Irrigation and crop diversification in the 25 de Setembro irrigation scheme, Mozambique

Abstract

b cIraD-umr G-eau/research unit on Water management, actors and uses, montpellier, france; c school of commerce, university of south australia, adelaide, australia ABSTRACTCrop diversification is one way of improving the profitability of smallscale irrigation schemes. The 25 de Setembro scheme is an ideal site to analyze diversification, as it is influenced by the markets in Maputo and South Africa. This study uses information gathered from observations, discussions with irrigators and an irrigator survey. Results identified seven irrigator types with different crop diversification strategies predominantly influenced by resource constraints. Most irrigators produce traditional crops, although there are opportunities for growing crops that are more profitable. Improved extension services, to identify cropping strategies that better align with market demand, would improve profitability.

Communal irrigation systems in South-Eastern Africa: findings on productivity and profitability

“…The research in the six irrigation schemes in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe identified a range of barriers to more profitable and sustainable irrigation (de Sousa et al, 2017;Mdemu, Mziray, Bjornlund, & Kashaigili, 2017;Moyo, van Rooyen, Moyo, Chivenge, & Bjornlund, 2017). These include:…”

“…The diversity of irrigators within schemes was illustrated at the 25 Setembro in Mozambique, where seven different irrigator types with different crop diversification strategies were distinguished, their differences reflecting farmers' resource access (de Sousa et al, 2017). Most farmers in the scheme produce traditional food crops, and while there are opportunities to grow more profitable crops, few do this.…”

“…The research in Mozambique and Zimbabwe found that the major barriers to more profitable and sustainable irrigation were poorly functioning markets, poor infrastructure and soil fertility, and limited access to high-quality farm inputs, farm implements and agricultural knowledge (de Sousa et al, 2017;Moyo et al, 2017). This resulted in low crop yields, food insecurity and negative farm income.…”

“…In Mozambique it was reported that an improved extension service that helps identify cropping strategies better aligned with market demand would significantly improve irrigation profitability (de Sousa et al, 2017). Marketing of produce is uncoordinated at most irrigation schemes, but mobile telephone technologies are reported as offering opportunities for timely dissemination of market information in Mozambique and Zimbabwe (de Sousa et al, 2017;Moyo et al, 2017). More generally, institutions are needed to provide the feedback mechanisms within agricultural value chains to allow irrigators to align their operations to market demands and improve the viability of irrigation systems .…”

Theory and application of Agricultural Innovation Platforms for improved irrigation scheme management in Southern Africa

“…The schemes and baseline surveys are reported in detail in the three country-specific articles in this issue: for Zimbabwe by Moyo et al (2017); for Tanzania by Mdemu et al (2017); and for Mozambique by de Sousa et al (2017), summarized by Bjornlund, van Rooyen, and Stirzaker (2017).…”