Gender perspective in effective utilization of water from Rufiji river for small scale irrigation
Loading...
Date
2007
Authors
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sokoine University of Agriculture
Abstract
The study focused on factors constraining women from effective utilization of water
from Rufiji River for improving small-scale irrigation farming. Specifically the study
aimed at: (a) determining the types of irrigated crops (b) examining the women’s
affordability of irrigation infrastructure, (c) assessing women’s knowledge and
perception on irrigation farming, (d) identifying constraints to women’s effective
utilization of water for small scale farming. The study was undertaken in Rufiji
District in three wards; primary data were collected from 120 women and men
farmers, using a structured questionnaire. Secondary data were also collected.
Analyses were performed using SPSS and Limped computer software. Hypothesis
testing was undertaken at 5 percent level of significance using Chi-square. The study
found that major types of irrigated crops in Rufiji District were tomato, paddy, and
green vegetables. 89.7% of women cannot afford to purchase irrigation
infrastructures. Also 61.64% of women farmers had weak attitude and behavior
towards irrigation. The following constrained women from utilizing water from the
river for small-scale irrigation: Low income, limited availability of resources, lack of
irrigation training and heavy household chores. Results indicated significant
relationship between the sizes of land irrigated and the attitudes of women on
irrigation. Household income has a significant effect on irrigation farming. The
Logistic regression model showed that, the following factors had positive influence
on women’s adoption of irrigation technology: size of land suitable for irrigation,
primary occupation, irrigation training, income, education and farm’s location. The
study recommends the following: provision of irrigation’s start up capital, improving
women access to resources and increase in irrigation training.
Description
Thesis
Keywords
Gender perspective, Rufiji river, Irrigation, Utilization