Economic Viability of Alternative Small-Scale Irrigation Systems Used in Vegetables Production in Koulikoro and Mopti Regions, Mali

Abstract

Majority of the households in Mali depend on rain-fed agriculture for their food production. However, overreliance on rain-fed agriculture limits the production output due to unreliable rainfall and drought. To mitigate this, the government of Mali has invested in rehabilitation of irrigation schemes to reduce dependence on rainfall. Through adoption of appropriate irrigation technologies and improved agronomic management practices, increased agricultural productivity is envisaged. This study therefore determined the contribution of different irrigation systems to produce vegetables on household welfare in rural communities. The objective of the study was to investigate the changes in livelihoods of smallholder farmers using the irrigation systems in vegetable production. This research was carried out in three localities corresponding to two specific climatic regions favorable to vegetable crop production in Mali (Baguineda, Kati, Koulikoro Region and Mopti Region) in the year 2016. This study was guided by the production theory. The primary data was collected from 273 farmers selected proportionately from four wards (Fanafiecoura and Tieman in Koulikoro Region and Mopti and Dialango in Mopti Region) using face-to-face interviews. Secondary data was obtained through literature reviews. Descriptive statistics and benefit-cost analysis (BC ratio) is used for analysis. The Statistical Product and Service Solutions (SPSS) and Excel software are used to process and summarize the data. This study concludes that use of manual irrigation system is not economically viable in the production of potatoes, shallots, and tomatoes as confirmed from a low BCR of less than unity. The average BCR of California, Drip, Sprinkler, and Canal IP irrigation systems in the production of potatoes, shallots, and tomatoes are all greater than unity (>1) implying that they lead to greater benefits as compared to costs. The government and other agricultural development stakeholders should support smallholder farmers of Mali in adopting nonmanual irrigation methods of crop production, which can minimize the constraint of irrigation systems used in vegetable production for food security in Mali.