Your search found 19 records
1 Bjornlund, H.; Mckay, J. 1996. TWE policy in horticultural South Australia - A major player in the water market? In Pigram, J. J. (Ed.), Security and sustainability in a mature water economy: A global perspective: Water and Resource Economics Consortium, proceedings of an international workshop, University of Melbourne, February 1996. Armidale, NSW, Australia: University of New England. Centre for Water Policy Research. pp.305-323.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: 333.91 G000 PIG Record No: H020173)
2 Bjornlund, H.. 2003. Farmer participation in markets for temporary and permanent water in Southeastern Australia. Agricultural Water Management, 63(1):57-76.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H033105)
3 Bjornlund, H.. 2003. Efficient water market mechanisms to cope with water scarcity. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 19(4):553-567.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H033669)
4 Bjornlund, H.; Rossini, P. 2005. Fundamentals determining prices and activities in the market for water allocations. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 21(2):355-369.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H037242)
5 Bjornlund, H.. 2005. Irrigators and the new policy paradigm: an Australian case study. Water Policy, 7(6):581-595.
(Location: IWMI-HQ Call no: PER Record No: H038176)
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048118)
(1.21 MB) (1.21 MB)
Irrigation development in Sub-Saharan Africa has lagged significantly behind that in other developing countries. Consequently, economic development and food security are also lagging behind. Since the mid-2000s there has been a resurgence in the willingness to invest in irrigation, and Sub-Saharan Africa has the largest potential of any developing region to benefit from it. However, to gain from new investment in irrigation without repeating past failures, it is critical to develop a business model for small-scale irrigation schemes. This article explores the barriers that such a model needs to address to be successful and the opportunities this represents for irrigators’ profitability.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048119)
(2.38 MB) (2.38 MB)
Many small-scale irrigation systems are characterized by low yields and deteriorating infrastructure. Interventions often erroneously focus on increasing yields and rehabilitating infrastructure. Small-scale irrigation systems have many of the characteristics of complex socio-ecological systems, with many different actors and numerous interconnected subsystems. However, the limited interaction between the different subsystems and their agents prevents learning and the emergence of more beneficial outcomes. This article reports on using Agricultural Innovation Platforms to create an environment in which irrigation scheme actors can engage, experiment, learn and build adaptive capacity to increase market-related offtake and move out of poverty.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048120)
(0.89 MB) (916 KB)
Significant expansion of irrigated agriculture is planned in Africa, though existing smallholder schemes perform poorly. Research at six schemes in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe shows that a range of problems are exacerbated by poor management, with limited market linkages leading to underutilization and a lack of profit. Improving sustainability of these complex systems will require: multiple interventions at different scales; investing in people and institutions as much as hardware; clarity in governments’ objectives for their smallholder irrigation schemes; appropriate business models to enable farmers; and better market linkages.
9 Mwamakamba, S. N.; Sibanda, L. M.; Pittock, J.; Stirzaker, R.; Bjornlund, H.; van Rooyen, A.; Munguambe, P.; Mdemu, M. V.; Kashaigili, J. J. 2017. Irrigating Africa: policy barriers and opportunities for enhanced productivity of smallholder farmers. International Journal of Water Resources Development, 33(5):824-838. (Special issue: The Productivity and Profitability of Small Scale Communal Irrigation Systems in South-eastern Africa). [doi: https://doi.org/10.1080/07900627.2017.1321531]
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048121)
(1.41 MB) (1.41 MB)
African governments have ambitious plans to expand irrigated agriculture, though existing smallholder schemes have largely failed to use land and water sustainably or become profitable. Six government-owned irrigation schemes in Mozambique, Tanzania and Zimbabwe were assessed to identify common policy barriers and opportunities for higher productivity among smallholder farmers. Issues like insecure land tenure systems, unclear institutional arrangements and poor access to markets have contributed to limited profitability. Reform of currently insecure land tenure, strengthening farmer organizations and reforming policies are recommended so that governments step back from scheme management and foster market linkages to enable more profitable irrigated agriculture.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048143)
(1.51 MB) (1.51 MB)
Irrigation is a key strategy for food security and poverty alleviation among small farmers in Tanzania. However, the potential of irrigation to improve food security is limited by multiple barriers. This article discusses these barriers within the Kiwere and Magozi schemes. Results indicate that water supply barriers are caused by poor irrigation infrastructure and management. Lack of finance is also a critical barrier to increasing overall productivity. Finance affects farmers’ timely access to adequate supply of quality inputs and machinery and availability of transport to access inputs and profitable markets. There is evidence that these barriers have to be addressed holistically.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H048198)
(1.19 MB) (1.19 MB)
This study provides an overview of extension influence on the adoption of irrigation innovations in developed and developing countries, and finds that extension plays a more significant positive role in influencing soft technology adoption in developing countries. Case studies on the nature, use and availability of extension advice in six irrigation schemes in Tanzania, Mozambique and Zimbabwe are presented. The use of government extension officers varied significantly, with extension use not linked to farm outcomes. The results suggest the need to support more diverse sources of advice and to promote institutional reform in south-eastern Africa.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049140)
(0.59 MB) (612 KB)
Irrigation has been promoted as a strategy to reduce poverty and improve livelihoods in southern Africa. Households’ livelihood strategies within small-scale irrigation schemes have become increasingly complex and diversified. Strategies consist of farm income from rain-fed and irrigated cropping as well as livestock and an increasing dependence on off-farm income. The success of these strategies depends on the household’s ability to make decisions about how to utilize its’ financial, labour, land and water resources. This study explores the dynamics of decision-making in households on-farm household income within six small-scale irrigation schemes, across three southern African countries. Household survey data (n = 402) was analyzed using ordered probit and ordinary least squares regression. Focus group discussions and field observations provided qualitative data on decision-making in the six schemes. We found strong support for the notion that decision-making dynamics strongly influence total household income. Households make trade-offs between irrigation, dryland, livestock and off-farm work when they allocate their labour resources to maximize household income; as opposed to maximizing the income from any individual component of their livelihood strategy, such as irrigation. Combined with the impact of the small plot size of irrigated land, this is likely to result in sub-optimal benefits from expensive investments in irrigation infrastructure. Policy-makers must consider this when developing and implementing new policies.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049729)
(3.28 MB)
Successful irrigated agriculture is underpinned by answering two critical questions: when and how much to irrigate. This article quantifies the role of the Chameleon and the Wetting Front Detector, monitoring tools facilitating decision-making and learning about soil-water-nutrient dynamics. Farmers retained nutrients in the root zone by reducing irrigation frequency, number of siphons, and event duration. Water productivity increased by more than 100% for farmers both with and without monitoring tools. Transitioning smallholder irrigation systems into profitable and sustainable schemes requires investment in technology, farmers and institutions. Importantly, technologies need embedding in a learning environment that fosters critical feedback mechanisms, such as market constraints.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H049982)
(8.58 MB)
This paper reports on the introduction of SWM technology, soil moisture and nutrient monitoring tools, alongside Agricultural Innovation Platforms (AIP) in three small-scale irrigation schemes in southern Africa. Quantitative and qualitative data are presented on the changes and benefits that have resulted, including increased yield and profitability. The findings emphasize that information prior and subsequent to adoption is needed, and the importance of understanding and enhancing the incentive framework for behavioural change, including both economic and physical returns. The findings illustrate SWM technology is strengthened when introduced with credible multi-stakeholder processes, such as an AIP, that facilitate institutional innovation.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050067)
(1.51 MB) (1.51 MB)
Many small-scale irrigation schemes are dysfunctional, and learning, innovation and evaluation are required to facilitate sustainable transitions. Using quantitative and qualitative data from five irrigation schemes in sub-Saharan Africa, we analyze how learning and change arose in response to: soil monitoring tools, which triggered a deep learning cycle; and agricultural innovation platforms, which helped develop a social learning system. Knowledge generation and innovation were driven by the incentives of more profitable farming. Learning and change spread to farmers without the tools, and learning at different levels resulted in extension and governance stakeholders facilitating profound institutional change.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H050689)
(2.04 MB)
Meeting growing demand for water and food in Africa, and other parts of the Global South, presents a significant and critical challenge over the next 50 years. This paper draws on an ongoing project in Africa to outline the research-for-development work that is urgently required to facilitate a paradigm shift in agricultural water management. Such work should lead to increased productivity and profitability of agricultural water use to allow agriculture to release some water to meet the growing needs of other sectors, while still meeting food security needs and contributing to a prosperous rural population.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051252)
(5.63 MB)
The rolling out of integrated water resources management (IWRM) in the Pangani Basin, Tanzania, faces several implementation and participation challenges. Building on experiences from GIZ–NatuReS stewardship partnerships, we argue that meaningfully engaging stakeholders and involving the private sector can help overcome these challenges and improve water security. We analyse data collected through interviews with partners and beneficiaries, and data stemming from partnership documents. Our analyses show that stakeholders are in support of creating an enabling environment based on IWRM by including tangible, results-based private–public–civil society partnerships which offer alternative and innovative solutions to address risks facing people, economies and ecosystems.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H051788)
(0.53 MB) (544 KB)
The United Nations calls for action to achieve 17 sustainable development goals (SDGs). We argue that the current development paradigm is an impediment to achieving several of these goals. We identify 14 agricultural research and development (R&D) needs, which ought to be addressed to achieve critical SDGs. We also identify the paradigm shifts required, particularly from global and international organizations, to facilitate this R&D and implement its outcomes. Importantly, the Global North2 would have to divert its focus from securing access to cheap land, water and labour that is primarily used to generate agricultural exports and business opportunities for Global North investors. Instead, the focus needs to be on creating opportunities for local farming communities to produce food for domestic markets, increase income and generate local jobs and business opportunities. Circular food systems can support a range of SDG goals, such as no hunger and zero poverty and slow migration, especially of youth, to big cities or foreign lands with insecure jobs.
(Location: IWMI HQ Call no: e-copy only Record No: H052939)
(4.37 MB) (4.37 MB)
The appropriateness of the new Green Revolution strategy for Africa has been challenged and donors have been called on to withdraw support and fund alternative approaches. Any revision of the strategy needs to be based on an analysis of the production system underlying the revolution and the early experiences of its implementation in the Global South. This paper provides such an analysis based on the experiences from Mexico and India, finding that the strategy has benefited the Global North and agribusiness but failed smallholders in Africa. A paradigm shift is needed to focus on approaches to provide economic development in Africa.
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