Impact of smallholder irrigation in Zimbabwe

Abstract

Assessing the impact of irrigation is complex and multi-faceted, and, often, value-judgements make a difference in approach and result of analysis. In this paper, I shall argue that the case of smallholder irrigation in Zimbabwe is no exception. In fact, one needs to put smallholder irrigation in its proper context with regards to its past, present and future role in the national economy. A number of studies have dealt with the political economy of smallholder irrigation (Roder 1965,,' j Rukuni 1984 and 1986, Mudekunye 1979). The general observation is that irrigation investments in communal areas were regarded by subsequent colonial governments as one of few productive public investments (such as roads and bridges) provided for these dry, drought-prone, government neglected parking lots for native Zimbabweans. In an attempt to enhance food security and settle displaced blacks (Roder 1965), a conventional cost-benefit analysis hardly asks nor answers all the rights questions