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

1. Sustainable irrigation solutions for food,
economic growth and environment in Africa
T. Olalekan Williams, Ian Makin and Jennie Barron
International Water Management Institute (IWMI)
6th Africa Water Week
Dar es Salaam, Tanzania
18-22 July 2016

2. 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

3. Context 1: Low ag. productivity due to inadequate intensification

4. Source: World Bank. 2015 World Development Indicators
Context 2: Extreme poverty persists in Africa

5. Context 3: Persistence of hunger and undernourishment in Africa

6. 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.

7. 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.

8. 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.

9. Addressing the full
spectrum of irrigation
opportunities is vital
Diversity of
irrigation
systems in SSA

10. 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.

11. Potential solutions and lessons exist
that can be put to use immediately

12. 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) .

13. Lessons from rehabilitation of
dysfunctional irrigation schemes

14. 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.

15. 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.

16. 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.

17. 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.

18. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION
For additional information
contact:
t.o.williams@cigar.org