Growing From Below: Accumulation and Differentiation in Publicly Supported Irrigation Schemes in the Kilombero Valley, Tanzania

ABSTRACT What model of agricultural transformation can reach the policy goals of just transformation and increased productivity in the diverse African smallholder sector? A response to this question relies on studies that examine outcomes of local agricultural investments. A significant, yet under‐studied, example of these investments is small‐scale public investments in irrigation. To address this gap, we analyse social differentiation and accumulation patterns arising from donor‐supported public investments in irrigation in four villages in the Kilombero District, Tanzania. Participatory wealth ranking and interviews reveal that investments in small‐scale smallholder irrigation fuelled a process of accumulation from ‘below’. We discuss how these investments can be considered more inclusive than ‘from above’ accumulation (from extra‐local investments), while nonetheless contributing to some differentiation among smallholders. We conclude that public investments that align with smallholders' initiatives in irrigation development are more likely to contribute to policy goals of socially inclusive improved agricultural productivity.