Approach
A large smallholder irrigation scheme of this type can be successful in Swaziland because it will be managed with full involvement of the farmers. The Government will restrict its participation to improving the legal and financial
framework and to performing a supervisory role.
The specific type of organisation for LUSIP will be determined by two considerations, the need for farmer ownership combined with professional management and technical expertise. In the development of the project equal attention
will be paid to agricultural development as is given to the construction works.
Participatory planning
During the implementation of this large smallholder irrigation scheme, farmers' participation in community development as well as participation in water user groups and in the project management will be crucial to success. The proposal for the
implementation phase is based on close collaboration between the project implementing team and the beneficiaries. The set-up of the irrigation system will take into account farmers' needs, their opinions and their experience as well as the
regulations of the traditional land tenure system, combined with tailor-made training programmes. A process of community participation will be developed for
- the layout of the secondary canal system and the on farm irrigation system,
- the construction of infrastructure such as roads and bridges,
- the resettlement of the homesteads concerned including facilities such as livestock dip tanks and graveyards,
- environment and health related issues.
Organize farmers
In order to benefit from economies of scale effects, smallholders will be encouraged to organize themselves into associations which will be responsible for operating and maintaining the farm irrigation system and collecting
farmers' water fees.
In the management of the overall irrigation scheme, representatives from associations will constitute the board, which appoints and supervises the Implementation Unit or company in charge of operation and maintenance. Smallholder farmers will
be supported by extension services from the Government and the private sector, in particular the sugar mill and the cotton ginnery.
It is already a common practice among Swazi smallholders to organize themselves in associations. Hence, interventions by the project will not lead to any major change as far as the institutional set-up is concerned. Although the beneficiaries
are smallholders, they are operating in a commercial, private sector environment, subject to the same market forces as the larger estates, efficiently organizing extension services, input supply, processing and marketing.
Farmers empowerment
In summary, following a "farmers’ empowerment approach" as proposed is not an entirely new concept. Rather, it encourages and facilitates the smallholder farmers' trend towards setting up associations. Farmers will become
stakeholders of the irrigation scheme, an important factor in ensuring a long-term sustainable operation. The approach of the project will be to limit the government's direct involvement and, therefore, minimize the dependency on both public
services and budget. |
