TY - JOUR
T1 - Smallholder Drip Irrigation in Burkina Faso
T2 - The Role of Development Brokers
AU - Wanvoeke, Jonas
AU - Venot, Jean Philippe
AU - De Fraiture, Charlotte
AU - Zwarteveen, Margreet
PY - 2016
Y1 - 2016
N2 - Smallholder drip irrigation is widely held as a promising technology for water saving, poverty reduction and food security, despite a dearth of evidence of benefits to farmers, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this article, we document three development programmes promoting drip irrigation in Burkina Faso. Using actor network theory and insights from critical development studies, we show that development brokers play a key role in aligning interests, shaping activities and interpreting project outcomes. They are accountable towards each other rather than to farmers. This means that success is interpreted through development agencies lenses and with the intention of continuing involvement in future projects. Small farmers’ interests and uptake of the technology are of secondary importance.
AB - Smallholder drip irrigation is widely held as a promising technology for water saving, poverty reduction and food security, despite a dearth of evidence of benefits to farmers, especially in sub-Saharan Africa. In this article, we document three development programmes promoting drip irrigation in Burkina Faso. Using actor network theory and insights from critical development studies, we show that development brokers play a key role in aligning interests, shaping activities and interpreting project outcomes. They are accountable towards each other rather than to farmers. This means that success is interpreted through development agencies lenses and with the intention of continuing involvement in future projects. Small farmers’ interests and uptake of the technology are of secondary importance.
U2 - 10.1080/00220388.2015.1107048
DO - 10.1080/00220388.2015.1107048
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:84947998763
SN - 0022-0388
SP - 1019
EP - 1033
JO - Journal of Development Studies
JF - Journal of Development Studies
M1 - 7
ER -