Works [Overseas] Africa (East and South Africa)
Expansion of Community-Based Smallholder Irrigation Development（E-COBSI）, Republic of Zambia |
  |
2019 - 2023
Agricultural production and productivity are challenges in Zambia, with only about 16% of the arable land being used effectively, and only about 5% of the irrigable farmland actually being irrigated. In order to increase production and improve productivity, irrigated farmland must be promoted along with the expansion of farmland. The government has been implementing projects to expand irrigated acreage, but the expansion has been slow due to constraint of budget, inadequate maintenance of irrigation facilities, and insufficient capacity of agricultural extension workers. JICA implemented the Technology Transfer Project for Smallholder Irrigation (T-COBSI, 2014-2017) through the installation of simple weirs using local resources, and the effectiveness and efficiency of the project was highly appreciated by the Government of Zambia. Based on the results from E-COBSI, this project, called E-COBSI, was implemented by expanding the project area to 45 counties in 6 provinces, and in addition to small-scale irrigation development, market-oriented agriculture and nutrition improvement activity were also introduced. As a result, 500 ha of new irrigated farmland was developed, and farm income of the project farmers increased by approximately 70% compared to the previous level. The introduction of irrigated agriculture and the increase in farm income also had a positive impact on the nutritional status of family members. |
