Rehabilitation of Small Irrigation Schemes
The project aims at improving income, food and nutrition security of smallholder farmers in Zimbabwe. This will be done through the rehabilitation of small-scale irrigation schemes[1] and linking them to viable markets. SDC will contribute to a programme developed and coordinated by FAO and the Government of Zimbabwe, and will focus its support to the Masvingo Province which lies in the dry and arid region of the country.
[1] For the purposes of this programme, small irrigation schemes are defined as communal schemes with irrigators having an average plot size of 0.5ha to 1.0 ha with a common water source and conveyance system and an area of 50 – 100 ha i.e. benefiting an average of 100 – 200 irrigators.
Country/region | Topic | Period | Budget |
---|---|---|---|
Zimbabwe |
Agriculture & food security Water
Agricultural water resources
Water supply Agricultural development Household food security |
16.12.2014
- 30.09.2019 |
CHF 6’080’000
|
- Two irrigation schemes totaling 154 ha and benefiting 254 irrigators rehabilitated and linked to markets.
- Model for sustainable rehabilitation of small scale schemes produced and tested.
- Irrigators are prepared to contribute to the operation and maintenance (O&M) of their schemes provided they have viable markets for their produce as is evidenced in Rupike (one of the schemes rehabilitated in the first phase)
- Food and Agricultural Organisation
-
Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation WATER SUPPLY & SANITATION
AGRICULTURE
AGRICULTURE
OTHER MULTISECTOR
Sub-Sector according to the OECD Developement Assistance Commitiee categorisation Basic drinking water supply
Agricultural water resources
Agricultural development
Agricultural water resources
Household food security programmes
Cross-cutting topics The project promotes biodiversity as a priority.
The project takes account of gender equality as a cross-cutting theme.
The project takes account of democratisation, good governance and human rights as cross-cutting themes.
Aid Type Project and programme contribution
Project number 7F07769
Background |
Agriculture is the mainstay of the Zimbabwean economy, contributing 17% of the country’s GDP with more than 60% of the rural population depending on it for their livelihoods. Erratic rains, exacerbated by climate change, make rain-fed agriculture a risky business in drier regions where over 80% of smallholder farmers live. The decade long economic decline in the country-since 2000- has resulted in the breakdown of irrigation infrastructure, with 42% of the equipped schemes needing rehabilitation. In Masvingo Province, 40 small irrigation schemes, which provided food and income to smallholder farmers were thus affected and are now in dire need of rehabilitation. |
Objectives |
To improve income, food and nutrition security of smallholder communal farmers involved in small-scale irrigation in Zimbabwe |
Target groups |
8‘000 smallholder irrigators in 80 irrigation schemes will benefit directly from the intervention. The indirect beneficiaries will include non-irrigators around the schemes who will benefit from employemnt as casual labour during peak irrigation periods and also from the readily available agricultural products in the local markets. Women, who constitute the majority of farmers in rural areas (70%) and play a major role in food production, processing and preparation will have their specific needs taken into account in project implementation. |
Medium-term outcomes |
To sustainably increase the production, productivity, management and profitability of smallholder irrigated agriculture in targeted 80 schemes in communal and old resettlement areas of Zimbabwe. |
Results |
Expected results: 80 schemes functioning optimally after rehabilitation. 8’000 smallholder irrigators capacitated in scheme management and crop production. 80 smallholder irrigation schemes managed as a business and linked to markets. Sub-catchments for 20 pilot schemes have management plans developed and implemented. Service delivery capacity of institutions supporting targeted smallholder communal irrigation schemes strengthened.
Results from previous phases:
|
Directorate/federal office responsible |
SDC |
Credit area |
Development cooperation |
Project partners |
Contract partner International or foreign NGO United Nations Organization (UNO) |
Coordination with other projects and actors |
Government (DoI & AGRITEX); Irrigation Working Group ( Zimbabwe); EU; JICA; SAMP (7F-07646.02); Agri-Fin Mobile (7F-08255.01) |
Budget | Current phase Swiss budget CHF 6’080’000 Swiss disbursement to date CHF 6’042’777 |
Project phases |
Phase 2 16.12.2014 - 30.09.2019 (Completed) Phase 1 01.07.2011 - 31.12.2014 (Completed) |