An Assessment of Water Management Practices on Smallholder Surface Irrigation Schemes: Case study of Insukamini Irrigation Scheme, Lower Gweru, Zimbabwe

Abstract

The aim of the paper was to assess the water management practices on smallholder surface irrigation schemes (A case study of Insukamini irrigation scheme). A case study type of design in which phenomenology will be at the center stage was adopted. Positivism was used as a complementary approach to make the study adopt triangulation. Results indicated that the irrigation scheduling was not according to the recommended or designed. There was a significant difference in the yield of plots with drains and plots without drains. A few farmers had drains on their plots and a larger number of farmers had not installed drains on their plots. Furthermore, m ost farmers had a portion of their plots that was water logged and a few plots had no signs of water logging. The paper recommends that w ater management practices on smallholder irrigation schemes that use surface irrigation must be improved so that sustainable yields can be attained and productive land may not be lost due to water logging. Regulation of irrigation scheduling to avoid either over watering or under watering is essential. Installation and maintaining an adequate surface drainage system is critical. Irrigation schemes should strive for improved planning, operation and sustainable; and integrated water resources management. It is also imperative to improve farmers’ knowledge of water management. There is indeed a need in developing countries for capacity building in drainage in all its aspects: design, construction, integration with water management, the environment and health.