This paper has demonstrated and argued that the future of irrigation in Eastern and Southern Africa is in smallholder production, marketing and export of high value commodities, particularly fresh fruit, vegetables and cut flowers. Policies have to shift from large to small-scale and designs have to emphasize small, owner-operated systems. With opportunities in tube-wells and shallow groundwater, smallholder irrigation will benefit tremendously from a greater abundance and choice of low-cost pumping devices.
TABLE 11 Economic properties of infrastructure and functions associated with food marketing
|
Facilities/function |
Public good properties |
Externality |
Economics Of scats/scope |
Moral hazard |
|
Overhead Infrastructure |
|
|
|
|
|
Roads |
X |
X |
|
|
|
Rail and Port Facilities |
|
X |
Large |
|
|
Marketplaces |
|
X |
Some |
|
|
Power and Water Services |
|
X |
Large |
|
|
Production Support Services |
|
|
|
|
|
Inputs Supply |
|
X |
Some |
X |
|
Production Finance |
|
|
|
X |
|
Technical Info Supply |
X |
X |
|
X |
|
Market Info Supply |
X |
|
|
X |
|
Post-Harvest Assessment/Transformation |
|
|
|
|
|
Crop/Production Intelligence |
|
|
Some |
|
|
Initial Grading/Selection |
|
X |
|
X |
|
Product Assembly |
|
|
|
|
|
Storage |
|
|
Some |
|
|
Quality Control |
|
X |
|
X |
|
Processing |
|
|
Varied |
|
|
Marketing and Distribution |
|
|
|
|
|
Local/International Transport |
|
|
Some/Large |
|
|
Wholesaling/Retailing |
|
|
some |
|
|
Market Research/Intelligence |
|
|
Some |
|
|
Product Promotion |
|
|
Some |
X |
|
Standardization |
|
|
Some |
|
|
Country/Industry Promotion |
X |
|
Some |
|
TABLE 12 Comparative indicators of infrastructure development and access
|
Country |
Rail and road mileage per 100 persons (1989/90) |
# of motorized vehicles per mile of paved road (1989/90) |
# of telephone main lines per 1000 persons (1891) |
Average no. of people served by one post office (1986-88) |
Percent of villages with electricity |
Int'l scheduled aircraft departures (000s) (1991) |
Intl freight loaded + unloaded (000 tons) (1989/90) |
|
Cameroon |
Na. |
Na. |
3.16 |
33 800 |
Na. |
3 |
13.7 |
|
Cote d'Ivoire |
Na. |
Na. |
5.35 |
8 600 |
Na. |
2 |
29.7 |
|
Kenya |
0.30 |
19.2 |
7.37 |
20 900 |
3 |
5 |
54.2 |
|
Nigeria |
0.73 |
23.7 |
2.65 |
28 400 |
Na. |
6 |
30.0 |
|
Senegal |
0.44 |
12.2 |
6.05 |
Na. |
4 |
2 |
Na. |
|
Tanzania |
0.15 |
14 2 |
2.80 |
30 300 |
Na |
3 |
5.6 |
|
Zimbabwe |
1.09 |
35/7 |
13.70 |
24 300 |
5 |
3 |
Na. |
|
Bangladesh |
0.07 |
47/5 |
1.83 |
13 200 |
12 |
6 |
Na. |
|
India |
0.68 |
49 0 |
6.14 |
4 700 |
61 |
16 |
282.5 |
|
Indonesia |
0.77 |
Na. |
5.22 |
9 900 |
Na. |
24 |
97.1 |
|
Pakistan |
0.73 |
42.5 |
7.76 |
8 100 |
62 |
16 |
120.7 |
|
Philippines |
1.65 |
51.8 |
10.87 |
Na. |
52 |
9 |
Na. |
|
Sri Lanka |
1.01 |
Na. |
7.13 |
4 300 |
Na. |
8 |
38.8 |
Na. Not available, Sources: Siemens (1992); Civil Aviation Statistics of the World (1991; International Road Transport Union (1990); UNDP Human Development Report (1993); Ahmend and Donovan (1992).
Six major implications have been isolated for donors, in particular, so that their support strengthens the prospects and viability of smallholder irrigation systems in the region. These are:
· Emphasize small-scale, smallholder owner-operated systems: Large donors move considerable sums of money and are often in a hurry to disburse. The tendency has therefore been to support the large and visible state supported systems. Donors need to focus on the smallholder systems (owner-operated or community owned). Such systems have greater impact on the poor, women, create more jobs and run at lower cost.· Community empowerment: Most institutions essential for effective running of smallholder irrigation systems center around the community. Donors should empower the irrigation communities rather than the bureaucrats. Even in those cases where smallholders are on state run systems, donors should support the communities directly in their efforts to rehabilitate or operate the system. Donors, ultimately, should assist smallholders acquire the irrigation system from the state and assist the community to manage the system.
· Reform and land tenure and property rights institutions: Most African governments are slow in reforming land tenure systems and property rights institutions relating to natural resources particularly water. Reforms that strengthen tenure security and allow greater say by irrigators over the land and water that they use should yield greater investment and more efficient utilization of water and irrigation systems. Donors may not be able to interfere in land tenure reforms but could support related research and respond to community based efforts to strengthen the legal and institutional instruments of tenure and property rights regimes.
· Research and testing of low-cost pumps: Since pumping at low volumes with an individual unit offers the greatest opportunity for independence and innovativeness by farmers, donors should support such protracted testing and enter into agreements with the private sector for mass production and distribution of successful prototypes.
· Promote local marketing and trade: The lack of product and market information is one major drawback of successful penetration of high value markets by smallholder irrigators. Government extension services often do not have this knowledge. Donors could assist in this area. In addition, farmers and marketing cooperatives should value training on marketing strategies.
· Micro-finance: Owing to poor rural financial markets, there is need for donors to encourage the intensification of smallholder irrigation through support to micro-credit schemes Such schemes must be community based and must encompass both saving and borrowing By supporting the production, marketing and processing of high value commodities, micro-finance schemes could be the decisive factor for sustained adoption and sustainable use of low-cost irrigation equipment in East and Southern Africa.
TABLE 13 Expansion of sub-Saharan Africa's exports of horticultural products (US$ million; F.O.B. value)
|
Product category |
1976 |
1980 |
1989 |
|
Fresh Fruit + Nuts |
307.5 |
659.1 |
1 025.0 |
|
Processed Fruit |
207.7 |
277.4 |
284.0 |
|
Fresh Vegetables |
97.3 |
122.8 |
117.1 |
|
Preserved Vegetables |
11.2 |
14.9 |
18.1 |
|
Cut Flowers |
12.6 |
18.0 |
67.6 |
|
Totals |
636.3 |
1 092.2 |
1 511.8 |
Source: Data from United Nations, Yearbook of International Trade Statistics, various years.
TABLE 14 Sub-Saharan Africa's world market share of horticultural product exports
|
Product category |
1973 |
1989 |
|
Fresh Fruit + Nuts |
5.4 |
6.2 |
|
Processed Fruit |
12.6 |
4.2 |
|
Fresh Vegetables |
3.1 |
0.9 |
|
Preserved Vegetables |
0.6 |
0.5 |
|
Cut Flowers |
1.0 |
3.0 |
|
Totals |
4.3 |
3.6 |
Source: Based on data from United Nations, Yearbook of International Trade Statistics.
