsevier, vol. 40(1), pages 110-123.
    Full references (including those not matched with items on IDEAS)

    Most related items

    These are the items that most often cite the same works as this one and are cited by the same works as this one.
    1. Higgins, Daniel & Arslan, Aslihan & Winters, Paul, 2021. "What role can small-scale irrigation play in promoting inclusive rural transformation? Evidence from smallholder rice farmers in the Philippines," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 243(C).
    2. Mwangi, Joseph Kanyua & Crewett, Wibke, 2019. "The impact of irrigation on small-scale African indigenous vegetable growers’ market access in peri-urban Kenya," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 295-305.
    3. Gbêtondji Melaine Armel Nonvide, 2024. "Impact of Irrigation on Food and Nutrition Security Among Rice Farmers in Benin," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 36(6), pages 1343-1371, December.
    4. Aarnoudse, E. & Closas, Alvar & Lefore, Nicole, 2018. "Water user associations: a review of approaches and alternative management options for Sub-Saharan Africa," IWMI Working Papers H048782, International Water Management Institute.
    5. Fitsum Assefa Adela & Joachim Aurbacher & Gumataw Kifle Abebe, 2019. "Small-scale irrigation scheme governance - poverty nexus: evidence from Ethiopia," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 11(4), pages 897-913, August.
    6. Berhe, Gebremeskel Teklay & Baartman, Jantiene E.M. & Veldwisch, Gert Jan & Grum, Berhane & Ritsema, Coen J., 2022. "Irrigation development and management practices in Ethiopia: A systematic review on existing problems, sustainability issues and future directions," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 274(C).
    7. Faye, Amy & von Braun, Joachim, 2024. "Small-Scale Irrigation in the Sahel: Adoption Trends, Profitability, and Challenges," Discussion Papers 348393, University of Bonn, Center for Development Research (ZEF).
    8. Nelson Mango & Clifton Makate & Lulseged Tamene & Powell Mponela & Gift Ndengu, 2018. "Adoption of Small-Scale Irrigation Farming as a Climate-Smart Agriculture Practice and Its Influence on Household Income in the Chinyanja Triangle, Southern Africa," Land, MDPI, vol. 7(2), pages 1-19, April.
    9. George Kyriakarakos & Athanasios T. Balafoutis & Dionysis Bochtis, 2020. "Proposing a Paradigm Shift in Rural Electrification Investments in Sub-Saharan Africa through Agriculture," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(8), pages 1-19, April.
    10. Sovacool, Benjamin K. & Bazilian, Morgan & Griffiths, Steve & Kim, Jinsoo & Foley, Aoife & Rooney, David, 2021. "Decarbonizing the food and beverages industry: A critical and systematic review of developments, sociotechnical systems and policy options," Renewable and Sustainable Energy Reviews, Elsevier, vol. 143(C).
    11. Maren Radeny & Elizaphan J. O. Rao & Maurice Juma Ogada & John W. Recha & Dawit Solomon, 2022. "Impacts of climate-smart crop varieties and livestock breeds on the food security of smallholder farmers in Kenya," Food Security: The Science, Sociology and Economics of Food Production and Access to Food, Springer;The International Society for Plant Pathology, vol. 14(6), pages 1511-1535, December.
    12. Atefeh Ahmadi & Marzieh Keshavarz & Farid Ejlali, 2025. "Resilience to Climate Change in Agricultural Water-Scarce Areas: The Major Obstacles and Adaptive Strategies," Water Resources Management: An International Journal, Published for the European Water Resources Association (EWRA), Springer;European Water Resources Association (EWRA), vol. 39(3), pages 1195-1214, February.
    13. Benson, Todd, 2016. "Association between irrigated farming and improved nutrition in farm households in Malawi," Agrekon, Agricultural Economics Association of South Africa (AEASA), vol. 54(3), January.
    14. Charles Yaw Okyere & Ama Asantewah Ahene-Codjoe, 2022. "Irrigated Agriculture and Welfare: Panel Data Evidence from Southern Ghana," The European Journal of Development Research, Palgrave Macmillan;European Association of Development Research and Training Institutes (EADI), vol. 34(2), pages 583-610, April.
    15. Li, Jiaxin & Wang, Zihan & Cheng, Xin & Shuai, Jing & Shuai, Chuanmin & Liu, Jing, 2020. "Has solar PV achieved the national poverty alleviation goals? Empirical evidence from the performances of 52 villages in rural China," Energy, Elsevier, vol. 201(C).
    16. Tran, Thong Anh & Nguyen, Tri Huu & Vo, Thang Tat, 2019. "Adaptation to flood and salinity environments in the Vietnamese Mekong Delta: Empirical analysis of farmer-led innovations," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 216(C), pages 89-97.
    17. Minghao Bai & Shenbei Zhou & Ting Tang, 2022. "A Reconstruction of Irrigated Cropland Extent in China from 2000 to 2019 Using the Synergy of Statistics and Satellite-Based Datasets," Land, MDPI, vol. 11(10), pages 1-27, September.
    18. repec:ags:aaea22:335522 is not listed on IDEAS
    19. Amare, Mulubrhan & Takeshima, Hiroyuki & Abay, Kibrom A. & Omamo, Steven Were, 2025. "Public expenditure on agriculture, youth out-migration, and engagement in agriculture? Evidence from Nigeria," GSSP working papers 2381, International Food Policy Research Institute (IFPRI).
    20. Yanlong Ji & Xiaoli Lu & Xiangwen Zhang & Fuping Hui, 2025. "Spatiotemporal dynamics and agricultural impacts of droughts and floods in China: a systematic review," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 121(18), pages 20729-20758, November.
    21. Joyce Chitja & Cobus J. Botha & Muthulisi Siwela & Fhatuwani Nixwell Mudau, 2022. "The Effect of Agronomic Management on Micronutrients of Vegetables Grown by Smallholders in Free State and KwaZulu-Natal Provinces of South Africa," Agriculture, MDPI, vol. 12(11), pages 1-13, October.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;
    ;

    Statistics

    Access and download statistics

    Corrections

    All material on this site has been provided by the respective publishers and authors. You can help correct errors and omissions. When requesting a correction, please mention this item's handle: RePEc:gam:jsusta:v:16:y:2024:i:9:p:3580-:d:1382134. See general information about how to correct material in RePEc.

    If you have authored this item and are not yet registered with RePEc, we encourage you to do it here. This allows to link your profile to this item. It also allows you to accept potential citations to this item that we are uncertain about.

    If CitEc recognized a bibliographic reference but did not link an item in RePEc to it, you can help with this form .

    If you know of missing items citing this one, you can help us creating those links by adding the relevant references in the same way as above, for each refering item. If you are a registered author of this item, you may also want to check the "citations" tab in your RePEc Author Service profile, as there may be some citations waiting for confirmation.

    For technical questions regarding this item, or to correct its authors, title, abstract, bibliographic or download information, contact: MDPI Indexing Manager (email available below). General contact details of provider: https://www.mdpi.com .

    Please note that corrections may take a couple of weeks to filter through the various RePEc services.

    IDEAS is a RePEc service. RePEc uses bibliographic data supplied by the respective publishers.