Your search found 4 records
1 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
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.
2 Moyo, M.; Van Rooyen, A.; Bjornlund, H.; Parry, K.; Stirzaker, R.; Dube, T.; Maya, M. 2020. The dynamics between irrigation frequency and soil nutrient management: transitioning smallholder irrigation towards more profitable and sustainable systems in Zimbabwe. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 26p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2020.1739513]
Irrigation schemes ; Smallholders ; Farmers ; Soil fertility ; Soil moisture ; Nutrient management ; Irrigated farming ; Irrigation water ; Water productivity ; Agricultural productivity ; Maize ; Water use ; Rain ; Fertilizers ; Sustainability ; Decision making ; Monitoring techniques ; Household surveys / Zimbabwe / Mkoba Irrigation Scheme / Silalatshani Irrigation Scheme
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049729)
(3.28 MB)
Successful irrigated agriculture is underpinned by answering two critical questions: when and how much to irrigate. This article quantifies the role of the Chameleon and the Wetting Front Detector, monitoring tools facilitating decision-making and learning about soil-water-nutrient dynamics. Farmers retained nutrients in the root zone by reducing irrigation frequency, number of siphons, and event duration. Water productivity increased by more than 100% for farmers both with and without monitoring tools. Transitioning smallholder irrigation systems into profitable and sustainable schemes requires investment in technology, farmers and institutions. Importantly, technologies need embedding in a learning environment that fosters critical feedback mechanisms, such as market constraints.
3 Bjornlund, H.; van Rooyen, A.; Pittock, J.; Parry, K.; Moyo, M.; Mdemu, M.; de Sousa, W. 2020. Institutional innovation and smart water management technologies in small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa. Water International, 31p. (Online first) [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/02508060.2020.1804715]
Water management ; Technology ; Agriculture ; Innovation platforms ; Institutions ; Small scale systems ; Irrigation schemes ; Communal irrigation systems ; Soil moisture ; Monitoring ; Stakeholders ; Infrastructure ; Decision making ; Models / Southern Africa / Zimbabwe / Mozambique / United Republic of Tanzania
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049982)
(8.58 MB)
This paper reports on the introduction of SWM technology, soil moisture and nutrient monitoring tools, alongside Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIP) in three small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa. Quantitative and qualitative data are presented on the changes and benefits that have resulted, including increased yield and profitability. The findings emphasize that information prior and subsequent to adoption is needed, and the importance of understanding and enhancing the incentive framework for behavioural change, including both economic and physical returns. The findings illustrate SWM technology is strengthened when introduced with credible multi-stakeholder processes, such as an AIP, that facilitate institutional innovation.
4 Parry, K.; van Rooyen, A. F.; Bjornlund, H.; Kissoly, L.; Moyo, M.; de Sousa, W. 2020. The importance of learning processes in transitioning small-scale irrigation schemes. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 36(S1):S199-S223. [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2020.1767542]
Irrigation schemes ; Small scale systems ; Agricultural innovation systems ; Innovation platforms ; Learning activities ; Government managed irrigation systems ; Irrigation practices ; Agricultural research for development ; Stakeholders ; Farmers ; Training ; Knowledge ; Monitoring ; Social aspects ; Households / Africa South of Sahara / Mozambique / United Republic of Tanzania / Zimbabwe
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050067)
https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/pdf/10.1080/07900627.2020.1767542?needAccess=true
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050067.pdf
https://vlibrary.iwmi.org/pdf/H050067.pdf
(1.51 MB) (1.51 MB)
Many small-scale irrigation schemes are dysfunctional, and learning, innovation and evaluation are required to facilitate sustainable transitions. Using quantitative and qualitative data from five irrigation schemes in sub-Saharan Africa, we analyze how learning and change arose in response to: soil monitoring tools, which triggered a deep learning cycle; and agricultural innovation platforms, which helped develop a social learning system. Knowledge generation and innovation were driven by the incentives of more profitable farming. Learning and change spread to farmers without the tools, and learning at different levels resulted in extension and governance stakeholders facilitating profound institutional change.
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