What is smallholder irrigation?

What is smallholder irrigation?

Smallholder irrigation schemes (SIS) were developed to improve rural livelihoods through sustainable food production for food security and poverty alleviation, but these development objectives remain largely unfulfilled. The focus was on government policy and strategies to support smallholder farmers.

What is mainly grown under irrigation in Zimbabwe?

Sorghum, groundnuts, seed maize, barley and various horticultural crops are also grown. Supplementary irrigation is done for winter wheat. Animal husbandry like poultry, cattle for dairy and meat, is also practiced in. Smallholder farmers occupy only 21% of the area in this productive region.

What is the importance of irrigation farming in Zimbabwe?

Improving agriculture and enhancing productivity through smallholder irrigation is one of the key strategies for alleviating poverty and improving the livelihoods of rural communities; the majority of the poor depend directly or indirectly on agriculture (Mutiro & Lautze, 2015.

Why is drip irrigation better?

Drip irrigation is a very efficient way to irrigation crops and has the advantage of lower evaporation than other irrigation methods, it is the most common type of “microirrigation.” Drip irrigation is one of the more advanced techniques being used today because, for certain crops, it is much more efficient than …

How does an outgrower scheme work?

We define an out-grower scheme as a contractual partnership between growers or landholders and a company for the production of commercial forest products. Under the contract, the company may provide inputs or technical support to the grower, and guarantees a market for the product.

How many irrigation schemes are there in Zimbabwe?

Five irrigation schemes, Mambanjeni, Murara, Mzinyathini, Ngezi Mamina and Rozva are located in the communal areas while the rest of the schemes are located in resettlement areas.

What are the main types of irrigation?

The different types of irrigation include- sprinkler irrigation, surface irrigation, drip irrigation, sub-irrigation and manual irrigation.

What is the most efficient irrigation method?

Drip irrigation is the most water-efficient way to irrigate many different plantings. It is an ideal way to water in clay soils because the water is applied slowly, allowing the soil to absorb the water and avoid runoff.

Which type of irrigation is best?

Drip irrigation is the most efficient and appropriate irrigation system. Instead of wetting the whole field surface, water is applied only to the plant root zone.

What is smallholder scheme?

Scheme smallholders, while very diverse, are characterised as smallholders who are structurally bound by contract to a particular mill. Scheme smallholders often receive technical assistance in planting and crop management.

What are outgrower schemes?

We define an out-grower scheme as a contractual partnership between growers or landholders and a company for the production of commercial forest products. Out-grower schemes or partnerships vary considerably in the extent to which inputs, costs, risks and benefits are shared between growers/landholders and companies.

Is there a canal in Zimbabwe?

It is the 40th of the 41 recorded by FAO as Major Dams in Zimbabwe. A canal conveys water from the dam into a reservoir which is situated just at the edge of the irrigation scheme.

What influences smallholder irrigation sustainability in Zimbabwe?

Productivity barriers and opportunities influencing smallholder irrigation sustainability in Zimbabwe were identified using case studies of the Silalatshani and Mkoba irrigation schemes.

Why do smallholder irrigation systems matter?

Introduction Globally, smallholder irrigation systems are viewed as critical common property resources that are needed to increase crop water supply and sustain livelihoods in semi-arid regions (FAO and WWC, 2015).

Is farming possible in Zimbabwe’s semi-arid regions?

Zimbabwe’s semi-arid areas are classified as NR III, IV and V. Semi-extensive (NR III and IV) and extensive (NR V) farming are recommended in these regions (Bird et al., 2002). Rainfall in the arid and semi-arid regions is too erratic and unreliable for dryland farming, making supplementary irrigation necessary for successful agriculture.

What is the role of mobile technologies in irrigation management?

Mobile technologies provide opportunities for market information dissemination. Institutions are needed to continuously encourage dialogue among agricultural value chain stakeholders to allow irrigators to align their operations to market demands and improve the viability of irrigation systems. Introduction