Swaziland National Irrigation Policy.

The Swaziland National Irrigation Policy is a national Policy with a sectoral approach. The main objectives of the Policy are to ensure that the irrigated agriculture sub-sector in Swaziland contributes fully to economic growth and poverty reduction; to optimize the productivity of water in the country’s agricultural sector; to establish an irrigation sector institutional landscape characterized by transparent regulation and strong, participatory, responsive and accountable institutions in the country; enhance the structure of the irrigated subsector by promoting new public and private investment opportunities for emerging farmers.
The policy will address food security by developing a sustainable and competitive agricultural system.
The Policy will develop the irrigated agriculture by: ensuring the beneficial use of water, including optimizing use of stored water; implementing environmentally responsible in irrigation and drainage practices and by ensuring functional inter-sector management of water across river basins. The Policy also sets forth that the water productivity in agriculture will be increased by rehabilitating degraded catchment areas; protecting water bodies and dam sites from activities that have an adverse effect; enforcing the stipulated distance of cultivated lands from the watercourses. As some irrigation practices degrade the soil through erosion soil conservation measures in irrigated areas will be enforced and soil erosion mitigation measures will be adapted in areas with a risk of land degradation. The policy will further ensure that the irrigated areas be properly drained in order to avoid risks of salinization. The wetlands with irrigation potential will be identified and will be used as sources of irrigation water only when compatible with existing and future environmental rules and regulations to ensure sustainability. The depletion of environmental flows will be avoided by recognizing environmental flow requirements as the priority use of water in a catchment. Alien species will be removed from watersheds to avoid reduction of water resources available for irrigation. The water quality in storage and at effluent discharge points will be monitored regularly. Water-harvesting structures will be developed and water harvesting techniques and technologies will be adopted and practiced to the fullest. Water allocation will be based on economic, equitable and efficient utilization and will be monitored regularly. Water saving technologies will be adapted and promoted for the more efficient use of water and to expand irrigation areas.
The Policy will ensure that women will have equal access to irrigation facilities and services including credit services and will participate fully in the leadership of irrigation water user associations and districts. Tailor training initiatives will take into account the specific needs of women. Conducive environment will be created for women to be fully involved in irrigation development. Furthermore participation in irrigation development of the youth and other vulnerable groups will be increased by encouraging and helping their access to irrigation facilities and services, including appropriate credit services.
The engagement of private and public sector agencies will be promoted and the respective roles of the public and private sector in relation to operational and regulatory function will be elaborated particularly with respect to agricultural water management. The participation of different stakeholders will be ensured. For example farmers participation will be encouraged in all stages of stages of irrigation projects cycle which include; identification, planning, implementation, financing, operation, maintenance, monitoring and evaluation. Furthermore action will be taken to ensure that organizations and institutions servicing the irrigation sub-sector have appropriate capacity. A clear division of tasks regarding the implementation of policies and plans between public agencies will be done and cooperation between these agencies will be ensured. Mechanisms will be put in place for improvement of marketing and processing institutions to respond to the output of irrigated agriculture. Appropriate research programs and studies regarding the development of irrigation will be adapted. Monitoring systems and evaluation mechanisms regarding all stages and practices of irrigation will be developed. Adequate infrastructure for irrigation water will be introduced such as construction of dams and implementation better water conveyance and distribution to reach the stage where there is easy access to irrigation water. Credit services for irrigation development will be promoted. Tariffs and fees for water permits will be regulated. Mechanisms that will improve marketing and processing institutions, infrastructure and services to respond to the output of irrigated agriculture will be established.
The policy guidance for irrigation development in the country shall remain the mandate of the Ministry of Agriculture and Cooperatives. This responsibility will be coordinated and implemented by the proposed Department of Land Use Planning and Development (DLPD).