Smallholder Farmer’s Willingness To Pay For Improved Irrigation Water Supply In Mashonaland Central Irrigation Schemes, Zimbabwe

Abstract

Irrigation agriculture is playing a major role in attaining food self-sufficiency and overall agricultural development in many developing countries and its development is key in promoting rural development. Due to limited capacity by governments support these schemes in most developing countries, it is important that farmers are willing to assist in recovering the cost of the management, maintenance, and operation of the irrigation system. This study therefore estimated the determinants of smallholder farmers’ willingness to pay for improved irrigation water using an Ordered Probit Model. It was done in Negomo and Chimhanda irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe. Primary data was collected from 120 randomly selected smallholder farm households through a structured questionnaire and focus group discussions. The study identified Household size, household income, farmer’s satisfaction with the current management practices and amount of the initial bid factors significantly influencing farmers’ WTP for improved irrigation water. The study recommended that management practices and scheme operations should be oriented. management team or committee in the irrigation scheme should come up payment plans to finance system upgrade and covering maintenance cost and need to develop water management policies like water optimum prices and promote water-efficient technologies.

Keywords: Willingness to pay, Contingent valuation method, Irrigation water

DOI: 10.7176/JESD/12-20-06

Publication date:October 31^st 2021