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Small private irrigation: Enhancing benefits and managing trade-offs

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  • Giordano, Meredith
  • de Fraiture, Charlotte

Abstract

Millions of smallholder farmers in sub-Saharan Africa and South Asia benefit from readily available and affordable irrigation technologies. The rapid uptake of small private irrigation in South Asia had a proven positive effect on poverty alleviation. In sub-Saharan Africa similar trends are emerging and several studies point to considerable upscaling potential. Achieving this potential would substantially boost smallholder incomes and food security. However, the spread of small private irrigation poses several challenges related to equity, efficiency, and sustainability. Women and resource poor farmers face challenges accessing affordable technologies; market inefficiencies and policy frameworks negatively affect farmer decision-making and technology access; and the unregulated spread of private irrigation may lead to over-abstraction, pollution, and conflicts. In this paper we argue that carefully designed intervention strategies and policy engagement are needed for two reasons. First, there is a need to address potential adverse effects of the ongoing, unregulated spread of small private irrigation while safeguarding its proven benefits on food security and poverty alleviation. Second, relatively straightforward measures can extend the benefits to a broader group of smallholders, including women and the poor, while at the same time ensuring sustainable use of the resource. Based on empirical evidence from case studies in six countries, we identified four elements of such an approach: (1) enhancing technology access; (2) catalyzing smallholder value chains; (3) fostering supportive policies; and (4) strengthening institutional capacity to manage potential trade-offs at the watershed scale.

Suggested Citation

  • Giordano, Meredith & de Fraiture, Charlotte, 2014. "Small private irrigation: Enhancing benefits and managing trade-offs," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 131(C), pages 175-182.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:131:y:2014:i:c:p:175-182
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2013.07.003
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    2. Mekonnen, Dawit & Abate, Gashaw & Yimam, Seid, 2021. "Irrigation and Agricultural Transformation in Ethiopia," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315339, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    3. Foster, Timothy & Adhikari, Roshan & Adhikari, Subash & Justice, Scott & Tiwari, Baburam & Urfels, Anton & Krupnik, Timothy J., 2021. "Improving pumpset selection to support intensification of groundwater irrigation in the Eastern Indo-Gangetic Plains," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 256(C).
    4. Francis Oremo & Richard Mulwa & Nicholas Oguge, 2021. "Sustainable water access and willingness of smallholder irrigators to pay for on-farm water storage systems in Tsavo sub-catchment, Kenya," Environment, Development and Sustainability: A Multidisciplinary Approach to the Theory and Practice of Sustainable Development, Springer, vol. 23(2), pages 1371-1391, February.
    5. Elizabeth Bryan & Claire Chase & Mik Schulte, 2019. "Nutrition-Sensitive Irrigation and Water Management," World Bank Publications - Reports 32309, The World Bank Group.
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    7. Dessalegn, Mengistu & Merrey, D. J., 2014. "Is ‘Social Cooperation’ for traditional irrigation, while ‘Technology’ is for motor pump irrigation?," IWMI Reports 201004, International Water Management Institute.
    8. Ameur, Fatah & Kuper, Marcel & Lejars, Caroline & Dugué, Patrick, 2017. "Prosper, survive or exit: Contrasted fortunes of farmers in the groundwater economy in the Saiss plain (Morocco)," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 191(C), pages 207-217.
    9. Duker, A.E.C. & Mawoyo, T.A. & Bolding, A. & de Fraiture, C. & van der Zaag, P., 2020. "Shifting or drifting? The crisis-driven advancement and failure of private smallholder irrigation from sand river aquifers in southern arid Zimbabwe," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 241(C).
    10. CGIAR Research Program on Water, Land and Ecosystems (WLE)., "undated". "Enabling sustainable, productive smallholder farming systems through improved land and water management," IWMI Water Policy Briefings 311132, International Water Management Institute.
    11. Budiman Subhan Arif & Rondhi Mohammad & Khasan Ahmad Fatikhul & Peratama Bagus & Rokhani & Suwandari Anik & Ridjal Julian Adam & Soemarno & Prijono Sugeng & Soedarto, 2021. "Water Scarcity, Mountain Deforestation and the Economic Value of Water in a Small-Scale Irrigation System: A Case Study in East Java, Indonesia," Quaestiones Geographicae, Paradigm, vol. 40(2), pages 153-166, June.
    12. Elizabeth Bryan & Elisabeth Garner, 2022. "Understanding the pathways to women’s empowerment in Northern Ghana and the relationship with small-scale irrigation," Agriculture and Human Values, Springer;The Agriculture, Food, & Human Values Society (AFHVS), vol. 39(3), pages 905-920, September.
    13. Mwaura, Francis M. & Muwanika, Fred R., 2018. "Providing irrigation water as a public utility to enhance agricultural productivity in Uganda," Utilities Policy, Elsevier, vol. 55(C), pages 99-109.
    14. Kaiyong Wang & Pengyan Zhang & Bo Pang, 2018. "Process and Mechanism of Agricultural Irrigation Benefit Allocation Coefficient Based on Emergy Analysis—A Case Study of Henan, China," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 10(12), pages 1-15, November.
    15. Lenin, Vera-Montenegro & Baviera-Puig, Amparo & García-Álvarez-Coque, José-María, . "Multi-Criteria Methodology: AHP and Fuzzy Logic in the Selection of Post-Harvest Technology for Smallholder Cocoa Production," International Food and Agribusiness Management Review, International Food and Agribusiness Management Association, vol. 17(2), pages 1-18.
    16. Mwangi Joseph Kanyua, 2020. "Effect of Imposed Self-Governance on Irrigation Rules Design among Horticultural Producers in Peri-Urban Kenya," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 12(17), pages 1-16, August.
    17. Kafle, Kashi & Balasubramanya, Soumya, 2021. "Irrigation for Reducing Food Insecurity: The Case of Niger," 2021 Conference, August 17-31, 2021, Virtual 315099, International Association of Agricultural Economists.
    18. Lefore, N. & Giordano, Meredith & Ringler, C. & Barron, J., "undated". "Sustainable and equitable growth in farmer-led irrigation in Sub-Saharan Africa: what will it take?," Papers published in Journals (Open Access) H049101, International Water Management Institute.
    19. Mwangi, Joseph Kanyua & Crewett, Wibke, 2019. "The impact of irrigation on small-scale African indigenous vegetable growers’ market access in peri-urban Kenya," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 212(C), pages 295-305.
    20. Otoo, Miriam & Lefore, Nicole & Schmitter, Petra & Barron, Jennie & Gebregziabher, Gebrehaweria, "undated". "Business model scenarios and suitability: smallholder solar pump-based irrigation in Ethiopia. Agricultural Water Management – Making a Business Case for Smallholders," IWMI Reports 273354, International Water Management Institute.

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