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Irrigating Africa: policy barriers and opportunities for enhanced productivity of smallholder farmers

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  • Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba
  • Lindiwe Majele Sibanda
  • Jamie Pittock
  • Richard Stirzaker
  • Henning Bjornlund
  • Andre van Rooyen
  • Paiva Munguambe
  • Makarius Victor Mdemu
  • Japhet J. Kashaigili

Abstract

African governments have ambitious plans to expand irrigated agriculture, though existing smallholder schemes have largely failed to use land and water sustainably or become profitable. Six government-owned irrigation schemes in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe were assessed to identify common policy barriers and opportunities for higher productivity among smallholder farmers. Issues like insecure land tenure systems, unclear institutional arrangements and poor access to markets have contributed to limited profitability. Reform of currently insecure land tenure, strengthening farmer organizations and reforming policies are recommended so that governments step back from scheme management and foster market linkages to enable more profitable irrigated agriculture.

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  • Sithembile Ndema Mwamakamba & Lindiwe Majele Sibanda & Jamie Pittock & Richard Stirzaker & Henning Bjornlund & Andre van Rooyen & Paiva Munguambe & Makarius Victor Mdemu & Japhet J. Kashaigili, 2017. "Irrigating Africa: policy barriers and opportunities for enhanced productivity of smallholder farmers," International Journal of Water Resources Development, Taylor & Francis Journals, vol. 33(5), pages 824-838, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:taf:cijwxx:v:33:y:2017:i:5:p:824-838
    DOI: 10.1080/07900627.2017.1321531
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Shah, Tushaar & van Koppen, Barbara & Merrey, Douglas J. & de Lange, Marna & Samad, Madar, 2002. "Institutional alternatives in African smallholder irrigation: Lessons from international experience with irrigation management transfer," IWMI Research Reports 44563, International Water Management Institute.
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    5. Tushaar Shah & Babara Van Koppen & Douglas Murrey & Marna de Lange & Madar Samad, 2002. "Institutional Alternatives in African Smallholder Irrigation: Lessons from International Experience with Irrigation Management Transfer," IWMI Research Reports H 30202, International Water Management Institute.
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    3. 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.
    4. Abebe, Fentahun & Zuo, Alec & Wheeler, Sarah Ann & Bjornlund, Henning & Chilundo, Mario & Kissoly, Luitfred & Dube, Thabani, 2022. "The influences on farmers' planned and actual farm adaptation decisions: Evidence from small-scale irrigation schemes in South-Eastern Africa," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 202(C).
    5. Aniseh S. Bro & Daniel C. Clay & David L. Ortega & Maria C. Lopez, 2019. "Determinants of adoption of sustainable production practices among smallholder coffee producers in Nicaragua," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 21(2), pages 895-915, April.
    6. Shalu Agrawal & Abhishek Jain, 2019. "Sustainable deployment of solar irrigation pumps: Key determinants and strategies," Wiley Interdisciplinary Reviews: Energy and Environment, Wiley Blackwell, vol. 8(2), March.

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