Construction of Irrigation Infrastructure in Rural Zimbabwe; a Context Consideration For

Construction of irrigation infrastructure in rural Zimbabwe; A Context consideration for would be project funders.

By Colum Zhuwau: Brandeis University: USA

Introduction

The main growing season rainfall has diminished by an estimated 15% across Southern Africa in the past 25 years. Compounded by increased population (a population growth rate of 2.3 percent per year), reduced rainfall has induced drier conditions and poses a threat to livelihoods through reduced agricultural yields (Funk et al, 2008). Figure 1, below shows the growing gap between agricultural capacity and population in the face of decreasing rainfall during the main growing season in Southern Africa.

Figure 1: Reduction in main growing season rainfall and agricultural capacity for the increasing populations of Southern Africa: Adopted from Funk et al 2008. Given the Southern African experience were food production is not keeping up with population growth due to reduction in effective rainfall and less investment in seed and fertiliser it is imperative to develop a strategy for irrigation for the region to ameliorate hunger threats. A proposal for a pioneer irrigation infrastructure can be initiated for Zimbabwe which has over 50 % of its population facing food shortages since 2000 as a direct result of recurrent drought conditions (FEWSNET, January 19 2010). Recommendations for the strategy are: (a) Irrigation infrastructure must be established in natural farming regions four and five, which are the driest and have the lowest annual average rainfall in the country, (b) A quota system must be devised to increase women participation (c) Full participation of local companies/people and (d) to tap into the high human capital base available in rural areas.

Current Situation

The need for developing an irrigation infrastructure in a sustainable approach is premised on the following realities in the country: (a) In drier areas people rely on government and NGO handouts due to shortage of food and livestock production. According to FEWSNET (19 January 2010) almost 50% of the Zimbabwe’s population depended on donors for food in the past nine years. People also walk long distances, an average of 10 kilometres, to fetch water for both livestock and domestic use. The shortage of water has negative implications for rural society especially women who head most households. Time spent fetching water is increasing, compromising other important activities such as studying for the girl child.

(b) There is a heavy reliance on wetlands for agricultural and domestic water use especially in the drier areas. Utilisation of wetlands through practices such as market (commercial) gardening and grazing land has modified the wetland ecosystems into dry outcrops due to drainage of water. Such practices destroy the resilience and potential of ecosystems to provide their natural environmental services which are essential as a common good. The disappearance of 15 known wattled crane pairs from the Northern Great Dyke in the Drienfontein wetlands stands as an example ( www. zimbabwewildlifefund.com /endangered- wattled -crane). Irrigation would take the pressure of occupying and farming in wetlands and will serve wildlife which is important for many local reasons such as tourism and aesthetic value.

(c) Cohesion of communities is seen through existence of social networks. People have been assisting each other through kinships and other institutions within the communities to ameliorate the effects of droughts. In Zimbabwe churches have been contracting villagers to repair roads and dams in exchange for food handouts. Families have also been relying on their kins staying in towns or are in Diaspora to send them valued foreign currencies which will be used to buy goods and services with ease and in bulk. Tapping into networks improve acceptability and connectivity within communities.

(d) Lack of financial capital has limited livelihood options for rural communities. This has compromised accessibility and improvement in other assets such as human and physical capital. Zimbabwe has been under a collapsing economy for the past 10 years with inflation officiated at 11.2 million percent in 2008 (articles.cnn.com/2008-09- 27/world/zimbabwe.food.crisis_1). Such inflation levels have been accompanied by high unemployment way above 90 percent (tearstosmiles.org/zimbabwe.htm). Consequently most of the economically active migrated to the rural areas. Without employment it follows that parents cannot send children to schools, cannot access health services and ultimately cannot access a host of other assets which would enable them to realise their capabilities. An improvement of financial capital will have overall positive economic spill over implications for the communities.

Context of change In view of the above concerns, targeting drier regions (four and five) is important for narrowing focus to priority and needy areas. Prioritisation allows for optimum positive changes to failing assets through tapping into those already in existence. The main failing asset is in the realm of the inability by the communities to realise full production from agriculture which is in turn an agency for the functioning of other assets. Social networks must be strengthened for resource mobilisation and capacity building as they direct group social dynamics. Women should be particularly targeted for participation as they are the main agency for transformation of the well- being of families (Sen, 1998).

Collaborative implementation policies; 1. For increased transparency and recognition, identification of target areas for irrigation development must be done by Rural District Councils (RDCs). The RDC’s comprise the government appointed District Administrator, elected councillors, chiefs and stakeholders from government offices. 2. A quota system must be devised to ensure participation of women and equality from ward to district level. An emphasis on an increased participation of women stems from the realisation that a huge proportion of women are disadvantaged through old traditions which economically segregate them along gender lines. As such, a twin track approach will be assumed wherever such disadvantages objectively exist. 3. RDCs must also ensure the permission of participation of local businesses through operational permits system. This is important for driving local economies. Local businesses boost demand for other local services and goods and thus improve the well being of communities through increased production and consumption. 4. Encourage participation of local institutions such as churches, schools and other NGOs to facilitate marketing, education and strengthening of community cohesion. Such institutions have better reach to outside communities and increase networking potential with important outsiders.

Implementation

The outlined strategies above can only be successful if implemented holistically. As such the mentioned recommendations are just but some of the necessary conditions around assets that improve livelihoods with irrigation infrastructure. Other measures that improve the capabilities of communities such as the political context should not be ignored as they assist in implementation.

References articles.cnn.com/2008-09-27/world/zimbabwe.food.crisis_1 September 27 2008: Zimbabwe Priminister: Zimbabwe facing starvation

Sen. A. 1998. Development as Freedom

Funk, C., M.D. Dettinger, J.C. Michaelsen, James P. Verdin, Molly E. Brown, Mathew Barlow, Andrew Hoell. 2008. Warming of the Indian Ocean threatens eastern and southern African food security but could be mitigated by agricultural development. PNAS 105: 11081–11086 tearstosmiles.org/zimbabwe.htm Charity efforts to Zimbabwe.

www. nation.co.ke /News/africa/-/1066/845608/-/124df7tz/- January 19 2010; Daily Nations Africa Zimbabwe Faces Mass Starvation: