The experience of irrigation management transfer in two irrigation schemes in Malawi, 1960s 2002

This study examines the process of irrigation management transfer (IMT) in Malawi using the case studies of Likangala and Domasi irrigation schemes in the lake Chilwa basin. It observes that the concept of irrigation management transfer has been adopted against the background of poor performance of irrigation schemes in Malawi and the desire of the state to conform to global trends and approaches in the management of irrigation schemes. In the context of Malawi, the process of IMT involves rehabilitation of schemes and training of farmers before handing them over. The paper notes that so far the handover process has been fraught with many challenges, not least of which includes lack of adequate funds, delays, lack of public awareness and farmers’ conflicting perceptions on the handover of irrigation schemes. These problems militate against the success of IMT in the Domasi and Likangala irrigation schemes in particular and other schemes in the country as a whole.