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1 Wheeler, S. A.; Zuo, A.; Bjornlund, H.; Mdemu, M. V.; van Rooyen, A.; Munguambe, P. 2017. An overview of extension use in irrigated agriculture and case studies in south-eastern Africa. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(5):755-769. (Special issue: The Productivity and Profitability of Small Scale Communal Irrigation Systems in South-eastern Africa). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2016.1225570]

Irrigated farming ; Innovation adoption ; Agricultural development ; Extension activities ; Agricultural extension ; Farm income ; Farmers ; Irrigation schemes ; Developing countries ; Case studies / South eastern Africa / Tanzania / Mozambique / Zimbabwe / Kiwere Irrigation Scheme / Magozi Irrigation Scheme / Khanimambo Irrigation Scheme / 25 de Setembro Irrigation Scheme / Mkoba Irrigation Scheme / Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme

(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048198)

http://www.tandfonline.com/doi/abs/10.1080/07900627.2016.1225570?needAccess=true#aHR0cDovL3d3dy50YW5kZm9ubGluZS5jb20vZG9pL3BkZi8xMC4xMDgwLzA3OTAwNjI3LjIwMTYuMTIyNTU3MD9uZWVkQWNjZXNzPXRydWVAQEAw
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H048198.pdf

(1.19 MB) (1.19 MB)

This study provides an overview of extension influence on the adoption of irrigation innovations in developed and developing countries, and finds that extension plays a more significant positive role in influencing soft technology adoption in developing countries. Case studies on the nature, use and availability of extension advice in six irrigation schemes in Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are presented. The use of government extension officers varied significantly, with extension use not linked to farm outcomes. The results suggest the need to support more diverse sources of advice and to promote institutional reform in south-eastern Africa.

2 Bjornlund, H.; Zuo, A.; Wheeler, S. A.; Parry, K.; Pittock, J.; Mdemu, M.; Moyo, M. 2019. The dynamics of the relationship between household decision-making and farm household income in small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa. Agricultural Water Management, 213:135-145. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.agwat.2018.10.002]

Irrigation schemes ; Small scale systems ; Farmers ; Household income ; Decision making ; Living standards ; Strategies ; Gender ; Labour ; Models ; Socioeconomic environment / Southern Africa / Mozambique / Zimbabwe / United Republic of Tanzania / Kiwere Irrigation Scheme / Magozi Irrigation Scheme / Mkoba Irrigation Scheme / Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme / 25 de Setembro Irrigation Scheme / Khanimambo Irrigation Scheme

(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049140)

https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0378377418305481/pdfft?md5=623f0afb5a14e8ed0d133bcf1b30ae6b&pid=1-s2.0-S0378377418305481-main.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H049140.pdf

(0.59 MB) (612 KB)

Irrigation has been promoted as a strategy to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods in southern Africa. Households’ livelihood strategies within small-scale irrigation schemes have become increasingly complex and diversified. Strategies consist of farm income from rain-fed and irrigated cropping as well as livestock and an increasing dependence on off-farm income. The success of these strategies depends on the household’s ability to make decisions about how to utilize its’ financial, labour, land and water resources. This study explores the dynamics of decision-making in households on-farm household income within six small-scale irrigation schemes, across three southern African countries. Household survey data (n = 402) was analyzed using ordered probit and ordinary least squares regression. Focus group discussions and field observations provided qualitative data on decision-making in the six schemes. We found strong support for the notion that decision-making dynamics strongly influence total household income. Households make trade-offs between irrigation, dryland, livestock and off-farm work when they allocate their labour resources to maximize household income; as opposed to maximizing the income from any individual component of their livelihood strategy, such as irrigation. Combined with the impact of the small plot size of irrigated land, this is likely to result in sub-optimal benefits from expensive investments in irrigation infrastructure. Policy-makers must consider this when developing and implementing new policies.