ザンビア北部州における小規模灌漑技術の普及と農家の市場志向性

抄録

The Project on Community Based Smallholder Irrigation (COBSI), initiated by JICA, was implemented in Northern Zambia from 2009 to 2011. The project was unique because locally available material such as wooden poles, stone, clay and peat were used to construct simple weirs, using a simple method. By the end of COBSI, using the COBSI method, 568 sites had been developed or rehabilitated. This study aims to identify sustainable technology for small scale irrigation projects. It analyzes the successful application of irrigation technology by farmers, and how new technology has been adopted in targeted areas.

In Chabukila village (one of the targeted villages), most inhabitants are from the Bemba people who practice “slash and burn” cultivation, known as Chitemene. However, in 2016, when the author conducted a survey, it was discovered that 87% of its households now practice irrigated agriculture. It was also confirmed that using irrigated agriculture allowed farmers to cultivate vegetables throughout the year, thereby securing food during the dry season. As a result of which, unlike Chitemene or any other rain fed agricultural system, the farmers were able to generate income throughout the year. With the profits made from irrigated agriculture, farmers have been able to venture into other businesses. They were also able to purchase chemical fertilizer necessary for the production of rain fed maize. Irrigated agriculture technology, therefore, has been adopted as one of their farming methods in Chabukila village.