Historical Perspectives on Pre-Colonial Irrigation in Southern Africa

Why agricultural production in sub-Saharan Africa remains low compared to the rest of the world – a historical perspective

“…These crops provided both goods for sale and food security. Intensification through terraces, permanent fields and water management occurred in the highlands and foothills of the Great Rift Valley (Hâkansson & Widgren, 2007;Maddox, 1986) and on the floodplains of coastal rivers, from the Tana River in north-east Tanzania to the Limpopo River in South Africa (Tempelhoff, 2008). In the early nineteenth century, rice and spice schemes were constructed along the river valleys around Kipini, Malindi, Shimoni and Vanga in Kenya, and Pangara and Kilwa in Tanzania (FAO, 2015;Ngige, 2004;Nicholls, 1971).…”

Exploring the factors causing the poor performance of most irrigation schemes in post-independence sub-Saharan Africa

“…West Africa (Mackel, 1973;Turner, 1986;Raunet, 1985) 1.2 Hill furrows Greater Rift Valley and encampment River diversion and furrows, bunds, some with terracing Mixed crop and vegetables Konso highlands, Ethiopia (Hallpike, 1972) Agoro Valley, Uganda (Watson, 1952) Banana gardens Banana Marakwet, Cherangani, Taita and Pokot Hills, Mbooni Hills Kenya (Davies et al, 2014;Jackson, 1976;Sutton, 1973) (Grove, 1993;Huijzendveld, 2008;Sutton, 1969;Westerberg et al, 2010) Eastern plains, Jebbel Marra, Nuba Hills, Sudan (Critchley et al, 1990) Dowa and Shire Highlands in Malawi; Angonia area of Mozambique, Inianga Range in Zimbabwe; Lyndenburg, Transkai, Bokoni, Drakenberg Escarpment and Zululand of South Africa (Ayers, 1989;Widgren, 2010) Djenne, Dogon, Mali (Ayers, 1989;Widgren, 2010) Jos, Kamaku, Eggon, Tangala Waja,-Plateau, Nigeria (Widgren, 2018) Ader Doutchi Maggia, Niger (Critchley et al, 1990) Hounde, Kassena, Burkino Faso (Widgren, 2018) Atakora, Togo/Benin (Widgren, 2018) Mandara, Cameroon (Widgren, 2018) Escarpments in eastern Angola (Beekman et al, 2014;Tempelhoff, 2008) 1.3 Tidal/estuary water Coastal estuaries, seasonally saline rivers (up to 70 miles inland) Embankments, dikes, canals, and sluice gates to bar marine water entering the fields, while capturing rainfall for cultivation…”

Water history and transdisciplinarity: a South African perspective

“…In the process of introducing new technologies from the British colonies, as well as those from the United States, indigenous irrigation was literally overlooked and ignored. 65 It is clear that a different approach to studying the past is required. By delving into aspects of pre-colonial water history it was possible to reach a better understanding of how humankind managed to survive in a water-stressed region on the subcontinent of Africa.…”