Abstract:
Smallholder irrigation schemes in Morogoro, Tanzania, underpin rice-based farming systems, which are further sup
ported by maize, cassava, and small-scale trade. These households face recurrent flooding, waterlogging, and persist
ent pest infestations, which threaten crop yields and income stability. Using surveys (n=192) and key informant in
terviews, the study examines how cooperative irrigation schemes foster climate resilience through governance, shared
infrastructure, and training. Results show high exposure to hydrological hazards, moderate livelihood diversification
alongside rice cultivation, and higher adoption of climate-smart practices among members who received cooperative
training and access to pooled inputs. The study identifies three cooperative mechanisms, resource pooling (including
shared inputs), learning systems (including training sessions), and financial intermediation (such as access to credit),
that reduce adaptation costs and increase the uptake of drought- and flood-tolerant practices. The study argues that
cooperative governance links individual, farm-level adaptations to create a cohesive, system-level resilience within the
irrigation command area.
