%O 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.
%K Africa, agriculture, smallholder irrigation, policy barriers, governance mechanisms, market access
%A S N Mwamakamba
%A L M Sibanda
%A J Pittock
%A R Stirzaker
%A H Bjornlund
%A A F Van Rooyen
%A P Munguambe
%A M V Mdemu
%A J J Kashaigili
%I Taylor & Francis
%V 33
%L icrisat10015
%J International Journal of Water Resources Development
%N 5
%P 824-838
%R 10.1080/07900627.2017.1321531
%D 2017
%X 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.
%T Irrigating Africa: policy barriers and opportunities for enhanced productivity of smallholder farmers