Groundwater Irrigation: A Potential Saviour for Zambia's Agricultural Sector? (II)‎

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 Last week I introduced GWI and the ways in which it could improve Zambia’s agricultural productivity and food security. This post will consider some of GWI’s issues and what this could mean for the future.
 

Logistical Considerations

Over the last two decades, the use of motor pumps for smallholder GWI in particular has increased considerably. Since the late 1980s, the retail price of 3-5 horsepower pumps (as seen in Figure 1) has declined to approximately US$200. This has made them more accessible for smallholders and encouraged a transition from less-effective treadle pumps. 


Figure 1 Diagram of a typical portable motor pump used for GWI in Zambia.

This has led Colenbrander and van Koppen (2013) to conclude that motor pumps would satisfy The Zambia Irrigation Policy & Strategy's aim of "alleviat[ing] poverty and food security" by upgrading existing and creating new public sector, (smallholder) farmer-managed irrigation schemes. With an estimated 400,000-600,00 hectares of land available for further irrigation development, motor pumps could indeed be the way for Zambia to achieve a green revolution similar to that of South Asia and address food security concerns. 

Whilst motor pumps offer great potential in the expansion of GWI, they do not come without their problems. 

The Future of GWI in Zambia

Moving forward, it is important that the aforementioned supply chain issues are resolved to ensure all smallholders are able to access and use motor pumps effectively and sustainably. The current isolation of rural smallholders means motor pumps are not used optimally and their full potential in improving food security is yet to be realised. 

So, how can this be resolved? 

As argued by Colenbrander and van Koppen (2013), the Zambia National Farmers Union (ZNFU) could use their collective power and status to negotiate a price with suppliers which is mutually beneficial for both supplier and farmer. An increase in the supply of spare parts would also reduce the need for long-distance travel by rural farmers. Moreover, the ZNFU could publish information on pump ranges available for irrigation in Zambia, their specifications and retail prices to address the urban-rural information gap. 

Increased state investment into motor pumps for GWI would also be beneficial. Despite the Zambian government having invested over $842 million in small-scale irrigation between 2003-2013, only 2% of this was spent on low-cost technologies for smallholders. Although not absolutely critical, subsidies could provide an extra incentive for smallholders to adopt GWI which, in turn, would improve their crop yields. 

Overall, GWI does have potential to reduce dependence on rainfed cropping in Zambia which, as we know, is susceptible to fluctuating yields and failure. However, it is important that the right steps are taken to ensure that rural smallholders are not left behind. At the end of the day, smallholders are responsible for the majority of agricultural output in Zambia and thus with the right tools and support, they are key to improving both food production and security nationwide. 

Comments

  1. Sara KhachatourianJanuary 9, 2022 at 5:36 PM

    Interesting to see how Zambia hasnt really invested much into small-hold farmers. Do you see this figure of 2% increasing any time soon? Also, are these groundwater reserves being used sustainably, or are they at risk of running out or suffering from contamination issues?

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. EmmaJanuary 10, 2022 at 1:24 AM

      Hi Sara! Thank you for your comment. I do think the propositions put forward by Colenbrander & van Koppen (2013) have potential to raise this 2% figure. I believe the ZNFU could use their collective power to lobby greater investment from the government, perhaps in the form of subsidies. Furthermore, the decentralisation of suppliers would help increase access to groundwater pumps for smallholders.

      In terms of groundwater contamination, I did come across some research when I wrote this post about contamination in Lusaka. The development of groundwater has thus far been largely unregulated which has increased concerns of water quality and sustainability. Inadequate water infrastructure in (peri-) urban areas leaves residents with no alternative but to create private water supplies (e.g. boreholes or shallow wells) and their own waste disposal (e.g. septic tank or pit latrine). Waste disposal facilities pose a risk to aquifers and when they are located near water supply, present a serious contamination risk. Furthermore, poor sanitation practice arising from a lack of facilities and state presence have been found to reduce groundwater quality.

      As Zambia continues to urbanise, and cities such as Lusaka grow, it is important that water supply and waste disposal facilities are sufficiently distanced to avoid contamination. This is especially important in areas without centralised sewage networks or public water supply.

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