Abstract
Malawi's agricultural sector is the main contributor to the national economy. Its activities are, however dependent on rainfed farming and it suffers from the consequences of poor policy implementation and management, as well. Irrigation has, for a long time, been viewed as a major component in agriculture but its implementation has been facing challenges and problems ever since the initiative was formally introduced. The status of irrigation farming in Malawi was studied based on four major national schemes selected based on their size, age and management, and implementation style. Ten study elements crucial in assessing performance of irrigation farming were identified and each studied in relation to the schemes. Each study site was examined within the context of these study elements to understand the core issues under study. The analyses showed that despite the abundance of water in the country, irrigation is still very dismally implemented making agricultural production low, causing serious household food insecurity and distorting the national economy. Some achievements have been made to stir the irrigation sector into a viable contributor to the agricultural sector; but it is still far from being a vibrant factor for a reliable production.
