Sustainable irrigation solutions for food, economic growth and environment in Africa

T. Olalekan Williams, Ian Makin and Jennie BarronInternational Water Management Institute (IWMI)

6th Africa Water WeekDar es Salaam, Tanzania

18-22 July 2016

PRESENTATION OUTLINE

• Contextual background

• Current status, opportunities and challenges in irrigation sector in SSA

• Sustainable Irrigation Growth in SSA (SIGSSA) Initiative

• Desired end results and outcomes

Context 1: Low ag. productivity due to inadequate intensification

Source: World Bank. 2015 World Development Indicators

Context 2: Extreme poverty persists in Africa

Context 3: Persistence of hunger and undernourishment in Africa

STATUS OF IRRIGATION IN SSA

• Less than 4% of cultivated land is irrigated

• Average agricultural withdrawals are 3% of renewable water resources and groundwater use is < 20% of renewable supplies

• Across SSA, irrigated agriculture practiced on only 3.3%

of total cultivated area accounts for 25% of total value of agricultural output

• 39 million hectares of agricultural land is deemed physically and agronomically suitable for irrigation.

OPPORTUNITIES IN IRRIGATION IN SSA

• An underutilized endowment of water resources

• Huge potential for expansion of area under irrigation

• Increased demand for high value products responsive to irrigation

• Renewed public-private sector and donor interest in irrigation

• Investors acknowledgement of need for research-based evidence to guide irrigation investment

• Commitment of African governments to SDGs, including sustainable agricultural development.

CHALLENGES IN IRRIGATION IN SSA

• Underperformance of both rainfed and irrigated systems

• Low investment in hydraulic infrastructure and in the development and management of water resources

• Inappropriate governance and institutional arrangements for efficient management of public irrigation schemes

• Lack of effective policies to promote small-scale irrigation

• Impact of climate change on water resources

• Inadequate investment in irrigation capacity development and data collection, analysis and dissemination to guide decision making.

Addressing the full spectrum of irrigation opportunities is vital

Diversity of irrigation systems in SSA

SIGSSA Initiative

• A new partnership initiative promoted by IWMI with the objective of using accumulated knowledge, methods and tools and new research to:

- Provide solutions and advice on the design of new irrigation schemes and revitalization of existing ones

- Promote public and private sector investment

across the full spectrum of irrigation systems

- Improve irrigation performance, food security, livelihoods and ecosystem management.

Potential solutions and lessons existthat can be put to use immediately

Potential of motor pumps in SSA & Tanzania

SSA: motor pumps • 185 million potential rural

beneficiaries• Net revenues up to US$22 billion/yr.

Tanzania: motor pumps could benefit 2-4 million people (8-12% of rural households) .

Lessons from rehabilitation of dysfunctional irrigation schemes

SIGSSA will also work to:

• Develop baseline information (e.g. area under different type of irrigation systems) to guide irrigation investment decision making

• Ensure sustainable irrigation outcomes through improvement in biophysical, economic and institutional performance of irrigation systems

• Explore new innovations in irrigation development (PPP, growth corridors, FDI)

• Capacitate and empower the next generation of irrigators and irrigation managers.

TARGET AUDIENCE and PARTNERSHIPS

• National governments and policy advisers

• Continental and regional bodies: AUC, AMCOW, NEPAD/CAADP and RECs

• Farmer’s Associations

• Current and potential investors (including development banks)

• Irrigation service agencies

• Intermediary organizations: NGOs, CBOs etc.

IMPLEMENTATION APPROACH

• Partnerships with organizations with proven solutions, expertise and investment plans in sustainable irrigation development

• Advocacy campaigns

• Direct engagement with target groups and partner organizations.

DESIRED END RESULTS AND OUTCOMES

• Expansion of irrigated area in SSA

• Increased public and private sector investment in irrigation development to improve agricultural productivity, food and nutrition security, livelihoods and ecosystem services

• Agricultural water management and irrigation used as

instruments to enhance resilience of African agriculture to climate change

• Improved human and institutional capacity to implement sustainable irrigation development programs.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

For additional informationcontact:t.o.williams@cigar.org