The implications of rural agriculture on water resource management, a case of the Lunsemfwa river catchment.
| dc.contributor.author | Kalusa, Annie | |
| dc.date.accessioned | 2025-07-18T08:42:32Z | |
| dc.date.available | 2025-07-18T08:42:32Z | |
| dc.date.issued | 2025 | |
| dc.description | Thesis of Master of Science in Integrated Water Resource Management in the Department of Geology | |
| dc.description.abstract | Using a triangulation mixed methods design, this study looked at rural agricultural and implications on water resource management. The objectives that guided the study were: To determine key actors in water resource management in the Lunsemfwa River Catchment.To explore agricultural practices in the Upper Lunsemfwa River Catchment area and implications for sustainable water resource management. To establish water related conflicts by different users in the Lunsemfwa River Catchment. The total sample size was 150 and the participants were selected using purposive and systematic random sampling techniques. Key findings indicate that traditional leadership played a central role in water resource management, representing 25 percent of respondents, followed by the Water Resources Management Authority (WARMA), Forestry, and Mkushi District Council, each at 11 percent. The majority of respondents (75 percent) relied on streams as their primary water source for farming, with rivers being the secondary source at 23 percent. In terms of agricultural practices, 68 percent of farmers identified conventional farming as their primary method. Notably, boundary disputes emerged as the primary cause of water-related conflict, accounting for 33 percent of the cases. This underscores the need for effective conflict resolution mechanisms. In conclusion, traditional leaders emerged as pivotal figures in water resource management, with a significant role in conflict resolution among farmers in the Upper Lunsemfwa River Catchment. The study suggests a critical role for traditional leaders in water governance and emphasizes the necessity for government water governing bodies to engage them actively. This research contributes valuable insights to policymakers, water management authorities, and community leaders, fostering a more comprehensive and collaborative approach to water resource management in the Mkushi District. | |
| dc.identifier.uri | https://dspace.unza.zm/handle/123456789/9290 | |
| dc.language.iso | en | |
| dc.publisher | The University of Zambia | |
| dc.title | The implications of rural agriculture on water resource management, a case of the Lunsemfwa river catchment. | |
| dc.type | Thesis |