527
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_30
Smallholder Farming in Mara and Iringa
Regions, Tanzania: Current Practices,
Constraints and Opportunities
J. J. Kashaigili
Abstract Access to irrigation water is vital for increased productivity of smallholder farmers, especially in arid and semi-arid areas where rainfall is erratic.
The majority of the people depend on groundwater from shallow wells for household water supply and farming, using simple technologies of water lifting such
as buckets and handpumps. The water lifting technologies and household financial capability are said to have influence on water access and consequently the
smallholder farming, the extent of which has not been well documented. This
chapter presents research findings from a case study in Tanzania where primary
data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire which was administered to 135 respondents in Mara and Iringa regions, and key informant interviews were conducted using a checklist. Secondary data from various sources
were used to supplement the primary data. The collected data were quantitatively
analysed using a computer program to generate descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The financial returns analysis
was conducted by considering the total number of families under each water
control, the total area cultivated, the total investment and costs of inputs. Findings
indicate that cultivated area varied considerably with the technologies used to lift
water and the household financial capability. Manual pumps comprising treadle
pumps, concrete pedal pumps (PePs) and buckets were found to be used by many
people. Few people (16.29%) were found using motor pumps, and this could be
attributed to the high capital investment. The crops grown were found differing
across water control and were largely determined by the type of water sources
and means of water access. The manual pump irrigator under both surface and
groundwater and the motor pump irrigation using surface water were found to be
comparatively profitable. The profitability is attributed to the ease of access to
irrigation water at all times. Constraints pertaining to farmers’ reliance on rainfed farming pose production risks following unreliability and uncertainties of
water supply. Other constraints include: land availability and tenure, inadequate
working capital, poor market and marketing of produce. Despite the constraints,
J. J. Kashaigili (*)
Department of Forest Resources Assessment and Management, Sokoine University of
Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania
© Springer Nature Switzerland AG 2020
B. R. Singh et al. (eds.), Climate Impacts on Agricultural and Natural Resource
Sustainability in Africa, https://doi.org/10.1007/978-3-030-37537-9_30
Smallholder Farming in Mara and Iringa
Regions, Tanzania: Current Practices,
Constraints and Opportunities
J. J. Kashaigili
Abstract Access to irrigation water is vital for increased productivity of smallholder farmers, especially in arid and semi-arid areas where rainfall is erratic.
The majority of the people depend on groundwater from shallow wells for household water supply and farming, using simple technologies of water lifting such
as buckets and handpumps. The water lifting technologies and household financial capability are said to have influence on water access and consequently the
smallholder farming, the extent of which has not been well documented. This
chapter presents research findings from a case study in Tanzania where primary
data were collected using a semi-structured questionnaire which was administered to 135 respondents in Mara and Iringa regions, and key informant interviews were conducted using a checklist. Secondary data from various sources
were used to supplement the primary data. The collected data were quantitatively
analysed using a computer program to generate descriptive statistics, and qualitative data were analysed using content analysis. The financial returns analysis
was conducted by considering the total number of families under each water
control, the total area cultivated, the total investment and costs of inputs. Findings
indicate that cultivated area varied considerably with the technologies used to lift
water and the household financial capability. Manual pumps comprising treadle
pumps, concrete pedal pumps (PePs) and buckets were found to be used by many
people. Few people (16.29%) were found using motor pumps, and this could be
attributed to the high capital investment. The crops grown were found differing
across water control and were largely determined by the type of water sources
and means of water access. The manual pump irrigator under both surface and
groundwater and the motor pump irrigation using surface water were found to be
comparatively profitable. The profitability is attributed to the ease of access to
irrigation water at all times. Constraints pertaining to farmers’ reliance on rainfed farming pose production risks following unreliability and uncertainties of
water supply. Other constraints include: land availability and tenure, inadequate
working capital, poor market and marketing of produce. Despite the constraints,
J. J. Kashaigili (*)
Department of Forest Resources Assessment and Management, Sokoine University of
Agriculture, Morogoro, Tanzania