Challenges of independence: managing technical and social worlds in a farmer-managed irrigation scheme

The performance of the Zimbabwean economy is directly related to that of the agricultural sector, with the economy doing well in a good agricultural year. Irrigation has become of paramount importance due to erratic and changing rainfall patterns. In times of drought, the majority of the population that relies on dryland agriculture are hardest hit (Magadzire, 1994). Since the 1940s, colonial and post colonial governments have recognised the importance of water development, emphasising in particular dam construction in large-scale commercial areas. As a result, the large-scale commercial sector is enjoying the benefits of this long-term strategic investment. After independence, the Government gave more recognition to the potential of irrigation, extending it to smallholder irrigation.^rrigation for smallholders serves to achieve many purposes: (1) it enables double croppi ng and hence efficient utilization of two scarce resources, land and water; (2) it contributes towards the achievement of food security in marginal rainfall areas, and where mid-season droughts are experienced; (3) it makes higher yields attainable; (4) it improves farm incomes and standards of living; and (5) it earns the country foreign currency through the export of surplus and cash crops and/or import substitution. Irrigation development has therefore been given top priority. The majority of the schemes established were managed either by Agritex or ARDA

A research paper on the importance of good water management to the growth of irrigation agriculture in Zimbabwe.