Mdee, A orcid.org/0000-0002-8260-1840 and Harrison, E (2019) Critical governance problems for farmer-led irrigation: Isomorphic mimicry and capability traps. Water Alternatives, 12 (1). pp. 30-45. ISSN 1965-0175
Abstract
Irrigated agricultural production is viewed as key to the twin challenges of transforming agriculture and adapting to climate change in sub-Saharan Africa. Farmer-led irrigation is currently not well recognised or accounted for, and the current focus on state or public-private irrigation schemes means this activity is largely occurring outside of formal governance mechanisms or is deemed illegal. How do current institutional and regulatory frameworks relate to the apparent boom in farmer-led irrigation, and how do these shape current patterns of response, support, and regulation? To answer this question, we build a conceptual understanding of water governance which draws on critiques of current institutional frameworks for water and irrigation management, specifically using the conceptual ideas of isomorphic mimicry and capability traps, and elements of a problem-driven iterative adaptation (PDIA) approach. We then use three case studies from Tanzania and Malawi to illuminate three critical problems that state institutions encounter in approaching the recognition and regulation of farmer-led irrigation. In our conclusion we argue that current irrigation governance is creating capability traps for existing institutions. Where incremental and context-driven adaptation of governance is practised this can be avoided, creating better chances of effective support and regulation of farmer-led irrigation development.
Metadata
Item Type: | Article |
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Authors/Creators: |
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Copyright, Publisher and Additional Information: | This article is distributed under the terms of the creative commons attribution license which permits to copy, adapt and redistribute the material in any medium or format, provided the original author(s) and source are credited. See https://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/3.0/deed.en |
Keywords: | Farmer-led irrigation development; innovation; governance; Tanzania; Malawi |
Dates: |
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Institution: | The University of Leeds |
Academic Units: | The University of Leeds > Faculty of Education, Social Sciences and Law (Leeds) > School of Politics & International Studies (POLIS) (Leeds) |
Depositing User: | Symplectic Publications |
Date Deposited: | 27 Jun 2019 10:49 |
Last Modified: | 27 Jun 2019 10:49 |
Published Version: | http://www.water-alternatives.org/index.php/alldoc... |
Status: | Published |
Publisher: | Water Alternatives Association |
Open Archives Initiative ID (OAI ID): | oai:eprints.whiterose.ac.uk:147888 |