Abstract
The article examines the negative externalities of social capital in the sustainability of smallholder irrigation farming. Smallholder irrigation farming has become one of the main sources of rural livelihood in Zimbabwe given the deficiencies in rainfall triggered by climate change among other factors. The establishment of smallholder irrigation schemes, refurbishment of irrigation infrastructure, introduction of new technology and the subsidization of farm inputs are several initiatives taken by the government of Zimbabwe, Non-Governmental organisations and the private sector to improving agricultural productivity among smallholder irrigation schemes. Despite these efforts, smallholder irrigation farming has remained unsustainable. Resultantly, most rural communities in Zimbabwe continue to face hunger and poverty, two overarching sustainable development goals (SDGs 1 & 2) one and two. This study examined the negative externalities of social capital on efforts to improve productivity and sustainability of Rozva smallholder irrigation scheme. The article argues that linking social capital, which includes partnerships between Rozva irrigation farmers and donor agencies, has created dependency syndrome that is inimical to the sustainability of the irrigation scheme. The article concludes some social connections detrimental to the sustainability of the scheme tend to create divisions among farmers. The article argues there is need for awareness on negative externalities of social capital and reduce these effects on the sustainability of the smallholder irrigation to realise social capital benefits among irrigation farming communities in Zimbabwe.
Highlights
Irrigation farming is a powerful mechanism for achieving sustainable livelihoods and alleviating poverty through income generation, improvement in agriculture and providing opportunities for livelihoods diversification (Mhembwe, Chiunya, & Dube, 2019; Moyo, Van Rooyen, Moyo, Chivenge & Bjornlund, 2017; Tapela, 2008; Smith, 2007)
The article suggests that linking social capital is important in helping farmers to achieve the sustainability of the Rozva smallholder irrigation scheme, this form of social capital tends to create dependency syndrome, which is a threat to the improvement of rural livelihoods
The article argues that social capital has the potential to pose some threats to the sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes there is need to empower rural farmers to be more self- reliant than dependent on donors if food security and rural livelihoods can be enhanced through irrigation farming in Zimbabwe
Summary
Irrigation farming is a powerful mechanism for achieving sustainable livelihoods and alleviating poverty through income generation, improvement in agriculture and providing opportunities for livelihoods diversification (Mhembwe, Chiunya, & Dube, 2019; Moyo, Van Rooyen, Moyo, Chivenge & Bjornlund, 2017; Tapela, 2008; Smith, 2007). This article explores the different meanings of social capital from the network perspective (Claridge, 2004; Anheir and Kendall, 2002; Adler and Kwon, 2002), social structural perspective (Lin, 2008), minimalistic perspective (Ostrom and Ahn, 2001, Burt 1992) transitional perspective (Scoones, 1998; Bourdieu and Wacquant, 1992) and cognitive (Nahapiet and Goshal, 1988) perspective These perspectives shed more light on the different forms of social capital and their usefulness to the productivity and sustainability of small holder irrigation farming in rural communities. FAO (2012) differentiates between improving: (a) water-use efficiency, which aims at minimizing water losses by improving technical efficiency; and (b) water productivity and profitability, including increased yield through improvements in water, land and agronomic management practices, reduced evapotranspiration, growing higher-value crops or engaging in value-adding processes This dimension of sustainability relates to water adequacy and effective management of water resources to ensure continuity in the supply. Social capital in form of connections with NGOs and other organization can be detrimental to innovativeness and creativity in smallholder irrigation schemes
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