ABSTRACT This article explores the factors causing the current poor performance of most government irrigation schemes in sub-Saharan Africa. The literature review finds that the poor performance is not primarily caused by socioeconomic and biophysical conditions inherent to sub-Saharan Africa. African farmers have adapted to diverse biophysical conditions and expanded or contracted their area under agricultural water management in response to market signals. Rather, this poor performance is predominantly linked to the production systems introduced during colonialism and developments since independence, such as agricultural policies restraining rural economic development, unsuitable irrigation technologies and agricultural practices, and international lending practices and trade arrangements.

中文翻译：

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探索导致撒哈拉以南非洲独立后大多数灌溉计划表现不佳的因素

摘要 本文探讨了导致撒哈拉以南非洲大多数政府灌溉计划目前表现不佳的因素。文献综述发现，表现不佳的主要原因并不是撒哈拉以南非洲固有的社会经济和生物物理条件。非洲农民适应了不同的生物物理条件，并根据市场信号扩大或缩小了农业用水管理区域。相反，这种糟糕的表现主要与殖民主义和独立以来的发展过程中引入的生产系统有关，例如限制农村经济发展的农业政策、不合适的灌溉技术和农业实践，以及国际借贷实践和贸易安排。