COLLEGE OF AGRICULTURE AND ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES DEPARTMENT OF GEOGRAPHY Socio- economic impact assessment of Lower Gweru Irrigation scheme in Zimbabwe. By Kaitano Dube A thesis submitted in partial fulfilment of the requirements for the degree of Master of Science in Geography Supervised by Professor S.E. Mini 1 The Socio economic impact assessment of Lower Gweru Irrigation Scheme in Gweru Zimbabwe by Kaitano Dube Submitted in accordance with the requirements for the degree of Master of Science In the subject Geography at the University of South Africa Supervisor: Professor S.E. Mini November 2012 46592385 I declare that the dissertation hereby submitted by me for the qualification Masters of Science in Geography at the University of South Africa is my own work and that all the sources that I have used or quoted have been indicated and acknowledged by means of complete references. K. DUBE 24 January 2013 ________________________ _____________________ SIGNATURE DATE (Mr) ii UMI M(I) MASTERS THESIS PAO PUBLISH ABSTRACT ONLY AGREEMENT 2001 PERSONAL DATA 1. Last Name First Name Middle Name Dube Kaitano ________________________ ______________________ ______________________ 2. Year of Birth (Optional) 3. Country of Citizenship Zimbabwe _______________________ ____________________________________________ Do not write in 4. Present Mailing Address this space Abstract no Street address: . 7 Merriman Street S.E 1 Vanderbijlpark __________________________________________________________________________ City State/Province Postal code Country Vanderbijlpark Gauteng 1911 South Africa ___________________ __________________ __________ _________________ Future Mailing Address Street address: Vol/Issue __________________________________________________________________________ City State/Province Postal code Country ___________________ __________________ __________ _________________ Effective date for future mailing address (mm dd yy) _______________________________ School Code E-mail address: [email protected] ______________________________________________________ MASTER’S DEGREE DATA 5. Full name of university conferring degree, and college or division if appropriate University of South Africa College of Agriculture and Environmental Science __________________________________________________________________________ 6. Abbreviation for degree awarded 7. Year degree awarded DFGGR91-12-Y1 Abst. Length ____________________________________________ ______________________ TITLE/SUBJECT AREA 8. Enter the title of thesis. If thesis is written in a language other than English, please specify which language and translate title into English. Language of text: _____________________________________ Title: ______________________________________________________________________________________ _ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______ ______________________________________________________________________________________ ______ iii 9. Subject category of thesis. Please enter four-digit code from “Subject Categories” on following page. __________ 10. Please append an abstract of no more than 150 words describing the contents of your thesis. Your completion and submission of this form through your graduate school indicates your assent to UMI publication of your abstract. Formulas, diagrams and other illustrative materials are not recommended for abstracts appearing in Masters Abstracts International. Author Signature: K.Dube_______________________________________ Date: 24 January 2013 ______________________ iv ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS I would like to extend my deepest appreciation to Professor S. E. Mini for his invaluable guidance and wisdom throughout the research process. May God bless him and his family. Secondly I would like to thank Mr F.Chidavaenzi (Agricultural Engineering Chinhoi and Mr S. Jeri from Midlands State University for their assistance in the conducting of this research study. Further appreciation is extended to the Lower Gweru irrigation scheme farmers and the community leadership for affording me your time from your busy work, without your cooperation this research project would not have been possible. Last but not least I would like to thank GOD for giving me the strength and resources to conduct this thesis. v Abstract This study aimed at examining the social and economic impact of rural irrigation schemes with a particular focus on the Lower Gweru Irrigation scheme. The general objective of this study was to assess if rural irrigation schemes can act as livelihood security assets in transforming rural livelihoods, reduce poverty and attain food security in light of climate change. Results are based on findings from self-administered questionnaires directed at farmers and irrigation stakeholders, and face to face interviews involving farmers and stakeholders. Using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences, Microsoft excel and Health 24 web BMI calculator it was concluded that; Lower Gweru schemes, is a source of livelihood security securing food security, reduce poverty and creates rural employment. Regardless of various challenges faced by rural irrigation farmers, irrigations act as poverty and climate change buffers, providing an opportunity for communities to raise their Human Development Index and attain sustainable development. Key Words Food security, livelihood security, irrigation farming, sustainable development, Human Development Index, agriculture, climate change, poverty reduction, Zimbabwe, Lower Gweru vi PUBLISH ABSTRACT ONLY AGREEMENT .............................................................................. iii ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS ............................................................................................................... v Abstract ............................................................................................................................................. vi Key Words ........................................................................................................................................ vi Table of Figures ................................................................................................................................ x Tables ............................................................................................................................................... xi Chapter 1 : Research Context ................................................................................................................. 1 1.1 Introduction and Background ................................................................................................. 1 1.2 Spatial Background .............................................................................................................. 2 1.3 Area of Study ........................................................................................................................ 3 1.3.1 Lower Gweru ....................................................................................................................... 4 1.3.2 The Physical environment of Lower Gweru ............................................................. 5 1.3.3 Climate Average Weather Data for Lower Gweru ................................................... 5 1.3.4 The population profile of Lower Gweru ..................................................................... 6 1.3.5 The socio- economic environment of Lower Gweru ............................................... 6 1.4 Justification and Rationale of the Study ............................................................................ 6 1.5 Statement of the Problem ................................................................................................... 8 1.6 Research Questions ............................................................................................................ 9 1.7 Aims of the Study ................................................................................................................. 9 1.8 Objectives of the Study ..................................................................................................... 11 1.9 Organization and Structure of this Dissertation ............................................................ 11 Chapter 2: Literature Review ................................................................................................................ 12 2.1 Development in Zimbabwe: Theoretical Framework. ................................................... 12 2.2 Development Ideology and Macroeconomic Policies in Zimbabwe ........................... 13 2.3 Rural Irrigation Schemes Overview ................................................................................ 16 2.4 Global Programmes of Rural Agricultural Irrigation Schemes ..................................... 16 2.5 The Impact of Irrigation Schemes in Asia’s food security ............................................ 18 2.6 Socio Economic Impact of irrigation in Asia ................................................................... 19 2.7 The Impact of Irrigation Schemes on Sub- Saharan Africa ......................................... 20 2.8 The Impact of Irrigation Schemes on SADC ................................................................. 23 2.9 State of irrigation in Zimbabwe ......................................................................................... 24 2.10 Socio-economic impact of irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe ........................................ 26 2.11 Financial and Economic