Water Supply Systems Adoption and Farmer Outcomes in Rural Livestock Management: Southern Zimbabwe Context

In Southern Zimbabwe, livestock farming is a significant component of rural livelihoods, with water supply systems playing a crucial role in supporting these operations. A mixed-method approach combining surveys and interviews was employed to gather data from 150 randomly selected farmers across Southern Zimbabwe. Findings indicate that borehole systems are the most adopted at a rate of 65%, followed by rainwater harvesting at 32%. Boreholes significantly improve water availability, leading to higher milk yields and reduced veterinary costs among farmers using these systems. Government subsidies for borehole installation should be increased to encourage wider adoption, particularly in arid regions of Southern Zimbabwe. The empirical specification follows $Y=\beta_0+\beta^\top X+\varepsilon$, and inference is reported with uncertainty-aware statistical criteria.