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A comparative review of water management sustainability challenges in smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa and Asia

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  • Mutambara, Solomon
  • Darkoh, Michael B.K.
  • Atlhopheng, Julius R.

Abstract

This article reviews the performance, problems and challenges of water management sustainability of farmer-managed smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa. The review draws a comparison with the situation in Asian countries, highlighting the major obstacles to the sustainability of smallholder irrigation schemes. The objective is to show the differences in water management between Asia and Africa, highlighting best practices from the Asian experience from which African countries can learn to make their irrigation schemes more resilient. The aspects discussed include: the record of achievement, farmers’ participation and involvement, capital cost recovery, reforms in the land tenure and water management; institutional management, traditional knowledge and management systems, water markets and adaptation to increasing water scarcity in the face of climate change.

Suggested Citation

  • Mutambara, Solomon & Darkoh, Michael B.K. & Atlhopheng, Julius R., 2016. "A comparative review of water management sustainability challenges in smallholder irrigation schemes in Africa and Asia," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 171(C), pages 63-72.
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:agiwat:v:171:y:2016:i:c:p:63-72
    DOI: 10.1016/j.agwat.2016.03.010
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    15. Sekyi-Annan, Ephraim & Tischbein, Bernhard & Diekkrüger, Bernd & Khamzina, Asia, 2018. "Performance evaluation of reservoir-based irrigation schemes in the Upper East region of Ghana," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 202(C), pages 134-145.
    16. Amina Abdelkadir Mohammedshum & Chris M. Mannaerts & Ben H. P. Maathuis & Daniel Teka, 2023. "Integrating Socioeconomic Biophysical and Institutional Factors for Evaluating Small-Scale Irrigation Schemes in Northern Ethiopia," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(2), pages 1-19, January.
    17. Sharofiddinov, Husniddin & Islam, Moinul & Kotani, Koji, 2024. "How does the number of water users in a land reform matter for water availability in agriculture?," Agricultural Water Management, Elsevier, vol. 293(C).
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    19. Xinchao Ma & Zhanming Tan & Yunxia Cheng & Tingting Wang & Man Cao & Zhengying Xuan & Hongbin Du, 2024. "Water-Nutrient Coupling Strategies That Improve the Carbon, Nitrogen Metabolism, and Yield of Cucumber under Sandy Cultivated Land," Land, MDPI, vol. 13(7), pages 1-16, June.
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    22. Vos, Jeroen & Boelens, Rutgerd & Venot, Jean-Philippe & Kuper, Marcel, 2020. "Rooted water collectives: Towards an analytical framework," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 173(C).
    23. Sida, Y. G. & Simane, B. & Assefa, E. & Haileslassie, Amare, 2022. "Polycentric irrigation water governance: irrigation water users associations service delivery in Ketar Subbasin, Ethiopia," Papers published in Journals (Open Access), International Water Management Institute, pages 18(10):783-.

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