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

Mwamakamba, S N and Sibanda, L M and Pittock, J and Stirzaker, R and Bjornlund, H and Van Rooyen, A F and Munguambe, P and Mdemu, M V and Kashaigili, J J (2017) Irrigating Africa: policy barriers and opportunities for enhanced productivity of smallholder farmers. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33 (5). pp. 824-838. ISSN 0790-0627

[img]
Preview
PDF (It is an Open Access article) - Published Version
Download (1MB) | Preview

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.

Item Type: Article
Divisions: Research Program : East & Southern Africa
CRP: CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)
Uncontrolled Keywords: Africa, agriculture, smallholder irrigation, policy barriers, governance mechanisms, market access
Subjects: Others > Smallholder Farmers
Others > Irrigation
Others > Water Resources
Others > African Agriculture
Depositing User: Mr Ramesh K
Date Deposited: 22 May 2017 05:40
Last Modified: 22 May 2017 05:53
URI: http://oar.icrisat.org/id/eprint/10015
Official URL: http://dx.doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1321531
Projects: UNSPECIFIED
Funders: Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research (ACIAR)
Acknowledgement: The research in this article was part of the project FSC-2013-006, Increasing Irrigation Water Productivity in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe through On-Farm Monitoring, Adaptive Management and Agricultural Innovation Platforms, funded by the Australian International Food Security Research Centre of the Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research, and participating organizations. This work was supported by Australian Centre for International Agricultural Research grant number FSC-2013-006.
Links:
View Statistics

Actions (login required)

View Item View Item