Linking Smallholder Agriculture, Irrigation Access and Poverty Reduction in Semi-arid Angola

This study analyzed the relationship between smallholder agriculture, irrigation access, and food security in the semi-arid context of Namibe Province, Angola, between 2019 and 2023. The research aimed to investigate the relationship between irrigation access, household income, poverty reduction, and food security among rural farming households operating under conditions of climatic instability and water scarcity. A mixed-methods approach was adopted, combining quantitative and qualitative analyses through a comparative multiple case study design. Data were collected from 57 rural households located in the municipalities of Namibe, Tômbwa, and Bibala using structured socioeconomic questionnaires, semi-structured interviews, field observations, and photographic records. The study evaluated household income dynamics, cultivated area, irrigation access, agricultural diversification, and food security indicators. In addition, a Food Security Index (FSI) was constructed using five dimensions: dietary diversity, meal frequency, food access, supply stability, and nutritional quality. The results demonstrated a substantial increase in average household income, rising from 34,200 Angolan Kwanza (AOA) in 2019 to 69,300 Angolan Kwanza (AOA) in 2023, corresponding to an approximate nominal growth of 102.6%. Households with irrigation access generally exhibited greater income stability, higher participation in horticultural production, and more favorable food security conditions than households dependent exclusively on rainfed agriculture. The average Food Security Index reached 2.90, indicating low to moderate food security conditions within the sample. A positive association was also observed between cultivated area and food security outcomes (r = 0.78; p < 0.05), suggesting that land and water access jointly influence household resilience and agricultural performance in semi-arid environments. The findings suggest that agricultural development strategies associated with irrigation access and production diversification may contribute to improved household welfare, poverty reduction, and food security among rural households. Nevertheless, persistent limitations in dietary diversity and unequal access to productive resources indicate the need for integrated policies combining irrigation expansion, climate-resilient agricultural practices, technical assistance, and nutrition-sensitive rural development strategies. This study contributes empirical evidence from an underrepresented semi-arid region of Angola and reinforces the importance of context-specific interventions for strengthening rural livelihoods under climate-constrained conditions. Key words: Smallholder agriculture, Rural poverty, Food security, Irrigation, Angola, Semi-arid regions