AN INVESTIGATION ON THE CHALLENGES FACING LEADERSHIP ON SMALL SCALE IRRIGATION:

Abstract

The continued low agricultural productivity of key crops and food insecurity continue to be key issues in Sub-Saharan Africa (SSA) and Tanzania In parti growing population, depleting resources and changing climate further amplify issues. irrigation has been strategized to reduce poverty, food security1 the livelihoods of communities in African countries and in particular household's livelihood strategies within small-scale irrigation have been The strategies consist of farm income from rain-fed and irrigated cropping as well livestock and increased dependence on off-farm income. The success of these planned strategies depends on the household's ability to make decisions about how to utilize its financial, labor, land and water resources. This study explored the roles of leaders, challenges facing small scale irrigation farmers and the way forward for leading small scale irrigation systems successful. The questionnaires were distributed to leaders of the agriculture sector in four strata (Agriculture extension office, AMCOS leaders, Agriculture engineers, irrigation committee) a total of 42 participants participated. A total of 118 farmers were interviewed from four irrigation canals in Usariver ward namely Ngollo, Ngarasero I, Ngarasero land Abisinia. The study found that, the role of leaders in leading small-scale farming for success includes building working teams, coaching followers, creating a conducive environment, managing conflicts, designing motivational mechanisms for followers, being role models for followers, empowering followers and sharing their vision to followers. Among the challenges identified for leaders in leading small-scale irrigation were Commitment of leaders, Market Chain, Pest Control Mechanism, Irrigation Extension Service, Planning, Technological transformation, harmful Religious Barrier and Traditions, Mobilization of Farmers and Professionally, Monitoring and Evaluation, Knowledge of Irrigation, and agro-input supply. The suggested remedial measures for leading successful small-scale irrigation are designing motivational mechanisms, allocating adequate resources, ensuring effective conflict resolution, strengthening the market chain, providing training on technology, strengthening monitoring and evaluation, increasing the number of professionals and strengthening the change army. The result of this study has shown that leaders play a great role in poverty reduction in multi-sector activities in the Usariver ward. But the study shows that the role of leadership in leading small-scale irrigation is low. Therefore, leaders in the study area need to play the role of transformational leadership effectively to manage small-scale irrigation.