The influence of Ndanda traditional irrigation scheme on crop productivity in Masasi district

Small scale irrigation has immense potential to improve agricultural productivity and incomes of poor rural households. A survey of 150 randomly-selected household heads using semi-structured interviews was undertaken to assess the influence of irrigation on crop productivity. The specific objectives of the study were to; examine and compare the socio-economic factors that influence crop yield and income of irrigating and non-irrigating households; determine and compare area cultivated, crop yield and household income of irrigating and non-irrigating households; estimate the benefits of irrigation water on agricultural crops in Ndanda traditional scheme and identify constraints affecting farmers in the study area. The results show that irrigating households were better off compared to non irrigating households in many aspects related to crop yield, income and had higher benefits. The regression results show that irrigation is an important determinant for crop yield and household income. The Heckman’s two-stage estimation was used to estimate determinants of Ndanda traditional small scale irrigation participation and household income and it was revealed that age, sex, and education level, size of cultivated land, agricultural inputs; access to extension services and access to credit were important determinants for participating in small scale irrigation schemes. The analysis further revealed that irrigation participation, age and size of cultivated land are positively and significantly associated with household income at p< 0.05. The average annual net benefit from irrigation was Tshs 245 480 901. The constraints affecting crop yield identified by farmers include: poor infrastructure system, higher cost of production, inadequate improved varieties, inadequate farm machinery, inadequate marketing system and crop pests and diseases.