Section 4 – Farmer-led irrigation development in Mozambique and Tanzania

In this section you’ll learn about the findings of the recent Studying African Farmer-led Irrigation research project in Tanzania and Mozambique.

Farmer-led irrigation development in Tanzania and Mozambique

The Studying African Farmer-led Irrigation (SAFI) project is a partnership between social science researchers and irrigation scientists from Europe and Africa. The project aims to understand whether current investment by farmers in small-scale irrigation could offer a model for broad-based economic growth in rural areas of Africa.

Key research questions

  1. What characterises small-scale farmers’ own initiatives in developing agricultural water management, and what social and economic changes are associated with them? And how are these socially differentiated (gender, age, ethnicity, etc)?
  2. What are the perceptions and responses of agricultural development agencies (government, donors, NGOs, commercial investors) to irrigation developed by small-scale farmers?
  3. Can we get more accurate estimates of the total extent of irrigated areas?

How the research was done

The following methods were used:

  1. Field studies of specific cases where farmers influenced the purpose, location and design of irrigation.
  2. Field studies used an initial quick characterisation, using group and individual interviews and transect walks, and secondary data to identify the extent of irrigation, its history, and the key people involved.
  3. A second phase used in-depth interviews to understand engagement by local and external actors.
  4. A third phase undertook a survey of irrigating and non-irrigating households.
  5. National-level policy workshops were used to generate dialogue with policy makers and technical advisors about the phenomenon of farmer-led irrigation development.
  6. Underlying assumptions among technicians and authorities were identified in analysis of policy documents and implementation.
  7. Opportunities and constraints were probed in interviews with policy makers, donors, practitioners and farmers.
  8. An analysis of field data was discussed with policy makers.
  9. A pilot study was undertaken to explore the potential of analysis by satellite imaging.