Irrigation Programme- Main menu

The climate in Mozambique is mainly semi-arid, with an average rainfall varying from 800 to 1,400 mm in the northern region and from 600 to 800 mm in the South. The regions that experience water shortages are located in the north of Manica Province , in the south of Tete Province and to the south of the Save River . Where rain-fed agriculture is practiced, the risk of harvest loss resulting from unfavorable climatic conditions exceeds 50% throughout the region south of Save River ; this figure can reach up to 75% in the interior of Gaza Province . Recurring droughts and flooding of the main rivers are characteristic of the country and impose a serious threat to social and economic development and to the overall environment in Mozambique.

The use of irrigation technologies is seen as an alternative or complement to rain-fed agriculture in the regions that experience severe or moderate water shortages. Such technologies can also provide a means of attaining major intensification and diversification in agricultural production. For many farmers who are in a process of transition from subsistence to commercial agriculture, the establishment or improvement of irrigation systems, together with the improvement of credit and market access, is seen as a primary need.

The country has a long tradition of irrigation dating back to the pre-Independence period. This experience is mainly concentrated in the sector of the large commercial enterprises in the south of the country. It is estimated that 3.3 million hectares of land are potentially suitable for the introduction of some form of irrigation.

From the early eighties to the present day, the total area developed for irrigation has declined sharply from 120,000 ha to a mere 40,000 ha. This 40,000 ha consists mainly of units of over 100 ha, with a substantial proportion being under only marginal operation and production. The prolonged and extensive civil war led to the destruction of several irrigation schemes and forced others to be abandoned. Maintenance operations and improvements to irrigation schemes have been further hampered by the lack of input and technical assistance in rural areas. In spite of this, the existing physical capacity represents a valuable asset for the economy of Mozambique and this should not be overlooked.

The principal areas suitable for irrigation are in the centre and north of the country; Zambezia province, for example, accounts for more than 60% of irrigation potential. While the southern provinces of Maputo , Gaza and Inhambane have the greatest need for irrigation, only 300,000 ha of land in these provinces appear to be irrigable.

All irrigation potential, almost without exception, is within the basins of international rivers. The lack of infrastructure to control the water flow of these rivers as they pass through Mozambique means that the supply of water within the country is largely at the mercy of the neighboring countries.

Current Support Interventions

• Rehabilitation of small scale irrigation schemes in Gaza , Inhambane Provinces

• Improvement of water scheme management In Manica, Tete, Inhambane and Gaza Provinces

• Improvement of water harvesting and management in framework of Special Programme for Food Security

Potential Support Interventions

Potential areas that may be considered for future assistance to enhance the efficiency and effectiveness of irrigation could include measures to:

• Consolidate the National Irrigation Policy and Strategy through broad stakeholder consultation/participation and support its implementation and to integrate the irrigation policy into the national water policy and master plan;

• Draw on the experience gained during the pilot-phase of the Special Programme for Food Security to extend the introduction of simple, small-scale irrigation techniques and to build national capacities for the production and maintenance of the related irrigation system;

• Draw on the experience gained during the pilot-phase of the Special Programme for Food Security to extend the rehabilitation of irrigation schemes, preferably with full participation from the private sector; and

• Rehabilitate small-scale irrigation schemes by drawing on the water and crop management capacities of local associations and communities.

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