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Book chapter Book chapter Leiden University catalogue Leiden University catalogue WorldCat catalogue WorldCat
Title:Irrigation in Botswana: water conserving techniques or optimal strategies?
Author:Mazonde, I.N.ISNI
Book title:Issues in African rural development 2
Year:1994
Pages:19-31
Language:English
Geographic term:Botswana
Subject:irrigation
Abstract:Botswana is a dry country. Most of its soils are unsuitable for arable agriculture. Government efforts to increase the productivity of arable production might be enhanced if irrigation expanded greatly. But there has been no serious interest in promoting irrigation technology. This study examines irrigation activities in Botswana, using the Tuli Block as a case study. It identifies the different irrigation techniques used by commercial farmers and investigates the reasons for farmers' choices of irrigation technique. Data were collected in 1992. The results show that, in the Tuli Block, farmers use flood (canal) irrigation, sprinklers, microjets, drip irrigation, and centre-pivot irrigation. Most local farmers use flood irrigation, while the other techniques are popular with settlers. The reason local farmers use flood irrigation is that it is cheap to install and maintain and simple to operate. However, this technique wastes too much water and may, in the long run, be more costly than its users perceive. Settlers prefer microjets and drip irrigation because of their reliability. To encourage wider use of techniques that conserve water and soil, it is recommended that the State subsidize them. Bibliogr., sum. in English (p. 19) and French (p. 200-201).
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