Enhancing Reliable Irrigation–Water Supply in Poverty‐Ridden and Drought‐Prone Areas: Pre‐2017 Baseline Evidence from the Tawona Irrigation Scheme, Zimbabwe

ABSTRACT This study investigates farmers' willingness to pay for a reliable irrigation water supply in Zimbabwe's Tawona irrigation scheme, where intermittent water supply caused by funding shortages threatens irrigation sustainability. Using contingent valuation and logit regression analysis, data were collected from 313 farmers during the 2016/2017 farming season. The results show that 96% of farmers were willing to pay for improved irrigation water services, with an average willingness to pay of US$8.61 per acre per month. Key factors influencing willingness to pay included age, household income, irrigation conflicts, farming experience, membership in irrigation committees, and perceptions of water accountability. However, the amount farmers were willing to pay was significantly below the actual irrigation fee of US$15 per acre per month, highlighting an affordability gap. The study recommends irrigation water subsidies and water pricing models that consider farmers' socio‐economic conditions and governance challenges. It also emphasizes strengthening irrigation management, improving market access, and promoting agricultural value‐addition projects to enhance the sustainability of small‐scale irrigation schemes in Zimbabwe's drought‐prone areas.