There has been an increased interest on small-scale pumped irrigation (SSPI)in Sub Saharan Africa (SSA), however little is known on the adoption processesbehind this technology. Moreover, the conditions for successful SSPI adoptionremain largely unexplored. This research aims to achieve a deeperunderstanding of the present adoption processes to inform future policy. Thethesis was framed around the diffusion of innovations model (Rogers 2003),using the systematic review methodology and field surveys. Interviews involving212 farmers and 25 other stakeholders were conducted between 2013 and2014 within 3 districts in Malawi. The responses were analysed usingdescriptive statistics and content analysis.The systematic review revealed that evidence relating to pump performance inSSA was limited, lacked standards and confined within particular regions. Thefield surveys identified that four different pumped systems have been adoptedby farmers in Malawi; group treadle, individual treadle, group motorized andindividual motorized. Farmers generally prefer individually managed pumps thatare easy to operate and fit in with their existing farming practices. Adoption isdriven either by the attributes of self-motivated farmers or by incentives such asfree or subsidized pumps. While adoption by self-motivated farmers isconsistent with Rogers (2003) model, adoption due to incentives showsdifferences.The research proposes a modification to the Rogers (2003) model and revised definition of success in SSPI adoption, leading to a new frameworkshowing pathways of success. This framework identifies the routes taken byfarmers who successfully adopt or discontinue using pumps. Incentive farmersare typically the poorer; these need continued external support to survive thelearning curve. For self-motivated farmers, their higher socio-economic statussupports successful adoption. To ensure sustainability, SSPI promoters need tooffer continued support to incentive farmers and/or reduce barriers to accessingthe pumps for self-motivated farmers.
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