Abstract:
Increasing food production by developing small-scale irrigation schemes is a requirement
for tackling household food insecurity. Strategies, such as the World Vision, Enhancing
Nutrition, Stepping Up Resilience and Enterprise, have been established to enhance food
availability in the drought-prone Burirano Ward 4, Chipinge, Zimbabwe, through the drip
irrigation intervention. This study analysed the extent to which the drip intervention has
increased food production, abilities, income and nutrition of households. Consequently, the
key factors impacting the performance of the drip irrigation scheme were assessed. The
study utilised a mixed-method convergent parallel design, drawing from semi-structured
questionnaires administered on a census of 40 household beneficiaries as well as a focus
group discussion of five key informants directly linked to the Chidzadza irrigation scheme,
Burirano Ward 4, Chipinge, Zimbabwe. The findings show that the drip irrigation scheme
significantly increased households’ food production abilities, nutrition and income. The
main factors responsible for the success of the drip irrigation scheme are cheap labour from
household members and agriculture extension support. Issues that prevent the success of
the scheme include erratic rain supplies and damaged water pipes. Strategies to increase
household food production through the drip irrigation scheme include maintenance of
water pipes, an increase in water catchment areas and water availability through solar-powered borehole systems.
