Abstract:

Irrigation development in Zambia has trailed significantly behind that in other developing countries. Subsequently, economic development and food security are also trailing behind in the country. Since the late-1990’s there has been a revival in the willingness to invest in irrigation farming, and Zambia has the largest potential of any other SADC region countries to benefit from it. However, to gain from new investment in irrigated farming without repeating past failures, it is critical to develop a business prototype for small-scale irrigation schemes. This article investigates the impediments that such a model needs to address to be successful and the opportunities this represents for irrigators’ profitability.

Keywords: Small-scale irrigation, Zambia, increasing productivity and profitability

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