Land Tenure Security Issues in Smallholder Irrigation Schemes in Zimbabwe

Abstract

The main objective of the study was to examine land tenure practices and their implications on the sustainability of the smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe. The different phases of land reforms in Zimbabwe have not been focusing on community irrigation schemes and the evolution of land rights. The farmers’ ownership feelings were stronger for their dryland plots than they were on irrigation plots as the irrigation schemes were regarded as an off-farm employment while their dry-land plots were regarded as transgenerational family assets. Farmers had different perceptions about the security of tenure, inheritability, subletting and disposal of the irrigation plots. The differences in tenure practices and perception attested to the absence of land policy for community irrigation schemes. The existence of informal land markets in some schemes and their absence in others affirmed the Market for the Poor (M4P) assertion that where formal rules and their application are weak, the business environment is governed by the informal rules and the absence of both formalrules and informal institutions make the environment for markets dysfunctional. Some farmers felt theirrigation plots should remain state owned to allow smooth running of schemes and management of farmers’ group dynamics of the irrigation. Some, however, felt the irrigation plots should be privately owned in order to allow farmers to invest and to access financial and input markets.Â

Socio-demographic, institutional and governance factors influencing adaptive capacity of smallholder irrigators in Zimbabwe

“…Hence, aging farmers were land tenure insecure than young farmers. Several studies reported diverse perceptions on land tenure security among smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe [ 99 ]. According to Makanyisa, Chemhuru [ 100 ], land tenure security is affected by socio-economic, political and sphere in Zimbabwe.…”

Agricultural input supply challenges of smallholder irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe

“…The inaccessibility of credit facilities to acquire inputs for irrigation farmers echoes Sheahan and Barrett"s (2014) argument that the use of credit to purchase agricultural inputs in Sub-Saharan Africa is nearly non-existent. Mutambara, et al (2015b) observe that the land tenure insecurity and lack of title deeds in Zimbabwe"s smallholder irrigation schemes imply that the irrigation plots could not be used as collateral to borrow the much needed short and long term credit for investment in the irrigation schemes and to access hybrid seed, fertilizer and equipment. The centrality of the collateral requirement as a barrier to access loan is consistent with some research findings in Southeast Asia indicating low productivity level in smallholder irrigation schemes investment as symptoms whose initial cause is lack of access to relevant financial services.…”

Financial literacy competencies of women in agribusiness and their financial experiences during a pandemic

“…The majority (60.2%) of the surveyed women indicated that they did not have debts that they have failed to pay in time. However, this could be a result of higher levels of financial exclusion noted in the sector (Mutambara 2016). Women generally borrow from relatives and friends to make ends meet and payment terms offered by friends and relatives is usually flexible and accommodating as compared to terms and conditions offered by financial institutions.…”

“…Finally, the level of food insecurity in Zimbabwe amid pre-COVID-19 macroeconomic challenges and financial exclusion among agribusiness farmers is quite high. Mutambara (2016) documented high levels of financial exclusion among smallholder rural farmers in Zimbabwe. About 70% of the farmers surveyed had no bank accounts and this was a major barrier to loans access and other financial services.…”