Peace, Leadership, and Conflict Transformation Publications

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Browsing Peace, Leadership, and Conflict Transformation Publications by Author "Moyo, Funa"

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    Attaining Sustainable Smallholder Irrigation-farming and Rural-livelihoods through Social-capital: Post FastLand-Reform (FTLR) Perspectives from Rozva Irrigation Scheme, Bikita, Zimbabwe
    (2023-12) Moyo, Funa; Ncube, Mthuthukisi; Mamhute, Sincere Tinovonga
    This article examines social-capital’s contribution towards improving smallholder irrigation-farming, which is one of the primary means of subsistence in rural areas due to climate change under the Zimbabwe National Development Strategy (NDS) 1 policy’s human capital development cluster. This descriptive case-study used semi-structured questionnaires, focus groups, key informant interview data from 100 irrigation farmers. It concludes that social-capital is essential for sustainability through trust and solidarity, social norms and connections, communication and information sharing, collective action, rules and regulations, effective sanctions, and partnerships with institutions. It underscored that social-capital increases effective water management, informal financial insurance, social cohesion, farm profitability, effective governance and rehabilitation, and irrigation infrastructure. The results of this study are useful to communal and irrigation farmers, traditional and government leadership. The article recommends deliberate configuration of social-capital for smallholder irrigation programs to contribute significantly to food security and sustainable livelihoods.
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    The Competing Nature-Based Livelihood-Strategies: Artisanal Small-Scale Mining (ASM) Perspectives in Agricultural-Communities in Umzingwane District, Zimbabwe
    (Adonis & Abbey, 2022-12-01) Moyo, Funa; Ncube, Mthuthukisi; Ndlovu, Thabo
    Traditionally, southern Matabeleland is a cattle-producing region of Zimbabwe, punctuated by crop farming as key livelihood strategies. With the increasingly rampaging climate change effects on rain-fed agriculture, dwindling grazing pastures and competing ecosystem-based livelihoods, agricultural communities have diversified into artisanal small-scale gold mining (ASM) in the same region. This practice has brought conflicting livelihood strategies together in what scholars describe as the tragedy of ecosystem services. Artisanal mining, rain- fed agriculture, as well as irrigation-based farming are ecosystem-based rural livelihoods for coping with vulnerability of rural communities in drought prone areas. Scantily regulated, ASM often negatively affects other land-use activities, to the detriment of sustainable livelihoods and food security. The article explored the convergence of communal farming and ASM, and analysed the perspectives of ASM among agricultural communities in Umzingwane district of southern Matabeleland. A qualitative approach and case study design was used alongside purposive sampling technique to select the study area and the study participants. Data collection instrument triangulation strengthened the quality of data and validity of findings. The study concludes ASM and small- scale irrigation and communal farming are paradoxical, pulling together and apart. On one hand, proceeds from artisanal-gold-mining pay for labour in rain- fed communal and irrigation farming while surprisingly artisanal gold miners provide a major market for irrigation produce. However, ASM is notorious for competing and degrading farming ecosystems in pursuit of sustainable livelihoods. This manifests through encroaching ASM activities that elbow irrigation and communal farmers from fertile lands, threatening livelihoods and food security in Umzingwane district. Results show there exists embedded complementarity among irrigation, rain-fed and ASM despite conflicting regulatory frameworks. The article recommends the harmonisation of policies to build on this relationship while abating the negative competitive aspects between the livelihood strategies to strengthen the synergies for the sustainability of the two.
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    Unpacking Negative Externalities of Social Capital in the Sustainability of Smallholder Rural Irrigation Farming: The Case of Rozva Irrigation Scheme in Bikita District, Zimbabwe
    (International Journal of Social Science And Human Research, 2021-12-12) Ncube, Mthuthukisi; Moyo, Funa; Mamhute, Sincere Tinovonga
    The article examines the negative externalities of social capital in the sustainability of smallholder irrigation farming. Smallholder irrigation farming has become one of the main sources of rural livelihood in Zimbabwe given the deficiencies in rainfall triggered by climate change among other factors. The establishment of smallholder irrigation schemes, refurbishment of irrigation infrastructure, introduction of new technology and the subsidization of farm inputs are several initiatives taken by the government of Zimbabwe, Non-Governmental organisations and the private sector to improving agricultural productivity among smallholder irrigation schemes. Despite these efforts, smallholder irrigation farming has remained unsustainable. Resultantly, most rural communities in Zimbabwe continue to face hunger and poverty, two overarching sustainable development goals (SDGs 1 & 2) one and two. This study examined the negative externalities of social capital on efforts to improve productivity and sustainability of Rozva smallholder irrigation scheme. The article argues that linking social capital, which includes partnerships between Rozva irrigation farmers and donor agencies, has created dependency syndrome that is inimical to the sustainability of the irrigation scheme. The article concludes some social connections detrimental to the sustainability of the scheme tend to create divisions among farmers. The article argues there is need for awareness on negative externalities of social capital and reduce these effects on the sustainability of the smallholder irrigation to realise social capital benefits among irrigation farming communities in Zimbabwe.