Irrigation livelihoods heterogeneity and water resource management : a study of Bua watershed in Nkhotakota, central Malawi

Abstract

Water resource depletion is increasingly threatening irrigation development in Malawi and elsewhere. Recognising that, Malawi’s water and irrigation policies have embraced integrated water resource management (IWRM) principles with emphasis on irrigation development and stakeholder participation. This has seen the birth of farmer managed irrigation systems (FMIS) most of which have been mismanaged, resulting into underperformance. This study addresses irrigation and water management from a livelihoods perspective through assessing diverse livelihood activities and determining the economic importance of irrigation in relation to other activities. It also discusses the institutional framework for irrigation and water management. The study uses empirical data from the field research that was conducted among Bua watershed irrigators in Nkhotakota. The results indicate that ‘irrigation livelihoods’ are heterogeneous in that some are more irrigation based than others. This is reflected in varying benefits accrued from irrigation and how that determines household’s dependence on other activities. Dichotomising the livelihood activities between water-dependency and non-water dependency provides a framework for analysing inter- and intra-household competing water uses. The analysis shows that irrigation, like most water-dependent livelihood activities, is less profitable to non-water dependent households contributing only 24 % to their livelihoods but more profitable to water-dependent households with 62 % contribution. In addition, water-dependent households have more diversified income sources and less income than nonwater dependent households who are better off in terms of income by 29 %. The study reveals that as households make decisions around resource (assets and capabilities) allocation, rationally, more resources are allocated to more profiting activities such as trading. Further, it shows that irrigation plays a role in reducing income inequalities among water-dependent households but it has no significant effect among non-water dependent households. The study argues against the view that irrigation households have irrigation-based livelihoods as reflected in most literature and policy strategies. It shows that this view overshadows the water-dependency dichotomy of livelihood activities, which has implications for water management. The study concludes that integrated water resource management starts at household level as households efficiently allocate water to diverse uses. Therefore, placing irrigation and water management within the livelihood framework will not only promote the integrated approach but also ensure formulation of effective and result-oriented policies.