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Irrigation infrastructure and satellite-measured land cultivation impacts: Evidence from the Senegal river valley

Author

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  • Cisse, Abdoulaye
  • de Janvry, Alain
  • Ferguson, Joel
  • Gonzalez-Navarro, Marco
  • Mbaye, Samba
  • Sadoulet, Elisabeth
  • Syll, Mame Mor Anta

Abstract

Expanding irrigation in sub-Saharan Africa is widely viewed as a promising strategy for closing yield gaps and enhancing resilience to climate change. Drawing on more than 3,000 satellite images over a 30-year period, we examine the impact of irrigation infrastructure development in the Senegal River Valley. We find that cultivation rates increase substantially following irrigation project completion. Cultivation rates are remarkably stable at around 25 percentage points above pre-irrigation levels for the first 20 years, and trend even higher from years 20 to 25. Moreover, we show that crops cultivated on irrigated land are significantly less sensitive to both positive and negative temperature shocks, underscoring the role of irrigation in climate adaptation. Despite these aggregate gains, we document considerable heterogeneity in project outcomes, with intermittent land use remaining widespread. To shed light on these patterns, we complement the satellite analysis with farmer survey data, which point to persistent water access constraints as a key barrier to continuous cultivation—constraints that cannot be resolved solely through individual farmer action.

Suggested Citation

  • Cisse, Abdoulaye & de Janvry, Alain & Ferguson, Joel & Gonzalez-Navarro, Marco & Mbaye, Samba & Sadoulet, Elisabeth & Syll, Mame Mor Anta, 2026. "Irrigation infrastructure and satellite-measured land cultivation impacts: Evidence from the Senegal river valley," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 179(C).
    • Handle: RePEc:eee:deveco:v:179:y:2026:i:c:s030438782500166x
    DOI: 10.1016/j.jdeveco.2025.103615
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Thomas P. Higginbottom & Roshan Adhikari & Ralitza Dimova & Sarah Redicker & Timothy Foster, 2021. "Performance of large-scale irrigation projects in sub-Saharan Africa," Nature Sustainability, Nature, vol. 4(6), pages 501-508, June.
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    6. David B Lobell & George Azzari & Marshall Burke & Sydney Gourlay & Zhenong Jin & Talip Kilic & Siobhan Murray, 2020. "Eyes in the Sky, Boots on the Ground: Assessing Satellite‐ and Ground‐Based Approaches to Crop Yield Measurement and Analysis," American Journal of Agricultural Economics, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 102(1), pages 202-219, January.
    7. Wang, Di & Zhang, Peng & Chen, Shuai & Zhang, Ning, 2024. "Adaptation to temperature extremes in Chinese agriculture, 1981 to 2010," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 166(C).
    8. Laurent Bruckmann, 2018. "Crue et développement rural dans la vallée du Sénégal : entre marginalisation et résilience," Post-Print hal-05119414, HAL.
    9. Blakeslee, David & Dar, Aaditya & Fishman, Ram & Malik, Samreen & Pellegrina, Heitor S. & Bagavathinathan, Karan Singh, 2023. "Irrigation and the spatial pattern of local economic development in India," Journal of Development Economics, Elsevier, vol. 161(C).
    10. David Blakeslee & Ram Fishman & Veena Srinivasan, 2020. "Way Down in the Hole: Adaptation to Long-Term Water Loss in Rural India," American Economic Review, American Economic Association, vol. 110(1), pages 200-224, January.
    11. David Wuepper & Wyclife Agumba Oluoch & Hadi Hadi, 2025. "Satellite Data in Agricultural and Environmental Economics: Theory and Practice," Agricultural Economics, International Association of Agricultural Economists, vol. 56(3), pages 493-511, May.
    12. Meha Jain, 2020. "The Benefits and Pitfalls of Using Satellite Data for Causal Inference," Review of Environmental Economics and Policy, University of Chicago Press, vol. 14(1), pages 157-169.
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    Keywords

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    JEL classification:

    • O13 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Agriculture; Natural Resources; Environment; Other Primary Products
    • O18 - Economic Development, Innovation, Technological Change, and Growth - - Economic Development - - - Urban, Rural, Regional, and Transportation Analysis; Housing; Infrastructure
    • Q15 - Agricultural and Natural Resource Economics; Environmental and Ecological Economics - - Agriculture - - - Land Ownership and Tenure; Land Reform; Land Use; Irrigation; Agriculture and Environment
    • H54 - Public Economics - - National Government Expenditures and Related Policies - - - Infrastructures

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